Books like The Labors of Hercules Beal
Looking for books like The Labors of Hercules Beal by Gary D. Schmidt (Middle Grade Fiction · grades 3–7)? It’s most often read for its themes of grief, mythology, and family. The 10 titlesbelow are the closest matches in the ReadingList database — each scored on shared themes, genre, and reading level, and each linked to the curricula, states, and grades where it’s assigned, with primary sources.
These are reading-level matches, not just topical ones — so the picks stay grade-appropriate for a grades 3–7 reader. See how we judge text difficulty on our methodology page.
10 books similar to The Labors of Hercules Beal
Between Two BrothersCrystal Allen
Boy 2.0Tracey Baptiste
Countdown to YesterdayShirley Marr
Dadaji's PaintbrushRashmi Sirdeshpande
DuelJessixa Bagley
Fowl PlayKristin O'Donnell Tubb
Hope in the ValleyMitali Perkins
JawbreakerChristina Wyman
Legendarios: Wrath of the Rain GodKarla Arenas Valenti
Onyx & BeyondAmber McBride
Get the whole similar-books list in one click
Adds the 10 books with Amazon listings to your cart — keep what you need, remove the rest. Prime shipping where available.
🎧 Prefer audiobooks? Listen free for 30 days with an Audible trial.
As an Amazon Associate, ReadingList earns from qualifying purchases and membership trials at no extra cost to you. Prices + availability shown on Amazon.
Why each is a match
- Between Two Brothersgrades 4–8
- Shares themes of grief and family, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8).
- Boy 2.0grades 4–8
- Shares themes of family, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (4–8).
- Countdown to Yesterdaygrades 3–6
- Shares themes of family, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).
- Dadaji's Paintbrushgrades K–3
- Shares themes of grief and family and overlapping grades (K–3).
- Duelgrades 4–8
- Shares themes of grief and family and overlapping grades (4–8).
- Fowl Playgrades 3–6
- Shares themes of grief and family and overlapping grades (3–6).
- Hope in the Valleygrades 3–6
- Shares themes of grief and family and overlapping grades (3–6).
- Jawbreakergrades 3–7
- Shares themes of family, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–7).
- Legendarios: Wrath of the Rain Godgrades 3–6
- Shares themes of mythology and family and overlapping grades (3–6).
- Onyx & Beyondgrades 3–6
- Shares themes of family, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (3–6).