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    The List
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    The List
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    The List
    Audiobook8 hours

    The List

    Written by Siobhan Vivian

    Narrated by Madeleine Rose

    3/5

    ()

    Unavailable in your country

    Unavailable in your country

    About this audiobook

    Prettiest or ugliest, once you're on the list, you'll never be the same.

    It happens every September – the list is posted all over school.

    Two girls are picked from each year. One is named the prettiest, one the ugliest.

    The girls who are picked become the centre of attention. The girls who aren't are quickly forgotten.

    Through the eyes of eight very different girls, THE LIST captures the high school experience with all the struggles of identity, self-esteem, and judgements.

    Whether they’re on the list or not, things will never be the same.

    What readers are saying about THE LIST

    ‘THIS BOOK MADE ME FEEL ALL THE THINGS…Raw and heartwrenching and authentic. I really feel like this is a book that any young girl struggling with her looks should read.’

    ‘I was awed at how Siobhan Vivian was able to weave this intricate story that involves some pretty harsh realities with a right amount of levity to keep me captivated.’

    ‘The storyline that the author has flawlessly created and that gripped me throughout.’

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins Publishers
    Release dateApr 7, 2016
    ISBN9780263926989
    Unavailable
    The List
    Author

    Siobhan Vivian

    Siobhan Vivian is the author of the young adult novel We Are the Wildcats, as well as Stay Sweet, The Last Boy and Girl in the World, The List, Not That Kind of Girl, Same Difference, A Little Friendly Advice, and the Burn for Burn trilogy, cowritten with Jenny Han. A former editor for Alloy Entertainment, she received her MFA in creative writing at the New School. She teaches creative writing at the University of Pittsburgh. Visit her at SiobhanVivian.com.

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    Reviews for The List

    3/5

    37 ratings17 reviews

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    • 5/5
      It is rare that I feel so strongly about a YA contemporary novel, but I cannot stop thinking about this book! The List takes everything that's complicated about being a high school girl and puts it in a glaring spotlight that you cannot avoid. It is a testament to Siobhan Vivian's writing that a book written in eight different perspectives can feel so intimate. It was done so flawlessly that, as a reader, you feel like you are in the middle of the story, observing everything as it unfolds. When the list is published every year at Mount Washington High it always causes a stir and the reader sees first hand the ripple effects as they reverberate through the lives of the girls at school and at home. Not only are your privy to the inner lives of the students on the list, you get to see their interactions with parents, siblings and friends. I think that is one of the main reasons this book felt so real. You truly get a 360 degree view of each girl and I was completely riveted from beginning to end.I don't think that anyone would disagree that we use physical appearances to determine both social and inner value in society today and nowhere is it felt more keenly than deep in the thoughts of women and girls as they try to deal with the mixed messages thrown at them from every direction. I thought that this story really dug through all of the insecurities of the characters and I found myself caring about even the most unsympathetic listees. As much as I think this is an important book for everyone to read, it is also a very entertaining story. Each person on the list is exposed in some way because of the new attention; some of it is empowering, some of it will bring you to tears, but all of these young women are wonderful, relateable characters. I found a part of my high school self and my current self in each girl and I think that anyone who reads this book will feel the same way. Do yourself a favor and pre-order it today. I promise you won't regret it.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      Three stars, and I feel like maybe it should get an extra star for exceeding expectations. The premise is typical YA - an anonymous list gets posted around a high school listing the prettiest and ugliest girl in each class. The chapters alternate through the girls, and the author manages to do a decent job, for the most part, of creating eight believable characters and stories (a few were a bit stereotypical but with eight POVs, you probably have to take some shortcuts).My favorite part, and I think I can be circumspect enough to not have it be a spoiler, is that at the end, not everything is wrapped up neatly. It felt very realistic to me that some of the girls ended up learning something while others didn't, and some issues got resolved and others seemed to be on track to even get worse, but hey, it's the end of the book. I'm always impressed when that kind of ending feels satisfying to a story.I don't think it really stands out among the best YA of this year (or rather, last year), but it does what it does extremely well. It seems like it should be a fluffy "Mean Girls" type book, but it ended up being better than that.
    • 4/5
      The List tells the story of eight different girls, yet surprisingly it never feels too busy or confusing. The chapters rotate heroines, but the lives of each of the girls is subtly interwoven with the other girls on the list. Because there are so many different storylines, The List never gets boring—it’s always interesting, and you’ll find yourself reading for far longer than you planned.The eight girls on the list all have a different problem in their life—some are caused by the list, and others are merely aggravated because of it. (A few examples? Eating disorders, boy problems, and sibling rivalry) These problems are ones that many high school girls go through (and since there are eight girls, it’s likely that a reader will connect with at least one of them). Siobhan Vivian is great at handling teen issues with grace, but she doesn’t let grace upstage candidness. If The List is one thing, it’s honest.Though I mentioned that The List never gets confusing in terms of characters, because of the huge cast there isn’t quite as much time to get to know each girl closely. This may be frustrating for some readers; though we learn about their personal problems, sometimes it feels like we haven’t had enough time with each girl. Still, other readers (like me) will go with the flow and enjoy the faster, less focused pace. My favorite girl on the list is Jennifer, because of her resilience and because of her secrets. The girl that has the most powerful storyline, though, is Bridget (you’ll see why—her chapters are almost difficult to read).If you’re looking for a quick yet incredibly meaningful contemporary read, try The List!
    • 3/5
      The premise of this book is that each year before Homecoming a list is posted with the prettiest and ugliest girl in each grade. The book is told in chapters from the POV of each of the 8 girls.

      In general I liked this book. I felt for each of the characters, good and bad. It portrayed all the angst of teenage girls - fitting in, first boyfriends, pressure to look like a girl in a magazine, being an athlete, being an outcast, etc - with all of the heartbreak and elation of real life. I thought the story brought to light a version of bullying that is more prevalent than people think and can be just as harmful as physical or verbal abuse.

      I was disappointed that the book didn't go into more depth for each of the girls. It was just long enough to give us a peek at each of them and their various issues but was not long enough to give a satisfying resolution. The ending was somewhat abrupt and left me wondering what happened throughout the rest of the school year.

      Overall this was a good read and I would recommend to anyone interested in books dealing with bullying or wanting to relive their high school days.
    • 3/5
      Siobhan Vivian's writing certainly packs a punch in this story of eight girls featured in Mount Washington High's List. The List comes out every year, naming the prettiest girl and the ugliest girl in each grade. In The List, we get eight different perspectives as we hear from each of the girls on the list. Solid writing, interesting characters, and timely subject matter make this a great choice for teen girls who are ready for it. I did occasionally have trouble keeping eight characters straight, but it was definitely interesting to hear from so many different types of girls.
    • 4/5
      Siobhan Vivian excels at including conversation starters in her books about women's issues: female objectification, the definition of feminism, the relationship between the female (individual) and society (group), etc. In THE LIST, a week in the lives of eight girls gets discussed, so, while you don't end up getting perfect insight into the lives and mindsets of all eight girls, Vivian, incredibly, is able to still give enough details about the girls' personalities, values, and interests to make them all unique, relatable, and real characters. Give this book to all your favorite females!
    • 5/5
      Siobhan Vivian has crafted a remarkable and haunting story that will stay with readers long after they've closed the book. I know that's what happened to me after I finished it and woke up the next morning still thinking about it. With Vivian's easily flowing prose, I was carried through The List and then left to ponder on all eight girls.The characters are phenomenal as readers see them transition over the course of a single week starting with the Monday when the list is posted. A week seems so short a time to explore an entire book, but Vivian makes use of these 6 days in exploring the lives of all eight girls on the list. It's amazing at how much one label can change the way people think about a person and what that person thinks about themselves. For some of the girls, the change is almost instantaneous while for others more gradual, but by the end of the book, each of them is not the same girl at the beginning whether better or worse.What I really noticed was the behavior of the people surrounding the eight girls whether family, friends, or boyfriends and how that shifted as well. Those closest to the girls suffered an impact as well, not always from knowing about the list but in seeing how the girls change. I was moved by several side characters and their actions towards their friends on the list. It was fascinating to learn how they viewed being on the list and how those views changed throughout the week.The List is definitely a contemporary story to have in a collection, and I'm eager to see what new stories Siobhan Vivian will share with her readers.
    • 5/5
      The List stood out for me. I enjoyed reading it as an adult and I know that I would have loved it if I'd read it in high school. The concept itself is catchy but it's the execution that makes it such a fascinating read. Siobhan's eight main girls are complex and fully fleshed out without any of them becoming tedious, whiny or annoying or impossibly perfect. Siobhan shows each of the girls reacting very differently. Not surprisingly, those scorned are particularly interesting: Freshman Danielle, "Dan the Man" starts tearing down copies of the List but they are plastered all over the school. Gorgeous Candace is baffled and comes back with a harsh joke, ripping on the nearby blind girl, an innocent bystander. Sarah tries to flip the word back at the world - by writing "UGLY" on her forehead. Jennifer sets a record after having been voted the ugliest girl for all four years of high school - by this time she's learned to swallow her feelings and pretend to laugh. While being singled out as pretty doesn't affect the other four girls the same way either. Abby has to deal with knowing that her best friend wasn't selected as the prettiest girl - and that her older sister Fern had been singled out as the ugliest girl not so long ago. Lauren is new to public school, so the sudden surge of interest is stressful and confusing. Lauren isn't prepared for all the politics that comes with her sudden popularity. Bridget has body image issues - she's lost a lot of weight and can't stop herself from losing more. The acknowledgment of how much she's blossomed puts more pressure on her. She worries that she's giving her beloved younger sister a bad example - and this adds to her stress.Principal Colby calls all those named to her office in an attempt to repair the damage and stop the tradition, everyone knows that this isn't going to help. The girls' friends and boyfriends try to behave decently but social pressures eventually do their own damage. It takes much strength and toughness to handle the repercussions of being on the List - I found myself sympathizing with each of the girls as they tried to keep their lives on course.Siobhan Vivian delivers an engaging and sympathetic story with humor and sensitivity. The List is a book that I plan to share with my nieces and friends.ISBN-10: 0545169178 - Hardcover $17.99Publisher: Push (April 1, 2012), 336 pages.Review copy courtesy of the publisher.
    • 5/5
      Although a bit unrealistic, and not really representative of what actually happens in High School, The List is a great book to read about popularity, beauty, and ugliness. With 8 main characters switching view points to share their story and how they are affected by the list, this book will emotionally draw you in, make you hate the mean girls, and empathize with the unpopular girls. This is a story of accepting yourself for who you are, and not judging the ones around you. Everyone has flaws, and even good intentions can hurt others.
    • 4/5
      Recommended Four hundred copies of “the list” have been hung up around Mount Washington High School. A girl in each grade has been deemed the prettiest and the ugliest. The girls making the prettiest list gain instant popularity and everyone watches the reactions of the girls making the ugliest list. No one knows who wrote the list, but somehow the official embosser stolen from the school decades ago keeps getting passed down. There are eight girls who are now the center of attention. Abby is the prettiest 9th grader, she is ashamed of her older sister who once made the ugliest list. Danielle is voted ugliest 9th grader. She is a swimmer and just had an amazing summer at camp. She is worried about how her boyfriend will take the news. Lauren is a 10th grader who is new to school. She has been homeschooled and never expected to be popular. Candace was prettiest last year, and this year has been voted ugliest. Bridget was voted prettiest, after spending the summer becoming anorexic. Sarah has always been a bit of a rebel, but now that her classmates think she is ugliest, she will show them what ugly is. Sarah has sworn to stop showering, brushing her teeth and changing her clothes. The last two girls are Margo and Jennifer. They used to be best friends and then their friendship fell apart. The list makes them confront why their relationship ended. Also, Jennifer has broken the school record by showing up on the ugliest list for the 4th year in a row.The story will make readers take a good look how they treat others around them. The book is suspenseful because the reader wants to know who wrote the list. I kept hoping that what the girls went through at school would help them to become stronger women. There are some instances of drinking at high school parties, but no explicit sex. Nothing that I would find objectionable in a high school YA novel. I think this would be a great book to have for a book club or one book, one school during a national anti-bullying week campaign. It would be a great activity to have on a school level. The author wrote a great story that illustrates the desire to fit in and how labels can destroy a person. A great book worth the read!
    • 3/5
      Much like with Not That Kind of Girl, Siobhan Vivian had me hooked to the pages of The List. Not only is there drama galore — two girls from each grade are selected as “the prettiest” or “the ugliest” — but Siobhan Vivian offers a very refreshing voice in the YA contemporary genre. She’s fearless when it comes to exploring themes of sexuality, self-esteem, family, and friendship, and she does it with honesty and minimal sugarcoating.Although The List was definitely a gripping read, I must say that there were moments where the book lost me. I’m always one to make a “Yikes!” face when there are multiple POVs and that was definitely the case here. Eight! Eight narrators that I couldn’t seem to tell apart. Sure, they all had their own backgrounds and situations, but the constant switch between them had me referring to the initial list in the beginning to try to make sense of who they were. As I said before, Siobhan Vivian isn’t one to shy away from difficult themes, but I thought the individual character’s stories weren’t explored enough because of the limited pages they all had. Had they been further developed, I think The List could have been a stronger read.The conclusion of the book also had me scratching my head. I kept thinking that things would come together as the last pages were turned, but that wasn’t the case in my opinion. I felt that The List ended rather abruptly and with no real resolution. I’m all for an open ending, but I wish there had been more closure for the girls. Was there a reason for this? Will there be a sequel? I would definitely read it, if that was the case, but I wish The List had read as a complete book all on its own.Overall, I found The List by Siobhan Vivian to be an enjoyable read that I wish had more depth to it. The potential was there, and I loved the ideas that Vivian tried to present, so I will definitely look forward to what she writes next!
    • 3/5
      Not the kind of book I would normally read but it came in my BookRiot Quarterly box so gave it a shot. I think its probably a decent book for a teenaged girl but not really for adults.
    • 3/5
      This book brought back everything I hated about high school. The cliques, one day you're in, the next day you're not, jocks, mall rats, and the back stabbing. Oh, the back stabbing!A mysterious list appears at the beginning of each year naming the prettiest and ugliest girl in each grade. This year there are some twists. One girl who always considered herself pretty is named as the ugliest because she is on the inside. A senior girl is named the ugliest, and for the first time, receivesd this dubious honor all four years. Who comes up with the list is unknown but they are verified by a stolen school stamp so there is not the possibility of a fake list.What happens to the girls up to the time of the home coming dance is what makes the story. One girl who struggles with weight problems, takes a path to anorexia. One girl resolves not to bathe or change her clothes until the dance. One girl is fighting to maintain her older sister's legacy. Needless to say, not much good comes from the list.The chapters center on each girl in turn and we see how the infamy affects each one. I think only high schoolers would appreciate this book. It is not a YA that would reach many adults.
    • 3/5
      I have wanted to read this one for some time because I was interested the the premise of this list that targeted the most beautiful and ugliest girl in each class. I wanted to see how the dynamics played out, how much bullying would come into play and wanted to know who is behind the list and why. There is a shifting point of view and it is with all eight of the girls, so it took me a bit to remember the individual story line, what they were voted, and what role they play in relation to the others. They all had different story lines and motives, and it was a great look into how women view themselves and how easily they could be persuaded by others/popular opinion. I wish that it would have had less characters and been able to go deeper, and for me to actually remember who was voted prettiest and ugliest, and what they were feeling about it. But there was something compulsive about it. I didn't want to stop reading even through my character confusion. I wanted to know who was behind it. I wanted to know how this would bring together or separate the girls, and how they respond to being on their place on the list. I felt like once the story got going and I was starting to get into the characters' stories and tell them from each other, it was over. And to me, at least, it didn't feel like a very complete ending. Bottom Line: Great concept, okay characters though it felt like too many.
    • 3/5
      The List By Siobhan Vivian was the first book i've read by her although I do have a few others on my TBR shelfs. I don't really know what I was expecting from this story as far as expectations go, but it fell a bit flat for me. I think I wanted more drama if that's possible, but felt that the drama that did ensue because of the list was very predictable. I understand why everyone was saying that it was hard to follow along with all the different perspectives that flipped back and forth. It took me a good 1/3 of the book to be able to figure out who was who without flipping back to the actual list in the start of the book, without that I think I would have even been more fustrated and probably would have put the book down, if I didn't have that reference to check back on. The characters were just ok, and most of them were borderline annoying and even the ones I thought I liked in the beginning of the book annoyed me by the end (Jennifer). I also felt like the story was a bit far-fetched in the respect that the list went on for as long as it did without having school authorities or parents intervene. I believe they said it's been at least six years with the list being a tradition, so I found it hard to believe that the new principal was the only one who tried (and I say that loosely) to figure out who was behind the infamous list. This book was just ok for me, I wouldn't say definitely don't read it, but it wasn't anything i'll be jumping up and down about to tell everyone to run out and grab a copy either. I still want to give Siobhan Vivian another chance becase I have heard great things about her, but this one just fell a bit short for me.
    • 5/5
      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.
    • 3/5
      Every fall the list comes out of the prettiest and ugliest girl in each grade - needless to say the fallout from making the list is intense for all of the girls. Every chapter is told from the point of view of one of the eight and I found myself checking back to the list in the front of the book to remind me of who was who. A painful reminder of the growing up years.