After being tricked into allowing his almost-teenage sister, Melinda, full access to his room and diary, Jesper and his best friend, Oliver, camp out in Jesper’s back yard. Surrounded by darkness, all sorts of imagined horrific scenarios dance around the boys’ heads, resulting in a failed attempt to break in through Melinda’s bedroom window. Frank Fox provides some insight into the boys’ misfortune that night, after which full focus turns to a family singing competition, to see who is worthy of the only ticket to the upcoming Horrid Porridge concert.
The deceptive, yet highly imaginative beginning to Marko Kitti’s tale kicks off a whirlwind of adventure and insanely humorous antics of Jesper’s family, their neighbor and the Silly Old Scribbler himself. I surprised myself when I hooted and squealed in delight, finally seeing the word “SALMIAKKI” in the text – a Finnish delicacy which I am sure they use to torture all foreigners in extreme situations. The introduction of Snowy’s boyfriend, Frank, was a real palette cleanser, which left me laughing until I choked on my food. (Note to reader: put food down before reading Marko Kitti’s books – the difference being intermittent and constant shock and laughter). Smiling all the way through, while shaking my head in shock and disbelief at the outcome of the camping debacle, I simply could not put Jesper Jinx and the Turkish Pepper down. The illustrations were as clever and entertaining as the text, and I am once again left with a craving for more, which I will be seeking out today. I fully recommend Jesper Jinx and the Turkish Pepper to readers aged 7-200, who love a well-written tale which carries an interesting family dynamic and an insight into the Finnish culture.