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

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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).
Old Yellergrades 5–8
Shares themes of grief and family, same genre (Middle Grade Fiction), and overlapping grades (5–8).
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).

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