Only Everything

Gr 8 Up—Scott captures the capriciousness of the gods in her Greek mythology mash-up. The novel begins with a vignette of Eros cavorting with Orion in a secluded forest and uttering the fateful words "I'd rather die than live without you." Zeus banishes the goddess Eros to earth without her powers and with a deadline to help three mortal couples find love or lose Orion forever. Although the prologue may cause some reluctant readers to balk, once the real action starts and the young deity, in the guise of True Olympia, starts to match her first set of mortals, teens will immediately recognize and relate to the pitfalls of dating and family life. There are some not-so-subtle complaints about overreliance on technological connections, but the problems of Katrina and Charlie, the couple Eros ultimately unites, are engaging. There are strong themes about staying true to one's self and finding relationships that are based on mutual respect, but Scott finds the fine line between showing rather than preaching. Readers looking for a denouement are likely to be disappointed, because once the couple has committed, the story is over. The shift is rather abrupt since the challenges facing each of the characters defy quick and easy solutions. However, the shifts in perspective and the recurring flashbacks combined with the clever use of literary devices creates a text complexity that is present without becoming overwhelming. This series will round out collections in need of a little romance that doesn't involve dystopias or vampires.—Jodeana Kruse, R. A. Long High School, WA