Danielle Reads

The List

By Siobhan Vivian

Published: April 1, 2012
Push, 336 pages

An intense look at the rules of high school attraction -- and the price that's paid for them.

It happens every year. A list is posted, and one girl from each grade is chosen as the prettiest, and another is chosen as the ugliest. Nobody knows who makes the list. It almost doesn't matter. The damage is done the minute it goes up.

This is the story of eight girls, freshman to senior, "pretty" and "ugly." And it's also the story of how we see ourselves, and how other people see us, and the tangled connection of the two.
- Amazon.com description

The List is the story of eight girls with intertwining stories and their experiences after being placed on 'The List' -- a list of the prettiest and ugliest girl from each grade. The list is made by an anonymous student each year the Monday before Homecoming, and obviously has far-reaching consequences for each girl. The girls placed on the list all have interesting stories and ways of dealing with their sudden fame.

This thoughtful story is so interesting and unique. The ugly/pretty list is something I could easily imagine occurring in any given high school. I liked how each girl's story was explored separately, and how realistic the outcomes were. I connected with all but one of the characters on some level. Two of the girls' stories are tied together brilliantly, and you'll never guess who wrote the list!