13 Little Blue Envelopes

Maureen Johnson’s 13 Little Blue Envelopes is about a teenage girl named Ginny who started off her summer with just one little blue envelope from her runaway Aunt Peg. Until one day a letter came in from her aunt saying “You remember the game we used to play today I live in. I would like to play that game one more time except now we’re going to be more literal. Rule number one:You may only bring what fits into your backpack. Don’t try and fake it with a purse or a carry-on. Rule number two: You may NOT bring guidebook, phrase books, or only kind of foreign language aid. And NO journals. Rule number three: You can NOT bring any extra money or credit/debit cards, traveler’s checks, etc. I’ll take care of that. Rule number four: NO electronic crutches. This means no laptop, no cell phone, no music, no camera. You can not call home or communicate with people in the U.S. by internet or telephone. Postcards and letters are acceptable and encouraged.”

Before Ginny can go anywhere yet she needs to go to the 4th Noodle Shop where the rest of the little blue envelopes will be waiting for her. 4th Noodle Shop was where Ginny’s aunt use to live in New Jersey before she ran away to live her own life. Ginny’s journey begins in London, where her aunt gives her specific directions to live with a mysterious man. She had to ask him what he sold to the Queen of England because that was the pin to the ATM. Thirteen little blue envelopes changed Ginny’s life forever with deep secrets that she never knew. Maureen Johnson’s 13 Little Blue Envelopes amazed me with its action and romance throughout the novel.

The setting of this book was so interesting from one place to another as Ginny travels around Europe completing the tasks that her aunt has told her too. As Maureen Johnson describes what the surrounding area in the book is it makes me feel like I am in the story with Ginny, roaming around Europe. Ginny was a courageous teenager to travel around Europe just because her aunt told her to. This makes me feel like I want to be just like her and travel around by my self and not be afraid when something goes wrong. At one point in the story, Ginny had no hotel to stay at, so she stayed at another hotel with a nice caring family. This book is full of action and realistic details of Ginny’s life. The novel 13 Little Blue Envelopes blew me away with Ginny’s adventures going places and I am looking forward to reading the last book in the series, The Last Little Blue Envelope. The book is great for teens who love to read about adventures and travels around different places.

Author: Maureen Johnson

Genre: Adventure