Kindhearted Pepper Roux has been led to believe that “[c]hildhood was a mouse trap from which he could never expect to escape,” his death by age 14 foretold in a dream. His maiden Aunt Mireille takes it upon herself to pave Pepper's path to heaven with daily prayer, constant confession, and rote memorization of last rites. So when Pepper awakens on his 14th birthday still alive, he launches himself on a sea voyage, intent on outrunning death. Mistaken for the ship's captain (his father), he is befriended by a compassionate, cross-dressing steward, Duchesse. Creating vivid characters is just one of McCaughrean's (The White Darkness) gifts—Aunt Mireille joins Dahl's Spiker and Sponge as one of the Most Evil Aunts in children's literature. Pepper flees across the French countryside from one disastrous job to another—delivery boy, horse wrangler, deli clerk, and even journalist, which allows McCaughrean to wink at readers as Pepper complains, “Copy editors cannot read anything without changing it.” As his journey ends in a cleverly orchestrated climax, readers will root for Pepper to get the ending he deserves—a happy one. Ages 10–up. (Jan.)
Gr 6–9—A charming tale about Pepper Roux, whose jealous and cruel Aunt Mireille foretells, at his birth, his death at age 14. A devout Catholic, she insists that he learn Last Rites rather than nursery rhymes. When his 14th birthday arrives, Pepper runs away to sea in an attempt to stay a step ahead of death. He steps into many different lives, largely because, as the author repeatedly points out, people see what they expect to see. Pepper becomes the captain of a coffin ship, has a brief career as a journalist who will only write good news, and joins the Foreign Legion (until he realizes that he'll have to kill people). Each role is an adventure that leaves chaos in its wake and good-hearted Pepper one step ahead of getting caught. The story is set in France and has a 1930-ish feel. While the episodic plot may not be its strongest draw, the memorable characters and lyrical prose make the novel hard to put down. Pepper, in all his endearing innocence and goodness, will capture readers' hearts, and Duchesse, the cross-dressing steward, may be the most hilarious yet wise character in children's literature this decade. McCaughrean tackles big issues here: families, faith, loss, jealousy, and the expectations of others. The question with this book may be one of audience: Will kids understand its subtleties and some of the references, particularly the religious and political ones? But in the hands of the right child, this novel will be savored.—Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME
Poor Pepper Roux (his nickname "le pauvre," or "pitiful one," was confused at school with "poivre," French for "pepper") has been waiting for death for as long as he can remember. According to his malevolent Aunt Mireille, Saint Constance had foretold he'd die by age 14, and due to his rather awful family's quotidian reminders of this, "The days clattered down like rows of dominoes." When he finds himself still alive on his 14th birthday, Pepper escapes, and the string of adventures and grim-reaper-dodging identity shifts that follows (from sea captain to telegram boy) comprise this laugh-out-loud funny, picaresque adventure set in early-20th-century France. British novelist McCaughrean's frequently over-the-top metaphors mirror the delightfully implausible plot-a slapstick story salted with colorful characters both cruel and kind, anchored in the emotional reality of a painfully naive boy who gets quite a bit wiser. The refrain-"Well, people see what they expect to see. Or do they see what they want?"-sits at the heart of this poignant, odd, wonderfully composed and vastly entertaining novel. (Fiction. 12 & up)
Exuberant prose and whirling humor animate an unforgettable cast of characters. A more whimsical, French cousin to Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book (2008), with a similar timelessly classic feel.” — Booklist (starred review)
“Creating vivid characters is just one of McCaughrean’s gifts. Readers will root for Pepper to get the ending he deserves—a happy one.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“[A] laugh-out-loud funny, picaresque adventure. McCaughrean’s frequently over-the-top metaphors mirror the delightfully implausible plot. [A] poignant, odd, wonderfully composed and vastly entertaining novel.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“A charming tale. Pepper will capture readers’ hearts, and Duchesse may be the most hilarious yet wise character in children’s literature this decade. This novel will be savored.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
“[T]horoughly entertaining. It’s McCaughrean’s way with language that establish[es] this picaresque tale as the latest evidence that she is one of the more remarkable novelists writing for children today.” — The Horn Book
“The Death-Defying Pepper Roux is a thoughtful novel and an entertaining adventure story. McCaughrean once again proves that she is a talented writer with the ability to weave truly enchanting metaphors.” — Assembly on Literature for Adolescents
[T]horoughly entertaining. It’s McCaughrean’s way with language that establish[es] this picaresque tale as the latest evidence that she is one of the more remarkable novelists writing for children today.
Exuberant prose and whirling humor animate an unforgettable cast of characters. A more whimsical, French cousin to Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book (2008), with a similar timelessly classic feel.
Booklist (starred review)
The Death-Defying Pepper Roux is a thoughtful novel and an entertaining adventure story. McCaughrean once again proves that she is a talented writer with the ability to weave truly enchanting metaphors.
Assembly on Literature for Adolescents
"Exuberant prose and whirling humor animate an unforgettable cast of characters. A more whimsical, French cousin to Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book (2008), with a similar timelessly classic feel."
Pepper Roux has always been told that he's destined to die at age 14. So when 14 arrives, Pepper runs—first to sea and then across France, changing his identity and dodging the saints and angels he's certain are after him. Geraldine McCaughrean's clever and intricate wordsmithing requires a narrator who can riff and play and bring out every bit of nuance and meaning. It's hard to imagine a narrator being more attuned to the text than Anton Lesser is—he fully embodies Pepper and the myriad other characters he encounters. Lesser’s and McCaughrean’s considerable talents combine to create an even greater whole, and listeners are whisked along, breathless and marveling, on Pepper's grand adventure. J.M.D. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine
NOVEMBER 2010 - AudioFile
Pepper Roux has always been told that he's destined to die at age 14. So when 14 arrives, Pepper runs—first to sea and then across France, changing his identity and dodging the saints and angels he's certain are after him. Geraldine McCaughrean's clever and intricate wordsmithing requires a narrator who can riff and play and bring out every bit of nuance and meaning. It's hard to imagine a narrator being more attuned to the text than Anton Lesser is—he fully embodies Pepper and the myriad other characters he encounters. Lesser’s and McCaughrean’s considerable talents combine to create an even greater whole, and listeners are whisked along, breathless and marveling, on Pepper's grand adventure. J.M.D. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine
NOVEMBER 2010 - AudioFile
