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Giselle's Reviews > The List
The List
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A light, quick read - The List follows eight girls who have been named ugliest or pretties on this "List" which has been posted around the school every year for decades. You think being a "prettiest" would be easy? Think again!
Although The List addresses several teen issues throughout the story, it ended up being a much fluffier read than I expected. With eight different points of view, we're taken into each of the four ugliest, as well as the four prettiest girls' lives spanning the week after being put on this List. Each girl has their own personal problems above now having to deal with being the center of attention. We've got an eating disorder, overprotective mother, outcast rebel, and of course plenty or romantic issues; all thoroughly interesting, some even deeply serious, but sadly most of these go unresolved leaving us with no idea of what's going to happen to these girls. I also kept wondering why the faculty had let this go on for so long, especially seeing the damage it does to the girls on it. I have a hard time believing that they simply let it be because it's a "tradition". Bullying is not taken lightly; parents would have spoken up years ago where I come from.
We've got eight lives to follow, which means a lot of POVs. I had to go back and check the List a few times to remind myself who they were, overall, though, I didn't find it was too much - having this list handy makes it easy to keep track. However, I've always been a fan of multiple perspectives. I found myself really liking the girls, too. They are a fun bunch, all with vastly different personalities that will either enamor or disgust you.
Without getting too profound, this novel is simply about the lives of these girls after they're hit with a target on their backs. Either prettiest or ugliest, this List doesn't favor anybody and consequences are dealt with. I wish it would have delved deeper into their lives, maybe have it span longer than a week, but all in all it's an entertaining read that I would be more inclined to recommend to the younger YA readers.
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For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
Although The List addresses several teen issues throughout the story, it ended up being a much fluffier read than I expected. With eight different points of view, we're taken into each of the four ugliest, as well as the four prettiest girls' lives spanning the week after being put on this List. Each girl has their own personal problems above now having to deal with being the center of attention. We've got an eating disorder, overprotective mother, outcast rebel, and of course plenty or romantic issues; all thoroughly interesting, some even deeply serious, but sadly most of these go unresolved leaving us with no idea of what's going to happen to these girls. I also kept wondering why the faculty had let this go on for so long, especially seeing the damage it does to the girls on it. I have a hard time believing that they simply let it be because it's a "tradition". Bullying is not taken lightly; parents would have spoken up years ago where I come from.
We've got eight lives to follow, which means a lot of POVs. I had to go back and check the List a few times to remind myself who they were, overall, though, I didn't find it was too much - having this list handy makes it easy to keep track. However, I've always been a fan of multiple perspectives. I found myself really liking the girls, too. They are a fun bunch, all with vastly different personalities that will either enamor or disgust you.
Without getting too profound, this novel is simply about the lives of these girls after they're hit with a target on their backs. Either prettiest or ugliest, this List doesn't favor anybody and consequences are dealt with. I wish it would have delved deeper into their lives, maybe have it span longer than a week, but all in all it's an entertaining read that I would be more inclined to recommend to the younger YA readers.
--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
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Wendy Darling
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Mar 21, 2012 12:17AM
Oh good, I made the right decision in stopping after 50 pages, then. Look forward to your review...
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I don't think you would have liked it, Wendy. It seems aimed at the much younger YA crowd. Tweens even.
Wait, wait, wait the FACULTY is aware of this? That's so unrealistic! If they made attempts to take it down, but the 'list' kept getting passed around, it would make much more sense then having it stay because of 'tradition'. Using "tradition" as a reason here seems to me to be a cop-out for the author to establish why the list is still used and (possibly) even acknowledged by the faculty. (I haven't read the book, so I'm guessing)Also this novel reminds me a south park episode that did the same things, only that list was about the boys in the class. (and also had this whole conspiracy thing going on :P)
Great review, Giselle!
Yeah the List is posted everywhere all over school, like EVERYWHERE and the faculty just ignores it, lets it be. Some even comment on how they were on this list back when.
This sounds like such an interesting premise for a book! I'm excited to read it... and glad that I know going in, that it's just a fluffy teen read! Thanks!
Giselle wrote: "Yeah the List is posted everywhere all over school, like EVERYWHERE and the faculty just ignores it, lets it be. Some even comment on how they were on this list back when."Ah, bah, uh, what? Why?! That's just so..mean.
I agree with what you said regarding how you would recommend this novel to younger audiences because it truly is a fluffier story. I thought it could have been improved in a lot of ways and left the ending with a sort-of cliff hanger.
I agree that this a a "light, quick read." Since there were 8 characters, the author didn't go into much depth with either character, I totally agree.
I agree that their were too many characters and it bothered me that there were eight point of views to follow even if there was a list at the front. You couldn't really connect with any of the characters on a deeper level.
I agree that the week should have been longer. I feel like the character could have been described a little bit more.
I completely agree with delving deeper into their lives. That would have been good. But still months after reading it, I still cannot get over that ending. It infuriated me! Am I the only person who felt/feels this way?
