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Final Round - 2024 Mock Newbery Award
By Kristen · 34 posts · 187 views
last updated Jan 16, 2024 06:26AM
What Members Thought
This book was not perfect, but I'm still giving it one of my rare 5 stars. I was able to relate to it in so many ways. The audio version is fantastic! Fred Berman does a wonderful job of making it seem like Hercules telling the story, and has credible inflections to reflect the voices of different characters.
Was it contrived? Yes. Did some things not make sense? Yes (like driving to Cleveland at the drop of a hat-- twice) It's 11 1/2 hours without stopping, let alone flipping a car (which was s ...more
Was it contrived? Yes. Did some things not make sense? Yes (like driving to Cleveland at the drop of a hat-- twice) It's 11 1/2 hours without stopping, let alone flipping a car (which was s ...more
Really liked this middle grade story. Well paced with the different trials Hercules is completing. Great characters. One of the best I’ve read this year.
A story about loss and friendship and community. It was just SO GOOD! Hercules Beal has had a tough year and when his new 7th grade teacher assigns him to study and complete the 12 tasks of Hercules the myth- he is incredulous. All twelve!? But as Hercules works through the tasks, he is able to learn and reflect. Fabulous middle grade novel that could appeal to almost any kid.
Another good Gary D. Schmidt. A boy has a ex-army officer for a teacher and lives with his brother because his parents died. Its a good story about overcoming trials and I always love the good relationships Schmidt writes about.
This book was unique and pretty good.
I loved Schmidt's Wednesday Wars, and this book reminded me of it - a heavy, sad topic (grieving the loss a parents) interlaced with humor. I always love elements of a community coming together and forming a family of sorts. Not sure how tweens would feel about this book, but it resonated with me.
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