The only interesting about 17 year old Ginny Blackstone is her eccentric aunt – several months ago her phone stopped working: she’d moved to Europe for several months without telling any of her family, which was very Aunt Peg. Dying of brain cancer at the age of thirty-five wasn’t, though. When she was Ginny’s age Peg had abandoned a full scholarship at Mount Holyoke, left New Jersey, and embarked on the unencumbered life of an artist.
Still unable to accept her beloved aunt’s unexpected death, Ginny receives the first of thirteen letters from Peg – a quest. There are only four rules: take only what she can fit in a backpack, no guidebooks, no extra cash (Peg will provide what’s needed), and no phone calls or emails to anyone at home. Oh, and follow Peg’s directions, the first of which is to fly to Heathrow.
This delightful, engrossing novel tells how shy, retiring Ginny follows in her aunt’s steps through Europe. The voice of Peg guides Ginny from London to Edinburgh, Rome, Paris, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, then south to Corfu before returning to London. Along the way Ginny loses her timidity, and gains something of an appreciation for spontaneity, as well as gaining self-confidence, unexpected experiences and a boy friend on the way. Not everything goes to plan, but that’s the nature of travelling, and of life.
Ever since seeing the Brady Bunch episode where Carol’s eccentric aunt took a shine to Jan, I always wanted an eccentric aunt of my own. I’m also somewhat timid, and haven’t travelled widely (particularly in comparison with my absurdly globe-hopping family). I related strongly to Ginny, wistfully to Aunt Peg, and so enjoyed the experience of reading 13 Little Blue Envelopes that I’ll be looking out for more of Johnson’s work. – Alex
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