The List by Siobhan Vivian

The List is one of those books that I have been looking forward to reading since its release last April (2012).  I almost traded it with someone a couple of weeks ago, but that ended up not working out.  So when I went to the library last week, and found it in the Teen Section, I was excited and checked it out without even thinking about it.

Let me just start by saying that for the fact this book has been on my to-be-read list since last April, I was disappointed.

From 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.

My Thoughts:

"Why were you disappointed?" you may be asking?

Well, let me just say the overall premise of the List bothered me.  The fact that for DECADES this list has been going around every year, and no one has ever complained about it and been able to put a stop to it, bothered me without a doubt.  Personally, if I were to be put on an "Ugly" list, I would fight that thing like no other!  

I was so utterly disappointed by the outcome of this story that I found myself almost questioning, "What was the point of that story?  Did anyone learn anything??"

Now to what I did like, and what in the end had me giving the rating that I did...

I liked the characters.  They were intriguing.  Each had their own story, which Vivian told in a great way.  The characters are what kept me interested.

Danielle, I probably felt the most sorry for.  Especially because of that boyfriend of hers.  Wow, what a *&#%#@!

Abby, I feel like she was the character that you heard the least about.  I felt terrible for her sister!

Candace, you know when it said on the list "Beauty isn't just skin deep, btw" under her name, I kind of liked the fact that someone was named "ugly" for their inside, not their outside!  But I believe she is the one character that actually truly changed positively in this book!

Lauren, oh dang, her mom? Wow, that is one controlling mother!  What a way to freak out way too easily! I get it her little girl isn't at home anymore, but there is a time where you need to give her a little space!

Sarah, was the only one who tried to put a stop to that stupid list!  However, the way she did it, was pretty bad!  It didn't really make much sense to me, personally, but I guess it was her way of making her own statement and getting people to hear her!

Bridget,  Wow, this girl has issues!  I really hope she gets the help she needs...which btw, the reader DOESN'T find out about!!! Bridget feels bad about what she does from the beginning, so in the end, when she still does, it doesn't really show anything about her possibly changing!  That bothered me actually. Luckily, her sister knew what was going on with her, so the reader can only hope she did something about her big sister's problem!

Jennifer, I actually felt bad for this one at the beginning...but then you get to know her, and you think to yourself, "Wow, ok..." I don't get her at all!  

Margo, this one seems nice enough, but what she did to her supposed best friend back in the summer before their freshmen year, (Jennifer is that "BFF") was unacceptable in my eye.  The thing is though, you never TRULY found out what really happened back then! The reader gets bits and pieces, but never the whole story.  It was odd.

So overall rating:

This book, I will admit, kept me intrigued, and definitely had me page turning.  But their was just so much with the List that I had issues with, like that it has been going on for so long!  I would freak out!

And honestly I'm surprised that no one ever did anything drastic over being put on the "ugly" list!  That sh%$ can mess with you head so much! Especially in high school!!

I'd recommend it if you're looking for a drama read.  A high school drama ridden bullying-self-esteem fest!  This book is filled with so much drama!  In the end I believe that is what will have the reader hanging onto every word.  I thought it was okay, but when it came to the overall premise of The List, the story truly bothered me.  

I'd love to hear some opinions from other readers of this book??!!! :)

Happy Tuesday everyone!

The Romance Bookie :)