Double Feature Review, Part Two: The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson

The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson

Little Blue Envelope #2

First in series: 13 Little Blue Envelopes

304 Pages 

Published: April, 2011 by HarperTeen

Source: Purchased Kindle Edition

Find the book: goodreads | amazon | barnes & noble

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Synopsis contain spoilers if you have not read Book #1 in the Little Blue Envelope series. 

You have been warned.

Ginny Blackstone thought that the biggest adventure of her life was behind her. She spent last summer traveling around Europe, following the tasks her aunt Peg laid out in a series of letters before she died. When someone stole Ginny's backpack—and the last little blue envelope inside—she resigned herself to never knowing how it was supposed to end. Months later, a mysterious boy contacts Ginny from London, saying he's found her bag. Finally, Ginny can finish what she started. But instead of ending her journey, the last letter starts a new adventure—one filled with old friends, new loves, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Ginny finds she must hold on to her wits . . . and her heart. This time, there are no instructions.

This book was different from the first in that you don't really get the charm of Europe, but then again that's not what this book focuses on. Ginny gets into interesting situations in this book that were sometimes funny and at times sad. The last little blue envelope is by far my favorite of the 13. Aunt Peg really knew Ginny and fate just made the letters so fitting and suitable to what was happening in the first book and this last letter was no exception. Due to a certain new character we only get a portion of the letter at a time. Again though they are fitting and I loved embarking on a new adventure with Ginny and her old friend(s).

Speaking of this new character, I warmed up to him pretty quickly considering I hated him in the beginning. I have to say no other character has made that kind of turn-around so quickly since Severus Snape from the Harry Potter series. It was just pity at first but his personality and actions were not so horrible as I would have thought. Another character though did the exact opposite, I ended up disliking him in the end. This character would be none other than Keith. I know I know, he was cool in the first book but in this one he annoyed me and at times I just wanted him to go away.

Overall though it was an entertaining read and I saw it as a coming of age story too. Ginny is at a critical time in her life (high school senior!) and has a lot to think about in terms of what college to attend and what is this last adventure her "Runaway Aunt" has in store for her. I liked that this book also delved more into the actual death and last few years of Aunt Peg's life. I would've loved to have met her, and I don't say that about a whole lot of fictional characters.

I give this book 5 Stars!