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13 Little Blue Envelopes Paperback – January 1, 2006

by Maureen Johnson (Author)

4.2 1,211 ratings

Book 1 of 2: Little Blue Envelope

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When seventeen-year-old Ginny receives a packet of mysterious envelopes from her favorite aunt, she leaves New Jersey to criss-cross Europe on a sort of scavenger hunt that transforms her life. Reprint.

Book 1 of 2

Little Blue Envelope
Print length

352 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Harperteen
Publication date

January 1, 2006
Grade level

7 - 9
Dimensions

5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
ISBN-10

0060541431
ISBN-13

978-0060541439
Lexile measure

770L
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harperteen; Reissue edition (January 1, 2006)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060541431
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060541439
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 770L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 - 9
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,011,318 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5,142 in Teen & Young Adult Family Fiction

Customer Reviews:
4.2 1,211 ratings

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Maureen Johnson

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Maureen Johnson is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of several YA novels, including 13 Little Blue Envelopes, Suite Scarlett, The Name of the Star, and Truly Devious. She has also done collaborative works, such as Let It Snow (with John Green and Lauren Myracle), and The Bane Chronicles (with Cassandra Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan). Her work has appeared in publications such as The New York Times, Buzzfeed, and The Guardian, and she has also served as a scriptwriter for EA Games. She has an MFA in Writing from Columbia University and lives in New York City.

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4.2 out of 5

1,211 global ratings

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Tammy Smith

It's the posh, posh traveling life, the traveling life for me!!!!!!!

Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2015

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I loved this book! But what's not to love? It had everything; tragedy, triumph, romance, crime, action, adventure, travel and it was down right fun.

Ginny is our main character. She is not a risk taker by any means. Her Aunt Peg has died and she has been given an envelope with some cash, a list of rules and a quest to fulfill. She has left for Ginny some envelopes. They are numbered sequentially and the number of the count is 13. Thou shall not count to 12, unless thereby thou proceed to 13. 14 is right out. Sorry. Coincidentally, the envelopes are also all blue...and on the small size, hence the title of the book.

Now Ginny could cheat and open all the envelopes and read them, but Aunt Peg's rules were very specific. She had a plan and the envelopes were not to be read except in order and at the ordained location or time frame. Ginny never having been anywhere, is understandably nervous about undertaking this trip.

She really has no idea what to expect not having seen her aunt in a long time, never even knowing she was sick and again, she's not a risk taker, but she undertakes the journey and follows her aunt's instructions. She is to take one backpack only and only what will fit in the backpack. She is to only take the money her aunt left her. She is to take no travel books and nothing to record her journey in. And she is not allowed to use phone, computer, camera, Internet or any other electronic devices or tools. And she cannot contact anyone back in the States. Oh yeah! She's going to England!!!

But alone is an intimidating prospect, especially for a 17 year old who has never been out of the country. I personally would have reveled in the experience, but I have family from the UK and became obsessed from an early age. I also did do just that. I went off to England by myself, but I was 29 at the time. Got off the plane, rented a car and just drove for 2 1/2 weeks. It was quite an adventure, but I have a travelling heart.

But back to our story. Aunt Peg has very explicit instructions for Ginny. She has to go find some strange man who is expecting her and she is going to stay with him while in England. But she has other things she has to do as well, like find an artistic stranger and support their artistic vision with 500 pounds. She also has to go find some artist in Scotland Aunt Peg was friends with.

If you didn't guess before, Aunt Peg was what we call a unique individual. Some might say flighty. She gave up the rat race and just went off to pursue her dreams and follow along wherever the wind would take her. Eccentric? Perhaps, probably. A hippie? Definitely, but she lived each day of her life to the fullest and she was trying to teach Ginny how to do the same.

So Ginny follows the instructions in the envelopes to the letter, ends up traveling all over Europe in some less than ideal circumstances at times and has the time of her life. Talk about life changing events. Well, this one is one of the big ones. Hello, life!

If you think you would enjoy a story about a girl who ends up finding herself on the back roads of Europe, this would probably be a good book for you. So, go out there and grab that book by the cover and don't stop reading until the end. You won't be sorry!

7 people found this helpful

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Melissa Do

good story, bad heroine

Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2024

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he main character is about as interesting as a soggy gym towel which is a shame because otherwise the story is good.

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Ruth Anderson

Fun escapism! 3.5 Stars...

Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2012

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Ginny always viewed her eccentric, artistic Aunt Peg as the most daring, interesting member of her family -- a fearless and bold risk-taker, the woman who made the safer Ginny more interesting by association. When Peg's free-spirited ways led her to abandon her home in New York to travel throughout Europe, no one in Ginny's family was really surprised -- Peg always returned, sooner or later, bearing tales and souvenirs of her adventures. But one day, instead of Peg a package arrives for seventeen-year-old Ginny -- thirteen blue envelopes, the first containing $1,000 and instructions for Ginny to buy a plane ticket to London. The instructions are very specific -- bring minimal baggage and only open the next envelope when the task in the current letter has been completed. Accepting Peg's terms, Ginny gamely books her flight and heads for London, the first of many leaps of faith she'll be required to experience in order to follow her aunt's most unusual directive. Each letter, each requirement thrusts Ginny into the most exhilarating and scary journey of her young life, a pilgrimage to follow her aunt's footsteps throughout Europe. Along the way the letters test Ginny's resilience and force her to decide who she is and wants to be, the type of woman she stands on the cusp of becoming. All it takes is leap after leap of faith...

I've had this book on my radar for several years now -- the cover is adorable, the premise intriguing, and since I seem to be on a YA kick here lately I figured now is as good a time as any to read my first Johnson novel. The impetus behind Ginny's journey through Europe is a fascinating one, and given the apparent (and stark) differences in personality between Ginny and her colorful aunt, Johnson sets the stage for a rollicking travelogue adventure grounded in the unexpected and deep bond between two seemingly wildly different personality types. However (and I realize I'm probably showing my age here), I would've liked a touch more plausibility in the journey's set-up -- given the clear (and often valid) issues Ginny's mother had with her sister's lifestyle, I find it hard to believe that she would have sanctioned the trip given Ginny's age and the restrictions place on her travel by the letters. But fiction is all about escapism, and my issue with the set-up was quickly overshadowed by the promise of Ginny's adventures to come in the great European unknown.

Each letter serves as figurative key that unlocks a new chapter in Peg's life for Ginny to explore. Johnson keeps the action moving at a refreshing, brisk pace, introducing new characters and scenery every few days -- in that respect this novel is an armchair traveler's dream. The individuals that pepper Ginny's travels are incredibly engaging, colorful characters -- from the rather traditional, somewhat staid Richard who seems the complete opposite of Peg, to Keith, the charming university student/ex-thief (and creator of "Starbucks: The Musical") who finds himself the benefactor of Ginny's efforts to "fund a struggling artist." I loved Keith -- he was an absolute charmer, and his deadpan responses to Ginny and the eccentric nature of her trip provided some of the novel's funniest moments. Unfortunately, for a novel with such rich scenic potential and delightfully individual and quirky supporting characters, Ginny comes across as woefully flat for the first two-thirds of the book. She's just...there and it's hard to fathom how she seems so one-dimensional when compared to everyone she encounters. Thankfully, Johnson's brisk pacing keeps the plot moving forward, and the more Ginny learns about her aunt's life, Peg's hopes and fears, the more Ginny opens up and becomes a character I finally began to really connect with.

Despite some implausibilities and characterization issues, I enjoyed this introduction to Johnson's work. I loved the way in which the mystery of Aunt Peg unfolded further with each letter, a poignant testimony to one woman's reflections on her life and relationships, guiding Ginny to finally come into her own, balancing her aunt's hopes for her with the dawning realization of who she is and wants to be. I'm looking forward to Ginny's further adventures in the sequel!

One person found this helpful

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Morgan Phillips

A great re read!

Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2015

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Ginny is going on an adventure of a lifetime! Her aunt who has just recently pass write her all these letters to send her across Europe to follow in her footsteps. Along the way Ginny makes some pretty odd and crazy people. One of which she starts a little romance with when one letter leads her to a theater in a basement under the Goldsmiths college Uni. On this journey Ginny learns to loosen up and step out of shell and in a way become closer aunt in understanding that even though at times during the trip she really hated her aunt for making her doing things didn’t want to do or didn’t make any sense at the time. The first I read this book I was in high school and I got an email this weekend saying it was on sale and I just had to buy and read it again. I laughed just as hard this time through as I did the last time maybe more because now that I’m older I can enjoy her experience more because I have been through similar (I mean who hasn’t made a complete fool out herself in front of a super cute guy!). Ginny is like any other high school girl and is so relatable. I think every girl will be able to relate to her in someway. I think Keith is the perfect guy for during this journey. he is a rebel and even though she makes a fool of herself with him over and over again he doesn’t dread on it. he even makes a fool out himself a few times as well. I think that even each other out a little and hello he is British! Gotta love that accent!

2 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Anjaan Roy

Wonderful book for young minds.

Reviewed in India on March 6, 2020

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It's a wonderful book for the young minds. The story is no doubt very mesmerizing and attracts the reader to go inside and know next. The story is so beautiful and loveable.

Vanessa Tassone

Five Stars

Reviewed in Canada on November 3, 2016

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Great!!!! Thanks

liz prosser

Not just for older teens it's a must read for teen's mums too.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 28, 2011

Verified Purchase

My daughter, a college student in the US, told me I should read this (with an underlying MUST). I was enchanted with it, it is a truly amazing read. Both my daughter and I read it from different persepctives. I read it as a mother, she read it as 19 yr old 2nd year college student - in fact the epitomy of Ginny, the main character. The book says that Ginny, who has just finished school, changes because of the envelopes. As a mother of a girl the same age, this transition between school and life happens anyway. How it affects the teen girl (or boy) depends on what happens next. Some go on successfully to college, some choose a gap year, some "hang out" unsure and afraid of what lies ahead. Ginny falls into this lattr category. She is dealing with confusion about her life at this transitory point, when a dramatic event that changes her life's direction, is spring upon her.

She is left 13 blue envelopes by a favourite, rather eccentric,deceased aunt. The instructions are explicit - open them at a specific time and follow the instructions contained within. Ginny could have open all of the envelopes at one time - she doesn't which in itself is curious but as she opens the first - she finds money and instructions to buy a one-way ticket to London. She must take only a back back, no ipod, mobile phone, laptop or the general trappings attached to the average teen. On the plane she opens no 2. That envelope tells her what to do and where to go initially. After that, there is a certain amount of strange free choice with each letter, which then makes Ginny's voyage into the unknown far more her own than her aunt's exact planning. This book (and its sequel , which is also a must read). The ending is not what you think it will be. This book is dramatically hitting the book charts in the US and I am really confused as to why this is not happening in the UK. For both parents and late teens this is a MUST READ. 13 Little Blue Envelopes ..Then read the last little blue envelope.

One person found this helpful

Mr. PG

Great read.

Reviewed in Canada on December 6, 2017

Verified Purchase

Really enjoyed this book; didn't even realize that it was originally a YA book until I'd finished it and read that somewhere else. Totally believable character (how does an adult writer get into a teen's mind/life so well?) and great plot. Treats love, in its various forms, very very well.
Looking forward to The Last Little Blue Envelope, the sequel.

Emily Andrews

I would love this adventure to happen to me!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2010

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When I read this book I was amazed by what Ginnys aunty was telling her to do with the envelopes, the story was amazing and I felt how the character felt in certain situations.

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