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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does Ginny ride when Knud picks her up at the airport?

2. For what does Ginny say she's been searching?

3. What number letter does Ginny open?

4. What does Peg do for a place to stay in Paris?

5. What does Ginny find in the same place at Richard's?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the group do when the leave the beach in Greece and what does Ginny do when she finds out she has no money?

2. How does Ginny feel about getting out of the cemetery and what does Keith do when she says she missed the locking of the hostel?

3. What does Olivia tell Ginny when they discuss using the internet?

4. Why does Ginny have to look for a hostel in Amsterdam and how does she feel about the first one she finds?

5. Who picks Ginny up in Copenhagen and where does he first take her?

6. How does Ginny find the cafe and what does she do there?

7. Where do Keith and Ginny spend the night in Paris?

8. How does Ginny find a key?

9. What does Peg tell Ginny about the last envelope and what does Ginny say when Carrie asks her when she is going to open it?

10. Where does Ginny go after Copenhagen and how does she end up with friends going with her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ginny always felt as though she was more interesting around her Aunt Peg. She was rather shy and tried hard to blend in wherever possible, which was almost impossible with a thirty pound green and purple backpack. It is a June afternoon when Ginny arrived at the 4th Noodle Penthouse to pick up the package left to her by Aunt Peg. The smell is immediately familiar and she half expects Peg to come in any second, but of course that is impossible. She can't believe her Aunt is actually gone. Her visits to Peg had been infrequent, but magical. Peg had always been flighty, so when her phone stopped working, no one panicked.

1. Discuss, in detail, why you think Ginny always felt more interesting around her aunt. Use examples from your own life and "13 Little Blue Envelopes" to support your answer.

2. Discuss, in detail, ways in which you think Ginny could overcome her shyness. Use examples from your own life and "13 Little Blue Envelopes" to support your answer.

3. Discuss what you think Ginny might be feeling and thinking when she enters the penthouse. Use examples from your own life and "13 Little Blue Envelopes" to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Over the course of "13 Little Blue Envelopes", Ginny grows as a person in both complexity and understanding. "13 Little Blue Envelopes" might be considered a slice of Ginny's larger story of her "coming of age." It might be said that this story is a "bildungsroman" of Ginny Blackstone. Discuss the following:

1. Define Bildungsroman, or "Coming of Age," and give several examples from literature you have read.

2. Trace and analyze the character of Ginny as she changes from a shy teen to a more confident young woman. What are the significant events that change Ginny?

3. After thoroughly analyzing Ginny's growth throughout "13 Little Blue Envelopes", do you think "13 Little Blue Envelopes" could be considered Ginny's Coming of Age story? Why or why not?

4. Are there any other characters in "13 Little Blue Envelopes" who go through a Coming of Age experience? Who? Why do you think so?

Essay Topic 3

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Maureen Johnson.

2. What in Johnson's background may have helped him in writing "13 Little Blue Envelopes"? What may have influenced the way he depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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