Monday, August 18, 2014

The List by Siobhan Vivian

The List by Siobhan Vivian
Publisher: Push
Publication Date: April 1, 2012
Number of Pages: 332
Genre: Young Adult
Source: personal purchase

Summary {via GoodReads}:
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.

She thinks: Every woman - teen, preteen, adult - needs to read this book. It perfectly addresses how we judge ourselves and, let's face it, each other based on appearance. The girls in the book are all affected in different ways by appearing on the list, from eating disorders to bullying. It touches on each dynamic and feeling each girl might encounter based on their place on the list. Each girl's struggle with being on the list is perfectly tied to their grade and maturity level. You can feel the pain and confusion and delight on the page. And, just because you're picked the prettiest doesn't mean that you won't have your own set of struggles. This book is real, and I am grateful for that.

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