Cover of The Labors of Hercules Beal

The Labors of Hercules Beal

by Gary D. Schmidt

The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt is assigned in US schools at grades 3–7. It appears across 1 curriculum reference and 1 state, sourced from state DOE pages and AP/IB/Common Core syllabi. Every citation below links to the primary source.

This page shows where The Labors of Hercules Beal is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Grade range
Grades 3–7
Age range
Ages 8–13
Pages
291
Reading time
about 5h 20m (est.)
First published
2023
Genre
Middle Grade Fiction
ISBN-13
9780358659570
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About this book

Grieving the loss of his parents, Hercules Beal is assigned to re-create the twelve labors of his mythological namesake on Cape Cod — and finds help in unexpected places. Gary D. Schmidt's novel blends humor, myth, and heart. Nominated for the 2025-2026 South Carolina Children's Book Award (grades 3-5), administered by the South Carolina Association of School Librarians.

Why widely assigned

This Middle Grade Fiction title, typically at grades 3–7. Written in the 2020s; pairs with curriculum units on grief and mythology; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Themes

grief · mythology · family · community

Content notes

death of parents

Where this book is assigned

Similar grade-level books

See all books like The Labors of Hercules Beal→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Common questions

What grade level is The Labors of Hercules Beal?
The Labors of Hercules Beal is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 3–7. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
How long does it take to read The Labors of Hercules Beal?
It takes about 5h 20m to read The Labors of Hercules Beal (291 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 320 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign The Labors of Hercules Beal?
The Labors of Hercules Beal appears on reading lists for South Carolina Children's Book Award. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is The Labors of Hercules Beal banned in schools?
The Labors of Hercules Beal does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
What themes does The Labors of Hercules Beal explore?
Central themes in The Labors of Hercules Beal include grief, mythology, family, community. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.

Why this book is on this list

Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.

Lexile measure
Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
Grade band
Grades 3–7 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
Cited in 1 state ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
No tracked removal or challenge records in cited sources.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: book-club.