Book Review: The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson

WARNING: There will be spoilers regarding 13 Little Blue Envelopes

At First Sight: A few months after traveling through Europe following her beloved - and deceased - Aunt Peg's crazy instructions and having the adventure of a lifetime (see 13 Little Blue Envelopes), Ginny Blackstone is back home trying to write her application essay for college - the big one, about an experience that changed her life - and she knows there is only one thing she could write about: Her Aunt Peg's 13 Little Blue Envelopes quest, but she has no idea where to start.

So when a message pops in her inbox, showing a picture of the last envelope - the one that was stolen before she could read it - and then a message from someone called Oliver, urging her to go to London to retrieve the letters, Ginny jumps at the chance, deciding to spend the rest of winter break with her newly discovered uncle Richard in London. 

But once in there, things get complicated. Ginny's summer fling/kind of something guy Keith might be dating a beautiful girl named Ellis; Oliver has his own agenda for the last blue envelope, which sends Ginny into another insane quest, this time as part of a strange foursome.

Second Glance: Reading The Last Little Blue Envelope was kind of like getting reacquainted with an old friend, and from page one I was quite willing to follow Ginny on a new adventure. The beginning was a bit up and down, kind of drawn out, but once the book hit it's stride, it was very enjoyable. 

I actually loved the two new characters introduced, Ellis and Oliver, though the later was a bit of an acquired taste. Surprisingly, I wasn't a fan of Keith's in this story but oh well. I liked Ginny, I could see how she had grown up from the last book and it was great getting some closure to the story (it sort of always bothered me not knowing what was in the last envelope). 

Did wish that there was more of Richard, he's kind of my favorite character, actually.

Bottom Line: I think that fans of the first book - and of Maureen Johnson in general- will love the book. I do think it can be read on it's own, but you'll probably enjoy it a lot more if you read 13LBE first.  The Last Little Blue Envelope comes out on April 26th, 2011.

Favorite Quote: "Those are the giant snowmen of Carnaby Street," her uncle Richard explained. "Festive and disturbing, just the way we like it here. Don't look them in the eye."