Hercules

The Heroes #4

by Geraldine McCaughrean (Adapter)

Geraldine McCaughrean brings the same flair for action, suspense, and humor that characterizes all of the books in the acclaimed Heroes series to perhaps the most beloved and famous of all Greek myths, Hercules and his twelve labors. Readers learn about Hercules, the human with superhuman strength, born of a mortal and the king of gods, Zeus. When the goddess Hera, wife of Zeus, discovers her husband's mortal son Hercules, she vows to destroy him. Thus begins Hercules’s legendary and epic journey in which he is forced to take on a series of seemingly impossible tasks. He battles an array of both amazing and terrifying beasts, including the mighty Cretan Bull, the many-headed Hydra, the ferocious Nemean Lion, and the three-headed guardian of hell, Cerberus. With the help of the gods Athena and Apollo, can Hercules triumph in the end?

McCaughrean’s striking descriptions and taut prose draws even the most reluctant young readers into the fray.

Genres: Mythology, Audiobook, Classics

152 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Geraldine McCaughrean is a British children's novelist. She has written more than 170 books, including Peter Pan in Scarlet (2004), the official sequel to Peter Pan commissioned by Great Ormond Street Hospital, the holder of Peter Pan's copyright. Her work has been translated into 44 languages worldwide. She has received the Carnegie Medal twice and the Michael L. Printz Award among others.

Reviews

[Marthe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Igjen, innleserene need to chill. Men synes fortsatt det er spennede å høre om de greske historiene. Dette ble derimot den minst interresante av den ettersom det var så ekstremt repetitiv. Hercules: gå å gjør dette, hahah det kommer du aldri til å klare, så klarer han det, får ny oppgave, og klarer den også.. etc etc etc. ble også tilslutt litt for mange navn får meg å holde styr på. Men den var ikke dårlig, den var helt ok

[Ms. P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Club choice for Heroes and Sheroes unit

[Grace Biglane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book, I just think that maybe the website should let you actually read the book. I left my book at the house and i was trying to find a website where i could read it and i spent half my time signing up and trying to find the book, only to find out that’s i don't actually get to read it. Grade on the reading assignment- 76/100

[Rosa Folgar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never knew the details of Hercules even though I watched the show growing in the 90's and the movie from the 2000's. I really enjoyed all the little tidbits that I had heard throughout my life and the peices finally gave way to the finished puzzle. I really enjoyed this book.

[Graham Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the only version of Hercules I have read besides the Disney movie but this is very good. It is short, and tells the story of Hercules in full from beginning to end. It frames Hercules as a hero of both great feats and great tragedies, I liked this book a lot!

[Robert Waite · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't that familiar with Hercules's story, so it was really fun to hear it via this audiobook!

[Laura Gabelsberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading this book. It refreshed my memory of the myth of Hercules in a digestible way. I recommend for 5th grade and up.

[Sharla Moody · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this to go along with our Disney movie of the month. Not much like the Disney but interesting to read mythology again

[Drew Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Maybe 4.5? Probably not.)

Hercules has had it rough from the beginning. Born of Zeus, king of the gods, and Alcmene, one of Zeus' mortal lovers, he was despised by Hera from birth. Unable to dispose of him as a baby, Hera watched and waited until the time came that she could take her revenge on her unfaithful husband by depriving him of his son. When Hercules had grown, married and had children, Hera tempted him to drink, which led to a drunken rage and the consequent murder of his own family. Unwilling to kill his son, Zeus (prompted by Hera) sent Hercules to live as a slave in Eurystheus' household, where he was sent to perform a number of seemingly impossible tasks. But strong, square Hercules was ready and willing to do anything to redeem himself for his terrible deeds, and was more than up to the task of defeating monsters, creatures and giants.

I have read and enjoyed Geraldine McCaughrean's work before, so when I was doing research for Hercules books for my Disney source material read-through, I thought this one would be fun to try for a more novelized take on the myth. And I was right! It was fun. It read very smoothly and clearly, and presented the well-known legend in a way that felt fresh and interesting. A lot of times these stories are written as a sort of pseudo-history, which can feel a bit distant and not nearly as dramatic as events like those that happen in this legend should be, but this was written as a novel, complete with more developed characters and relationships and settings, which made it much more readable and memorable. Hercules himself was at times a bit bland, but I think that was how the author wanted to present him (and also was part of his humor). Due to the nature of the source material, it feels pretty episodic and characters sometimes came and went without having much effect on the story, but as villains go, Hera and even Eurystheus and Nessus make for a pretty nice, consistent threat (not to mention those twelve hairy Labors themselves). I do think this book could have benefited from a smattering of illustrations, but at least the writing was such that I was able to picture things pretty clearly. From the very start, with its description of the creation of man (including Zeus' various attempts until he managed to get it right) all the way to the end, with its fittingly dramatic conclusion, it has the scope and feel that a Greek hero's epic should.

It was fun to read a more novelized version of his great hero's story. It was very faithful to the original myth, but it was presented in a slightly more digestible format. There was a little humor to Hercules' character, and a good feeling of scope and drama. It could have used a few illustrations, but the writing was vivid and interesting enough even without them.

[Lillian Li · Rating 2 out of 5]

This short fiction book, by Geraldine McCaughrean, is Hercules. Hercules is an adventurous and heroic person that kill monsters and is a demigod that is the son of Zeus and mortal princess, Alcmene. Hercules falls in the category of Greek Mythology and it fits perfectly for historian readers or readers who love reading about different mythological characters or Greek Mythology. I gave this book 2 out of 5 stars because I am not into Hercules as much as the other goddess, like Poseidon. Overall, reading this book makes me feel like I am reading a biographical description of Hercules so I’m not interested. But on the other hand, this book is quick, fast, brief and concise reading to get the information. The only interesting part I found about Hercules was that he was independent and strong in mind even though many monsters and Hera, the Goddess of all Goddesses, tries to kill him.

[Ashly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A colorful depiction of the myth lore Hercules. This is a modernized version that would be perfect for readers being introduced to greek myths but find the original texts a little difficult to tackle head on. This book brings together this greek heros struggles and relationships and how his rise and fall had occured.

[Andy Zeigert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mostly read this to refamiliarize myself with the actual Hercules legends, after a lifetime of twisting via Walt Disney and Kevin Sorbo. It's a fun little book, and I'd recommend it to any young readers who might ask.

[Julie Shick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Perseus was my favorite of the four, just because it has a more positive ending. Yet that is just the way the myth goes. The story was retold by an excellent author. I recommend her writings to all.

[kyle hadsell · Rating 5 out of 5]

exelent for action/adventure and many more
plot:Hurcules is sentenced to slavery by the gods and the king, the owner of Hercules, wants to kill him so he sends Hercules on many HARD quests.

[Kl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the stories just wish she would have either stayed with the Greek gods or the Roman gods instead of combining them (Poseidon and Pluto).