Styx and Stones

By: Gary D. Schmidt, Ron Koertge

Published by Clarion Books, 2026-05-05

Percy Jackson meets The Labors of Hercules Beal in this hilarious, page-turning fantasy adventure with a heart of gold from two award-winning authors. Simon expected more from life than being orphaned in ancient Greece and stuck in the Underworld for eternity. Determined not to forget who he is, he commits himself to escaping Hades. Along the way, he faces the monster Cerberus, befriends the tormented Sisyphus, and becomes Persephone's favorite servant. Then, after centuries of failed attempts, he is finally thrust into modern times--and into the stall of a middle school bathroom. Naked. With the help of Zeke, a nerdy rich kid on the social fringes, Simon learns to navigate this amazing and bewildering world. And with Simon's help, Zeke begins to question his comfortable life and understand the true meaning of friendship. Everything seems to be going great . . . until the god of the Underworld sends a demon girl to bring Simon back. And suddenly, it's not just the secret of Simon's past that's threatened, but their very lives--and everyone's around them, too. Is their friendship strong enough to withstand the Will of Hades and save St. Nikolaos Academy Middle School? From two-time Newbery honoree Gary D. Schmidt and two-time PEN Award winner Ron Koertge, Styx and Stones is an unforgettable coming-of-age adventure about friendship, courage, and identity, brimming with Greek mythology and high-stakes action.