The Death-Defying Pepper Roux

Pepper’s 14th birthday is the day he’s supposed to die, as foretold by his cruel aunt who claims to know this from Saint Constance. Daily confession and prayer reinforce the message—but Pepper doesn’t die when he turns 14, so he escapes to a series of wild escapades including a sea voyage where he is befriended by a kindhearted, cross-dressing steward named Duchesse. A quirky, fanciful, but compelling adventure set in early 20th-century France.