The List by Siobhan Vivian

The List

by Siobhan Vivian

‘Page-turning… reveals the wars waged every day between girls and their images in mirrors’ E. Lockhart, author of WE WERE LIARS

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.’

Reviewed by Stephanie on

2 of 5 stars

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This review was originally posted on Once Upon a Chapter



The List by Siobhan Vivian had so much potential I was pretty stoked to get started. A high school has a yearly list that names the ugliest and prettiest girls in each class. I was pretty disappointed the more that I kept reading, the worse it got.

First of all, each girl has her own perspective in The List. Yep that means eight different points of view to juggle. It kept things interesting and helped me work through the book but I have to wonder if this was the best route. If the book is split evenly (which it's not) each girl would have 42 pages to cover a week of high activity.

I enjoyed each of the girls. They each added something to the story. Margo and Jennifer easily had the most page time. One of my many problems with The List is that Jennifer (the ugly senior) is portrayed as a bad person not because she's a bad person. Margo and Jennifer's past is referenced a lot through the book. At one point Jennifer looks at herself in a childhood photo to remember that she too was once pretty. In a way it was like Jennifer was a bad person because she was ugly and bigger not because she is manipulative and selfish.

Finally the book ends. I was reading an ebook copy but had the physical copy as well. (Shush! I'm working on that. :) ) The List ended so abruptly that I picked up my physical copy to make sure that the ebook version hadn't accidentally lobbed off a few chapters. It hadn't. There are so many questions left open. It's not a matter of you get to imagine what the ending is like. It is a bunch of loose ends of what-the-fuckery that it makes my head spin.

Then can we acknowledge that the moral lesson of the story is completely tossed out the window at the last possible second? The whole point is that we shouldn't put people into tiny compartments based soley on looks. Then the one person who can end the whole "tradition" DOESN'T BECAUSE SHE'S TOO BUSY BEING CROWNED HOMECOMING QUEEN!!!! ARE YOU SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?!

I won't be picking up another Vivian book any time soon. Not one she's written on her own. I don't have the time to waste nor enough Tylenol on hand.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 9 July, 2015: Finished reading
  • 9 July, 2015: Reviewed