By Geraldine McCaughrean
Imagine knowing, from the very first day of your life, that you would die on your fourteenth birthday; how would you choose to live? For the first fourteen years, Paul 'Pepper' Roux is well-mannered, obedient and faith-driven. But on his fourteenth birthday, he steals a ship and runs away from his family and his fate, unwittingly unleashing his innocent, kind and naive self out into the cruel, hard world.
This endearing story is one unlike any other I've read; rarely do you find a protagonist with such an undoubted sense of good inside him.McCaughrean's craftsmanship in creating Pepper's character is admirable - he is both wonderful and deeply flawed.
The third person narrative provides juicy, detailed description, and it is constantly dipping into Pepper's young, vivid mind, which is where the true glory of this book can be found. From atop the ship's mast-head, he envisions his dreaded 'Saint Constance sculling towards him in a rowing boat.'
Although the plot is a little far-fetched (which does, admittedly, fit with the entire nature of the novel), and the language is over-complicated at times, the characterisation in this novel, of not only Pepper, but the fabulous Duchesse, the evil Roche and the sweet Yvette, far outshines its mild blemishes. This is an absolutely exquisite novel.
By Holly, Year 12
So glad you enjoyed it too! Pepper's guilt at how he feels that his inevitable death dodges him and hits another was really touching. I think Duchesse is one of my favourite characters ever.
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