I was raised by awesome hippie parents and grandparents who used to tell me about things like Ishtar's descent into the underworld and the rape of Persephone as bedtime stories. It always sort of freaked me out in school when I would mention things like Isis and Osiris and other people didn't act like it was common knowledge. Plus side? Iowned in primary school when we finally got to do Greek mythology.
Also, Everworld? Holy crap, I still love those books, I admit it freely. I love all four of those damn kids.