The Death-Defying Pepper Roux

You would reach for this book when your child feels weighed down by the expectations of others or feels that their future is already decided for them. It is a brilliant resource for a middle schooler struggling with a sense of fatalism or the fear that they are destined to fail before they have even begun. Pepper Roux is a boy who was told by his aunt that he would die on his fourteenth birthday. When he survives the day, he realizes he is free to be anyone he wants. The story follows his surreal and humorous adventures across the sea as he tries on different identities (captain, telegraph boy, and more) to outrun his supposed fate. Parents will appreciate the way it addresses deep existential fears with a light, absurdist touch, making it ideal for children aged 10 to 14 who are beginning to ask big questions about identity and agency.