The Death-Defying Pepper Roux

The Death-Defying Pepper Roux

by Geraldine McCaughrean

Pepper's fourteenth birthday is a momentous one.

It's the day he's supposed to die.

Everyone seems resigned to it—even Pepper, although he would much prefer to live. But can you sidestep Fate? Jump sideways into a different life? NaÏve and trusting, Pepper sets a course through dangerous waters, inviting disaster and mayhem at every turn, one eye on the sky for fear of angels, one on the magnificent possibilities of being alive. (description from Amazon.com)

I really enjoyed this book.  I felt so bad for Pepper, growing up convinced by the grown-ups around him that he was going to die at fourteen...good for him, taking his fate into his own hands! What follows is a mad-cap adventure, a-la cheesy adventure movie style, with lots of twists, coincidences, and finally a happy ending. 

I thought Pepper was a great character...charming, polite, well-intentioned, and fortunate in his friends.  I was very happy to see the way things turned out for him.  I thought the author did a really great job at keeping the tone of this book light and fun, because poor Pepper's life just starts out so sad...