REVIEW: 13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson

Title: 13 Little Blue Envelopes (Little Blue Envelope, #1)
Author: Maureen Johnson
Format: paperback, 321 pages
Genre: Young Adult
Source: personal shelf
Published: September 2005 by HarperTeen

When Ginny receives thirteen little blue envelopes and instructions to buy a plane ticket to London, she knows something exciting is going to happen. What Ginny doesn't know is that she will have the adventure of her life and it will change her in more ways than one. Life and love are waiting for her across the Atlantic, and the thirteen little blue envelopes are the key to finding them in this funny, romantic, heartbreaking novel.

Why I Read this Book: I like books that have letters in them. It gives a sense of personal sharing and an insider look at the characters in the story. I also like that the book was a bit like a scavenger hunt. I’ve had this book on my shelf for a year and a half now. I finally picked it up once I heard there the sequel, The Last Little Blue Envelope, was coming out. 

What I Liked: 13 Little Blue Envelopes was a fun read. It kind of reminded me of the movie (cause I haven’t read the book) P.S. I Love You (but without the crying that comes along with it). I liked picturing myself in Ginny’s shoes on her world wind adventure. It had a whimsical and carefree feel to it. It was not only a self-discovery journey for Ginny but a world discovery as well.

Keith was my favorite secondary character. He’s a fun loving guy and he has a bit of a sweet side. I’m wondering if he makes a reappearance in the sequel….? (don’t tell me!)

What I Didn’t Like: This story is not that realistic. Granted, it’s a work of fiction however I can’t help but try to find myself in the story. I can’t imagine my mother allowing me to travel abroad, alone at the age of 17 and without any type of communication, and I certainly wouldn’t allow my daughter to do so. Why not? Two reasons: Natalie Holloway and the movie Taken. So that was in the back of my mind while I was reading this story. It is a bit a realistic fiction. It could happen and it probably has happened (to some degree). I would have felt a little more comfortable if Ginny would have been a woman in her 20s rather than a 17-year old girl.

Confession: I skimmed through parts of the book, parts that weren’t that interesting to me. There were some scenes that I felt were drawn out too long and I was ready to move on to the next letter.

At times, I didn’t get what the aunt was trying to accomplish by sending Ginny to some of these places. Sure, she got to see new places and meet new people. Even step out of her shelf a bit. But it seemed that maybe the aunt should have had a more specific purpose for sending Ginny to the places she did. Maybe she did and I just didn’t get it.

Overall Impression: 13 Little Blue Envelopes was a fun reading adventure. It was fun to be in Ginny’s shoes for a few hours. It was a great escape though a bit unrealistic.

The Book Vixen’s Rating: