Author: Siobhan VivianPublish date: April 2012
Source: Library
"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." (Goodreads)
The List is an example of a book that I reeeally wanted to like. I teach high school and firmly believe that books about bullying are completely necessary. This book is no exception to being needed, but I personally just didn't like it too much.
The biggest issue that I had with this book is that there is just too much crammed into a short period of time and simply too many characters. I think the most narrators I've kept track of in a book previous to The List is maybe 3, so 8 pretty much blew my mind. I had a hard time remembering which character was which and I often referred to the list before chapter 1 to keep them all straight. I understand needing to show all those POV's, but I would've liked to have gone more in depth with 2 or 3 characters. Maybe I just have a terrible memory and need very few narrators?
I think some of my female students will really enjoy this one, despite me not really digging it. With all the bullying and gossip that happens in schools that we aren't even aware of, I think some teens will be able to identify with one or more of the characters, which is so key at that age. I will definitely be booktalking it and looking around for a copy to add to my classroom shelves.
You know Ive heard others with the same complaint- that there were too many people to keep straight. I still want to give it a try though! :)
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