Get to Work, Hercules!

Myth-O-Mania #7

by Kate McMullan

Hades, King of the Underworld, tells the true story behind the Greek myth of Hercules and his heroic deeds.

Genres: Mythology, Fantasy, Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Humor, Greek Mythology

192 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2003

About the author

Kate McMullan is an American children's book author.
She is the author of the Dragon Slayers' Academy series. She is married to author and illustrator James McMullan.

She also has books published under the name: Katy Hall.

Reviews

[Echo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little story about Hercules. Very much edited so there was no bloodshed, but still funny.

[Ashley W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Knee Jerk Reaction: This book ruined the Hercules myth for me!

I had high hopes for this book, and it didn't disappoint, per se, but it didn't give me what I wanted either. Rather than give me a whole new story on how HERCULES completed his twelve tasks, it tells about how basically everyone else completed them for him. I mean, it isn't that outlandish considering most of the stories in this series are telling about how the heroes didn't really accomplish their feats, but rather, Hades did. (Except for Atalanta) But I'd really hoped that Hercules had used different methods for accomplishing these tasks, like maybe using his head rather than by brute strength or physical prowess. That would have been more interesting.

[Hao huang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get To Work, Hercules! Is the second last of the series Myth-O-Mania by Kate McMullan. This story is about how Hercules finished the 12 impossible labors tasks with some help from Hades.

When you think Hercules, you’ll relate hero to him right? But he had an itty-bitty brain, without his friends help he couldn’t even slay down the first labor. This story shows us that sometimes getting some help from your friends can be really great.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, King Hades, Ruler of the Underworld (K.H.R.O.T.U. for short) sets the story straight on Greek myths. This time, the spotlight is on Hercules, who, although he was strong, was not very bright. It seems he had a lot of help on his XII (12) Labors, not only from his Uncle Hades, but also from some of the monsters he supposedly killed.

(I should have asked this earlier: Why are ancient Greeks using Roman numerals? By their own origin story, Romans are supposedly descended from Aeneas, a Trojan prince, and the Trojan War doesn't happen for hundreds of years yet!)

I could not find a "Contact" for Ms. McMullan, so here are the editing oversights which I found in the Kindle version of Get To Work, Hercules!:

Page 9, Hercules was strong all right / Hercules was strong, all right ; 33, he wasn't exactly a whiz at the sitdown-at-a-desk exercises / he wasn't exactly a whiz at the SIT-DOWN-at-a-desk exercises ; 45, he was bigger then most men / he was bigger THAN most men ; 51, the white robed woman smiled / the white-robed woman smiled (add hyphen) ; 72, I turned around and snuck back into the cave / I turned around and SNEAKED back into the cave ; 98, called Hercules standing in front / called Hercules, standing in front ;

Page 99, He was so frightened he managed / He was so frightened THAT he managed ; 101, about to chant the astrotraveling spell / about to chant the ASTRO-traveling spell ; 101, He ran Championship Wrestling School / He ran THE Championship Wrestling School ; 102, and believe me it comes in handy / and believe me, it comes in handy ; 106, he'd just had a neardeath experience / he'd just had a NEAR-death experience ; 116, Excuse me, will you Hades / Excuse me, will you, Hades ;

Page 117, How are things with you, Peneuis / How are things with you, PENEIUS ; 117, said / said PENEIUS ; 124, come here please / come here, please ; 133, to meet it -- invisibly of course / to meet it -- invisibly, of course ; 161, I said shaking my head / I said, shaking my head ;

LOCATION 1544, accompanied his friend Pirithous / accompanied his friend PEIRITHOUS ; 1617, Nice Shot Cupid! / Nice Shot, Cupid!

[SK Lou · Rating 1 out of 5]

To be honest, as an 8th grader who was forced to read this thing, it's tormented me(I'd rather read Charles Dickens or Sherlock Holmes). Not trying to be too harsh on a children's book here, but since I have read most of the Greek myths at the age of 9, I find this book not "humorous" or funny at all, rather more like slandering. I have always liked Hercules and think that this parody would go for a more brain-based hero, but nope. Hades and the friends he was supposed to slay do all the work does all the freaking work. I get that the author wants to emphasize the power of friendship but please- And also the modern-ish setting. I get that the author is making it more relatable, but really, it's just not my type and I can barely relate. It's just neither fish nor fowl. The ancient setting, or modern setting, choose one. Mixed informal modern slang and modern stuff like cellphones making it suck.

[Eowyn Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, I guess

It’s good and very funny. I do like it, but it presents Heracles (I will call him by his Greek name and you can’t stop me) in a very good light that he doesn’t deserve.
In the actual myth, he had a huuuuuge temper (he killed his music teacher) and in some versions, he assaulted at least one woman. Also, it says that he was assigned twelve labors. The original deal was ten, but Eurystheus made him redo two of them. I know it’s supposed to be hilariously inaccurate, but even the parts that are supposed to be mythologically accurate (such as Hera and Heracles’s birth) aren’t that accurate (in myth, she knew who he was the moment he was born)

[Randelina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute twist on the Hercules story. I enjoyed how much Hades was involved in this one. It's fun to read these tales from his point of view. My kids have begun reading this series and I think they will enjoy this book when they get to it. I love the discussion and writing prompts at the back, they will make for great learning tools.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this with my 8 year old son. He's had a little experience when Greek gods from movies. This book was still too advanced for him. I had to stop and explain things to him constantly, which isn't a bad thing but it took from the story. I had to explain what some things were (chariot,

[Tumata Garbutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love this versions of the greek myths. real fun reading.

[EK Braun · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good,OK,It was great!I really like Myths.I also like the movie version.

[Elizabeth McNair Demolat]

It was a fun story. I could see some of my students enjoying it, and if I did a Greek mythology unit I might try to get a copy for the class.

[Historic Hummingbird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lol I loved it! SO funny!

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

👍🏻👍🏻

[Brice Culhane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this one a lot- Hercules is a character!

[Kamons · Rating 3 out of 5]

ตำนานเทพเพี้ยนเล่มนี้แลดูแล้วไม่น่าจะแปลเพี้ยนไปมาก แต่ตำนานเฮอร์คิวลิสอ่ะมันไม่ได้มีอะไรมากอยู่แล้วเหมือนมาสรุป ๆ 12 ภารกิจของเฮอร์คิวลิสอีกรอบ

[Declan Fitzsimons · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the beginning of the book it starts off with how hercules got born how a mortal married a immortal princess. so fast forward hercules is born and every god seems to notice that hercules is quite the strong type considering his mortality meaning he can die.

After the beginning it really just told how he was raised but lets fast forward to when hes a adult. So he was raised on a farm by two mortals who took care of livestock, so he was a work boy. The reason why the title is named Get to work. But this one day this lion came to eat their live stock. But this wasnt any normal lion. This wasnt any normal lion this lion had in penetradable skin. He somehow Defeated it.

So after that, these two goddesses pull up to the farm and from how they described eachother id go ahead and assume that one was evil and one was a hero considering the text literally said that. But the thing is was that they were sisters, and so before I tell you what they offered him first think about how he was raised on a farm, right? So he didnt get a education so he was super dumb. But what they offered him was the good one offered a nice relaxing palace where you could get nothing but cheese and never had to do any work. But the bad one offered him a bad job where he would have to work non stop and ate only bad foods. If you rememebered Hercules isnt the smartest so he chose the evil path because he wanted anything else but cheese because since he lived on a farm and had cows that would produce a lot of cheese. He wanted a break from that no matter the cost.

The woman instructed Hercules to get into her wagon and teleported him to this castle, the castle of the kids nose he broke. Now if you didnt know, when Hercules was a kid he used to play with this boy named Eurystheus, and on one day Eurystheus threw a rock really hard at Hercules, so Hercules was a little upset about that anyone would. So he picked up the rock that was laying on the ground and hurled it so hard it broke the kids nose. Now he started crying like a little baby and said that they were just playing like little boys and Hercules was violent for no reason and said he couldnt be trusted. I have no idea but if that was me I would explain everything that happened.

[Rad Silvestri]

Personal Response: I really liked this book because, I enjoy mythology and it added a comedic feel toward mythology. It made me laugh a bunch of times.


Plot:It started of as Hades wanted to go to a wrestling match, when baby Hercules was born. Baby Hercules was given to a nursemaid so that Hera wouldn't find him. The nursemaid lost baby Hercules, so Artemis and Hera had found him. He was given to two different gods who lived on a farm. He lived on that farm when two people came and offered him two choices. The easy path and the hard path. Hercules chose the hard path, which included XII labors. He has to complete these labors. The first 4 labors were extremely easy, so Hercules had no problem completing them. As he completed them, he had to show his completion to his cousin, King Eury of Mycenae. Now he has to do what he does best, muck out a god’s animal pen, and he has been doing this his whole life. It shouldn’t be a hard task but, there is a lot to muck out, so he might have problems. It should take him a while to do this. Hydra had a good idea but, Hades had to convince some people to do it. The idea worked and they went back to King Eury with proof that they had completed it which was a picture they took. King Eury wouldn’t give them the next labor right away so Hades screamed at him, but he had the invisibility helmet on. After all the labors were completed, Hercules went to Zeus because he wanted to become a god. Zeus said no because he had to complete a selfless task. He started slaying monsters. One day, he earned his status as a god, but he refused. He wanted to live with all his new friends in the human world.

Characterization: Hercules is the main character in this story, who is accompanied by a lion. The lions name is Cee. He is also accompanied by a hydra. The story is shown through the eyes of Hades. Hades is the King of the Underworld. He is protecting him.


Recommendation: I would recommend this book to anyone in grade 8 and up. It is based upon mythology and extremely funny.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the seventh book in the Myth-O-Mania series by Kate McMullan. These books are fun to read and have a youthful and humorous perspective that makes it simple for people to remember the various characters and their stories.

We are balancing these fun tales off with more classic fare, like The Wanderings of Odysseus: The Story of the Odyssey by Rosemary Sutcliff, so our girls can hear the original tales, too.

This book offers a humorous take on the story of the Twelve labors of Hercules - we really enjoyed the wit and wry sarcasm. The tale was rendered with enough fidelity to recognize the story, but it was still a very different version. It's an entertaining and quick read.

[Dujuan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read a fantastic book called get to work Hercules,written by Kate McMullen. It has some of our greatest gods like Hades, Zues, Persephone, and a lot of monsters

it starts of with a fantastic hero named Hercules. He was just born. after he is born everyone thinks he has a bad temper, because he was playing with his cousin Eury, and he hits him in the head with a ball twice and Eury´s mom tells everyone in the village. after that he gets sent to Hades uncle and auntie at there farm.

After 10 years two sorcerers come and gives him two paths to his life an easy or an hard. after he chooses he has to go to his cousin Eurtheseis [Eury.] He has to go and get 12 labors, and while he does the 12 labors he makes new friends and his uncle Hades also helps out a little.

It was the best book I have read in a year I really do recommend it. You can also get the rest of the seiries witch are great to.

[Owen]

This book is about greek myths but from hadies's point of view. This one is about Hercules witch means for the glory of Hera in romen. Herculies needs to complete his 12 labors, but with the help of Hadies and a talking lion to gain Hera's respect.

I can make a text to text connnection to this book. In the book Herculies always has a partner in this case its Hadies. In the book im readeing Son Of The Mob. In this book Vincint always has his friend alex with him.

I would reccomend this book to people of all ages. The way the book is writen is great. You will not be able to put this book down when you get it. It is exciteing untill the end and i will give it 5 stars

[Anthony Y]

I have recently read get to work, Hercules .This book has some comedy and if you like greek myths you will really like it. I like how in the prolog( wich no one reads) he uses acronims a lot like U.H.T.T.R wich means uncle Hades to the rescue and T.B.F.B.O.G.M wich the big fat book of Greek myths. One of the funniest parts are when he calls Zuse T-BAMZ the big and mighty Zuse( he says it sarcastically). The thing with the main character ( in this cace Hercules ) is they alway are messed up some how. To find how Hercules is messed up you will have to read it.

[Raymond · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that the book is a really funny spin on all the greek myth that we see. These books make Hades look like a good guy and zues look like a fool. THis book is the myth o mania version of the myth of Hercules. Hercules is to complete the 12 task that is seem to be impossible. In the original myth he does it on his own, but then in this goof off version, it tells that Hercules was an idiot and Hades gave alot of help for this.

[Eliza Lagonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good children's book for introducing children to myth and lore.
Having characters names Humus and Peta is a little insensitive but not malicious and I think that's key. Them becoming lazy after Hurcules came to live with them maybe went a little far. But it's still not done malicious.
There are also a lot of modern references from the '90s.
It's still a good book for kids. It's cute and I think both boys and girls will like the book.

[Miss Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

The seventh installment in the highly entertaining revisionist Myth-O-Mania series that retells the Greek myths from the perspective of Hades, for the first time ever revealing the truth of what happened. This one focuses on Hercules and his labors - plenty of fun and a great way to get kids interested in the original myths.

[Mason Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book. ever since my friend suggested i had been hooked onto this series of how the gods have been born and lived up to there 12 labors. Get to work Hercules is my favorite especially with his big group of creatures, animals and monsters. I like his Lioness Cee that has been captured by the first labor that was done unkowingly.

[Jack]

Get to work Hercules by kate Mcmullan
Hercules is training to be a hero and has 12 labors to work on. My favorite part is when Hercules fights Hydra. I recommend this book to anyone who likes reading about Hercules and greek gods. This book is fun to read.

[Stacey Mulholland · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just didn't like the style. Kids might like all the acronyms and modern references but I didn't. The Greek gods didn't use them (especially not cell phones).

[John Patrick Feeney Jr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good but,......

This book is great! But if your a kindle fire reader, don't get it. It crashes every time I read it. I don't even know the ending. Hope they fix this.

[Vanessa]

Pretty good, I like Kate Mcmullan's books just not a fan of all the I STINK! books

[Melissa Hoop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Parts of the book don't really fit (specifically when Hades returns to the underworld) with the story.