Review: The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson

Title: The Last Little Blue Envelope
Author: Maureen Johnson
Publisher: HarperTeen (April 26, 2011)
Source: My Choice; Library

From GoodReads: 

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.

I love Maureen Johnson. Her books are quirky, insightful, and unexpected. Her online personality is so quirky it borders on bizarre (what am I kidding, she's well past bizarre). I always find anything she has written interesting, whether it's hilarious tweets, informative blog posts, an insightful novel, or passionate statements about the YA book world.

Sooo...it's really no surprise that I loved this book. In 13 Little Blue Envelopes, we went on a journey with Ginny through her deceased Aunt Peg's letters. We got through 12 of them, not only learning about Aunt Peg, but gaining insight into life, love, and what it means to truly be alive. I adored that book and wasn't sure what to expect with The Last Little Blue Envelope. In the previous novel, we had gone through 12 letters. Now, we only had one. What could possibly take so long, and how could it live up to the previous story?

Well, I won't get into the details, but let's just say...it did. The Last Little Blue Envelope was as heartwarming and insightful (*I think that's the word of the day*) as the first. We learn more about Ginny and how the first experience changed her. Then, we watch as she continues to change through her final journey with Aunt Peg.

The concept that things are always changing and you can't have the same experience twice was explored. This was very literal in the sense that they revisited a few stops from the previous adventure, but it also related to people and relationships. Places change, people change, you change. And change isn't bad, it's just change.

I'm not articulate enough to really say exactly how this book touched me, but let me say I will read anything Maureen Johnson writes.

Overall thoughts: Read it. I don't care if you buy, borrow, or steal. (Okay, that's a lie. You probably shouldn't steal it.)