13 Little Blue Envelopes (Little Blue Envelope #1)

Reader reviewed by the book muncher

One day, Virginia Blackstone, or Ginny, receives a letter from her dead aunt with instructions to go to a Chinese restaurant. There, Ginny receives a bundle of twelve letters, for a grand total of thirteen, thus naming the novel. Four simple rules are laid down by Peg, Ginnys aunt, and there are more instructions enclosed in each letter, to be opened at a specific place and time. All Ginny needs to do to begin her journey is fly to London. And so she does.

Ginny embarks on a crazy, all-over-the-place trip that takes her around Europe, to places that were significant to her aunt Peg. Along the way, she meets a playwright and used-to-be-thief named Keith, who she maybe falls in love with, many old friends of Peg, some new friends in various cities, and even an uncle she never knew she had. And during this journey, Ginny learns a lot about herself and her aunt Peg.

I found 13 Little Blue Envelopes to be a very well-written novel. Maureen Johnson is an amazing author and has proved herself again. I especially liked traveling with Ginny to all those amazing European cities and feeling like I was there beside her. Ginny's relationship with Keith is especially cute too. There were some parts of the book where I was a little confused, but the issue was always cleared up soon after. The idea behind the novel is original, and I found myself wishing I had a crazy aunt to send me on a strange trip to Europe. This was a realistic and very enjoyable read. I highly recommend this, and other Maureen Johnson books.

Reader reviewed by Hope

Ginny is off on a once-in-a-lifetime oppertunity: viewing the world outside her hometown and even the United States.

The one thing kind of wrong with this picture: she's folling directions found in thirteen little blue envolopes given to her after her [kind of] crazy dead aunt sent her.

13 Little Blue Envolopes will make you feel like you are going along with Ginny on this trip, you will feel what she feels, see what Ginny sees, and overall, just feel like you are traveling with her.

This is one of my favorite books, and I would recommend this to everyone. It might seem slow to begin with - it did with me - but it gets very interresting, and I found I couldn't put it down after the first few chapters.

Reader reviewed by Vicky

I love this book because it shows what can happen when you go on a cross-Europe trip, while also making it comical.

In this book, Ginny gets directions from her dead aunt to pack light and go to an address in Europe. While there, Ginny opens each letter only after she completes the tasks in the first ones. She meets an actor named Keith after having to be an anonymous donator to an artist. She shows him the evelopes and he decides to go some places with her. Together they go to a famous artists' house. At the train station, Keith tells Ginny about his life.

Later on in the book, Ginny meets new friends, and sees Keith again and again periodically throughout the book. Soon she realizes that the secret her aunt holds is not the only that she finds, but she also finds love as well. But what is the secret her aunt holds?

This book provided mystery and excitement, causing me to read it and finish it in one night. I fell in love with this book after one of my friends recommended it to me. I highly recommend it to anyone who reads romance.

Reader reviewed by Samantha

This book is about a girl named Ginny. Her favorite aunt dies, but she is then sent a package from her aunt! She ends up being able to travel alll around europe, and meeting some good and bad people along the way. It is a great book and I recommend to everyone!

Reader reviewed by linda

Ginny's aunt Peg has always been a free spirit so when Ginny receives a plane ticket to England and the instruction to open one envelope upon her arrival at each place, she is not surprised. She has a lot of fun as she becomes friends with a starving artist and her relationship soon blooms into romance. She learns a lot about her aunt and the mystery that surrounds her. The experiences are uncomfortable, lonely, giddy, and life changing and she pieces together family secrets and discovers herself. I loved the plot to this book, it's pretty original and the setting was described perfectly.

Reader reviewed by Katie

I fell in love with this book! It's touching and heartfelt without being over the top or sappy.

I also love the other books by this author. She writes smart chick lit. I like romance just as much as any other girl, but it's so much better when it actually has substance. I love, love, loved it! RRREEEAAADDD IIITTT!!!

Reader reviewed by Cj

This book was very interesting. So happy&&facinating. I fell in love with the book even though it's just a fiction book. I love fiction books they get the best of me. So I in my words enjoy the book very much. &&would love to read it over&&over again. Same goes with Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys.

Reader reviewed by Tanya

When reading this book, I was green with envy at all the things that Ginny got to do in her travels after the death of her aunt. It is my dream to get to travel and the amazing museums and people that the main character Ginny met, were amazing. The book dealt with real issues, like death, and I felt like I was in her shoes. 13 Little Blue Envelopes is a heart felt story and made me wish my life had that kind of excitement!

Reader reviewed by Britt

This book is an inspring,sad,adventurous,and romatic book. Its tells alot about a persons life and how you may not know one thing but turns out you do. I love the way the author really gets into the art and paintings. i love art its a beautiful thing and she put it in the book like u could picture it was REAL!. This bok is a great book and i thing whoever is looking at this review. Should read it. Thank You

Reader reviewed by Nis

I loved '13 Little Blue Envelopes,' and am more than happy to recommend to adults and kids alike! A prior reviewer commented this sounded vaguely like another book, which sounds to me like comparing every tale of star-crossed lovers to 'Romeo and Juliet.' What Johnson has done is taken an idea we've all had at some point -- what if you got a windfall and the opportunity to travel and enjoy it? -- and crafted a genuine and romantic story of a teen's first real adventure outside her comfort level. Ginny would have never gone to Europe without the envelopes -- would have never fallen in love, sponsored an artist, or learned her aunt's secrets. The progression from Envelope #1 to the end shows her growth as a person, as she responds more quickly and more creatively to the challenges in each subsequent letter. I can't wait to read more by the author!