Review: The List

The List
By Siobhan Vivian

Release Date: April 1, 2012

Description:
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.     Review:   THE LIST

FRESHMEN
Ugliest:
DANIELLE DEMARCO -
Also known as Dan the Man.

Prettiest:
ABBY WARNER -
Bonus points for overcoming family genetics!

SOPHOMORES
Ugliest
CANDACE KINCAID -
Beauty isn't just skin-deep btw.

Prettiest
LAUREN FINN -
Everyone's hot for the new girl.

JUNIORS
Ugliest
SARAH SINGER -
It's like she's trying to be as ugly as possible!

Prettiest
BRIDGET HONEYCUTT
What a difference a summer can make.

SENIORS
Ugliest
JENNIFER BRIGGS -
(Drum roll, please.)
The only four-peat in Mount Washington history!
Congrats, Jennifer!

Prettiest
MARGO GABLE -
All hail this year's homecoming queen.
  This was the list that hit the school a week before the homecoming dance.  This book explores the different reactions each girl has to this particular list, it goes back and forth between each character in every chapter.  It's really amazing to see how each one takes it so differently, for example even though they were voted prettiest that doesn't mean that is how they feel and vice versa.  It's hard to be labeled in high school as something because it will stick with you as that is when you are the most impressionable.     They are all really great characters and shows the variety of which our world is made of, sure some I feel more sorry than others.  There are some I can relate to and other I can't but that's what this is all about isn't it, diversity.   We'll start with the Freshman - Abby the prettiest, her sister is Fern who is not the prettiest and we find out later that yes, she was on the list as well but not in the same way.  And one of my favorites Danielle, who just because she's an athlete is deemed to be a man.  This from her boyfriend's stupid football jock friends.  She has a tough time and I really liked her as a character, she was so honest and hopeful.  Nothing beats hope that everything will work out in the end.   Sophomores brings in a home schooled girl Lauren who is voted prettiest, which of course does not make Candace happy at all.  Especially when her very fickle friends start to hang around Lauren more, makes you wonder if they were friends to begin with.  But there's something going on with Lauren's mom like she's trying to protect Lauren too much, you know that only makes you want to go out more.  The whole time Candace is trying to prove to everyone that she is not that mean girl, I don't know how successful she is after all again her friends are fickle.   I think the Juniors are the most dramatic.  With Sarah being donned the ugliest she takes it to an extreme to make that notation come true, how you may ask?  Well she doesn't shower, change etc for a week.  I feel grimy just thinking about it and there is even one moment where I feel myself wanting to gag, no lie.  Bridgette on the other hand, after losing so much weight still does not feel pretty.  She's actually got a real issue with weight, as in the kind that needs some serious intervention.   Last but not least, the very dramatic seniors.  Funny thing is they used to be best friends before they went into high school and look at them now on complete opposite of the totem pole, one the ugliest and one the prettiest.  Jennifer really just wants her and Margo to be friends again but goes about it the wrong way, and she doesn't seem to have learned any different from when she was younger till now when they are seniors.    I loved every bit of it, and sometimes I wanted more from some characters but I think everything ended the way it should have.  We do find out eventually who wrote the list, but I won't tell you that because really you should read the book :-)