The Epic Story of Every Living Thing

Starred review from July 11, 2022
Seventeen-year-old Harper Proulx is practiced at internet sleuthing, taking Instagram selfies that make her look adventurous and approachable, and interacting with her steadily growing social media following. She’s not so good at being present in the world without her phone, which she uses to help allay her fears surrounding Covid, distract herself from her mother’s perfectionism, and idly search for her sperm donor father. When someone who inexplicably looks just like Harper contacts her via Instagram, she learns that she has three half siblings: Dario, Simone, and Wyatt, all conceived from the same sperm donor as Harper. Together, the teens become embroiled in an epic pursuit for their biological father that leads them to Hawaii. Excerpts from 19th-century letters, journals, and newspapers included at the beginning of each present-day chapter detail a seafaring expedition whose inclusion—and subsequent narrative convergence—is both mysterious and enthralling. It’s impossible not to cheer for Harper’s sincere voice as she comes into her own, working to overcome her fears, manage her anxieties, and stop hiding in plain sight. Caletti’s (One Great Lie) bighearted novel, which endorses the wonders of being present in the world rather than existing exclusively online, uses two seemingly perpendicular voyages to expertly navigate themes of belonging, connection, family, and identity. Most characters cue as white; Simone’s Israeli and French mother has dark skin. Ages 14–up. Agent: Michael Bourret, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret.