October 15, 2024 by Disney Hyperion
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Pain and Panic, Hades' minions, are very concerned that the Fates will let their secret out, and Hades will torture them. Somehow, he still doesn't know that the didn't do in the infant Hercules, but let him be raised by a couple in Argos. Now twelve, Hercules is having some troubles, since he doesn't understand his powers and frequently causes havoc in town. It's hard to make friends when the popular Aias calls him "Jerkules", but out intrepid hero tries to stay positive. When he causes an olive oil vendor, Elpida, to have her cart broken and her products destroyed, he promises to make things right, but when he has replaced the cart and the inventory, someone ruins her entire olive grove. Of course, all eyes turn to Hercules. This makes Athena mad, and she threatens to destroy the entire town in retribution. Luckily, the goddess Nike intervenes, and gives the town an option: if a seed from the first olive tree planted in Athens can be brought back in a week, and the Cretan bull who has been savaging other olive groves can be subdued, the town won't be destroyed. Hercules isn't sure that he can do this alone, and luckily a new boy in town, Theseus, steps up. He's been nice to Hercules, but is a bit too sure of himself. Hercules finds a leather bound book on how to be a hero written by Philoctetes, and uses this to help plan their journey, but Theseus ignores all of the advice. He insists on taking a shortcut through centaur territory, and when the two run into trouble, is useless at fighting them. Only a palm frond given to them by the gods saves our two heroes to be. They also run into the robber Sciron on the road, and the giant Sinis, and both times narrowly escape because they are squabbling so much. Nike even appears again to tell them to get their act together and cooperate, or they will never m ake it! After another scuffle, this time with the Crommyian Sow, Theseus confides in Hercules that he was the one who ruined the grove, because he wanted Athena to help him meet Poseidon, who is possibly his father. Hercules tells him that he doesn't have to do the quest on his own, and they both have things to prove. Theseus does use his wrestling talents to take down Cercyon of Eluesis, but the boys manage to work together once they get to Athens. Armed with both the needed olive seed and the Cretan bull, will they be able to make it back to Argos in time to save the town?
Strengths: Calonita is a Disney fan, and her love of the shows is clearly evident. This was a little bit like reading a novel based on a television episode; I could see the Disney characters in my mind. The Lost Legends series also has books about other "infamous rogue boys", like Flynn Rider (Rapunzel?), Aladdin, and Kristoff from Frozen. This is rather fun, since so many of the Disney books I've seen feature the heroines. The details about mythology are great, and since it's a topic that is still interesting to middle grade readers, I love to see a new classical mythology title from time to time. Theseus and Hercules have to set aside their toxic masculinity to work together and complete their quest, which is a good twist on a hero's tale. I need a copy of this to go along with my Hercules throw, children's dishes, birthday cake decorations, thermos, McDonald's happy meal toys, Melmac plates, Megara Barbie, and, yes, Hercules doll, which is NOT in mint condition.
Weaknesses: My children and I were HUGE fans of the Disney television series that aired in the late 1990s on which this book is based, so I found myself being really not picky! I can accept that the series had no Aias, and even that Theseus wasn't portrayed as Hercules' cousin with the alter ego of the Grim Avenger, because classical tales have always been open to interpretation. I did have a question about Hercules carrying around a leather bound book; he probably would have used scrolls. I also would have had more scenes of fighting monsters and beasts and less of the social emotional content, but I imagine that publishers encourage writers to get positive messages into franchise books like this.
What I really think: This is a great adventure tale set in ancient Greece that would be fantastic for Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief fans, as well as for readers who enjoyed this author's Go the Distance (Hooray, Megara!), Yolen's Young Heroes series, McCaughrean's Hercules, or my favorite, Shipton's The Pig Scrolls.
Strengths: Calonita is a Disney fan, and her love of the shows is clearly evident. This was a little bit like reading a novel based on a television episode; I could see the Disney characters in my mind. The Lost Legends series also has books about other "infamous rogue boys", like Flynn Rider (Rapunzel?), Aladdin, and Kristoff from Frozen. This is rather fun, since so many of the Disney books I've seen feature the heroines. The details about mythology are great, and since it's a topic that is still interesting to middle grade readers, I love to see a new classical mythology title from time to time. Theseus and Hercules have to set aside their toxic masculinity to work together and complete their quest, which is a good twist on a hero's tale. I need a copy of this to go along with my Hercules throw, children's dishes, birthday cake decorations, thermos, McDonald's happy meal toys, Melmac plates, Megara Barbie, and, yes, Hercules doll, which is NOT in mint condition.
Weaknesses: My children and I were HUGE fans of the Disney television series that aired in the late 1990s on which this book is based, so I found myself being really not picky! I can accept that the series had no Aias, and even that Theseus wasn't portrayed as Hercules' cousin with the alter ego of the Grim Avenger, because classical tales have always been open to interpretation. I did have a question about Hercules carrying around a leather bound book; he probably would have used scrolls. I also would have had more scenes of fighting monsters and beasts and less of the social emotional content, but I imagine that publishers encourage writers to get positive messages into franchise books like this.
What I really think: This is a great adventure tale set in ancient Greece that would be fantastic for Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief fans, as well as for readers who enjoyed this author's Go the Distance (Hooray, Megara!), Yolen's Young Heroes series, McCaughrean's Hercules, or my favorite, Shipton's The Pig Scrolls.
Happy 29th birthday to the biggest Hercules fan ever.
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