Publishers Weekly
In 13 Little Envelopes (2006), 17-year-old Ginny was sent on an all-expenses-paid scavenger hunt of sorts through Europe, via a series of envelopes from her late aunt. Johnson efficiently recaps the events of that book in a prologue (Ginny plans to use her European tour as fodder for her college application essay), before moving onto the plot point on which this sequel turns: the fact that Ginny never opened the final envelope—it was stolen before she had the chance. After a mysterious e-mail shows up in Ginny's inbox with a scan of partial contents of envelope 13, Ginny returns to Europe to find out what was in the rest of the note and carry out her aunt's last assignment. Johnson's prose is as fluid and assured as ever, and extortion, heartbreak, and a host of entertaining British boys all play their parts as Ginny and friends venture from London to Paris, Amsterdam, and Dublin. Readers who, like Ginny, are on the edge of adulthood, will be drawn in by this winning mix of globe-trotting adventure and romance. Ages 12–up. (May)
Children's Literature - Heidi Hauser Green
Readers may remember seventeen-year-old Ginny Blackstone from Johnson's previous novel, 13 Little Blue Envelopes. That book followed Ginny as she traveled around Europe, following instructions laid out for her by a beloved aunt prior to her death. Her adventure was cut short when someone stole her backpack, containing the last letter, before Ginny could read it. It seemed she would never know her aunt's final intentions for her. Or would she? Ginny is up to her eyes in college applications when a remarkable e-mail catches her attention. Containing a scanned image of the start of her aunt's last letter, this message is from a boy named Oliver. He's in London. He's found her backpack. He has the letters. Ginny needs little provocation to leave the angst of the college application process behind and head back across the pond. It's a sure thing that London will be as full of surprises, exploration, love, and life lessons as it was in her first book. Readers who enjoyed that will be glad to see Ginny's quest continue; for those without that buy-in, this book is likely to fall flat. Reviewer: Heidi Hauser Green
VOYA - Liz Sundermann
Several months have passed since the conclusion of Johnson's 13 Little Blue Envelopes (HarperTeen, 2005/VOYA October 2005) when Ginny receives an e-mail from a mysterious Londoner named Oliver. He claims to be in possession of the letters from her deceased aunt that recently sent her on a trek around Europe. Because Ginny is desperate to read the heretofore unopened thirteenth letter; because she feels that it would be nice to see her not-quite-boyfriend, Keith; and because she is looking for an excuse to postpone writing her college entrance essays, she travels back to London. Things there are not what she expects, but armed with her new haircut, the experience she gained on her last journey, and her ever-building courage, she delves into this new escapade feet first. This novel is a lively adventure with fully formed characters. It builds beautifully from the resolution of the last book (which was intended to be a stand-alone) without getting bogged down in flashbacks or retelling. The plot has a dynamic structure; while the first book sometimes gets bogged down by its formulaic sequence of events, the sequel clips along nicely throughout. Johnson's characters are just the right blend of quirky and likeable to hold teens' interest; they feel remarkably real, yet their circumstances are extraordinary. This is one of the rare books that will delight both lovers of contemporary adventures and those who prefer realistic romances. Reviewer: Liz Sundermann
School Library Journal
Gr 6 Up—In 13 Little Blue Envelopes (HarperCollins, 2005), Ginny Blackstone followed the instructions contained in the little blue envelopes written by her recently deceased aunt. But before she could read the 13th letter and finish her adventures that sent her all over Europe, her backpack was stolen, with the envelope in it. In this book, Ginny is contacted by a London teen who bought her backpack. She decides to return to England, collect the last letter, and finish what she started. Once she is there, though, things don't turn out quite the way she expected. Paul knows that she is selling her aunt's art and wants a cut for returning the letter. Thus begins a wild and tense journey through the British Isles as Ginny, her former boyfriend, his girlfriend, and Paul try to solve the clues and get along. Ginny, a practical and level-headed girl, is likable and easy to root for. With its blend of life lessons and a dash of romance, this sequel is sure to appeal to fans of the first book—Jessie Spalding, Tempe Public Library, AZ
Kirkus Reviews
Ginny Blackstone returns for another delightfully madcap adventure in Europe in this follow-up to Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes (2005). Seemingly out of nowhere, Ginny receives an e-mail containing a scanned copy of the never-opened 13th and final letter from her deceased aunt, stolen along with her backpack while she hopped from country to country in the first novel. The person in possession of the letter instructs her to respond if she's interested, leading her back to England, where she gets another chance to see her not-boyfriend Keith, with whom she has a relationship that they've agreed is "kind of something." Inevitably, they embark on another trip encompassing France, Belgium, Holland and, eventually, a messy, drunken New Year's Eve in Ireland, though this time with the addition of two new, not altogether welcome traveling companions. Ginny's narrative, told in an intelligent, third-person voice, establishes her firmly as a sympathetic, often hilarious everygirl, whose efforts to understand herself and who she'd like to be are fraught with moments both romantic and heartbreaking. Johnson's skill in creating secondary characters that are unusual, realistically flawed and utterly believable is again on display here. While there are no big surprises in this oft-told story of a teen's growth through travel and new relationships, this is an appealingly smart and honest read that fans of the first will find deeply satisfying. (Fiction. 12 & up)
