"Now," continued the cat, "there is nothing more difficult than changing an animal's mind. But I will say, in case I can change yours: humans are more useful to us outside our bellies than in." Perhaps. After the Calamity, the animals thought the humans had managed to do themselves in. But, it turns out, a few are left cowering in makeshift villages. So the animals have selected ambassadors to vote on whether to help the last human stragglers......

Herc Beal knows who he's named after--a mythical hero--but he's no superhero. He's the smallest kid in his class. So when his homeroom teacher at his new middle school gives him the assignment of duplicating the mythical Hercules's amazing feats in real life, he's skeptical. After all, there are no Nemean Lions on Cape Cod--and not a single Hydra in sight. Missing his parents terribly and wishing his older brother wasn't working all the time, Herc...