The List by Siobhan Vivian
I'll admit, I enjoy reading young adult novels. I have a 12-year old daughter (about to turn 13) and a 10-year old son. I'm not far away from being a parent of a young adult. And that scares the crap out of me. Being the parent of a teenager in this world is daunting. So, I'll take almost any chance I have to get a peek into the world of high school. Besides actually going there again, I mean really, who would want to do that. The social status issues, the body image issues, the insecurity, the dating. UGH! But, I would like some insight. Though, who am I kidding, reality is much scarier than any of these books...
So, I just finished reading The List by Siobhan Vivian. I found myself up until the wee hours of the morning reading this one. I wanted to find out what happened to the girls on the list and I wanted to know who wrote the list.
Here's the story:
Each year, on the last Monday in September, the students of Mount Washington High School arrive to find the List plastered on lockers, on desks, on walls; basically throughout the school. The list names the prettiest girl and the ugliest girl in each grade. The list is written anonymously and authenticated by a Mount Washington High embossing stamp in the lower right corner. According to legend, the stamp was stolen and is passed down each year to a new author. No one is sure how and to whom the list is passed. The story shows how being on the list affects the girls and changes their lives. Being named the prettiest or the ugliest girl has consequences for each girl that no one could foresee.
Conclusion:
I did enjoy the book. In the beginning, I found myself constantly referring back to the list. I couldn't remember the names and who was prettiest or ugliest. As the book progressed, I found myself connecting with the characters, but I also felt I wanted to know more. With so many different characters with their own story lines, I didn't get to know each one as well as I could have. I wanted to find out more about Bridget's eating issues and I wanted to get to know Jennifer better and find out what made her so angry. The story moved quickly and like I said, I spend a few nights up late because I wanted to find out the truth. I would say this book gives a fair glimpse of high school life and how the social and emotional pressures can affect different types of girls (and boys).
