The List

For these 8 girls, high school is defined by... a list.

Siobhan Vivian brings us the typical high school caste system in The List. On the 4th week of September for as long as anyone remembers, hundreds of copies of "the list" are posted at Mount Washington High School. The list consists of 2 girls from each grade. The Ugliest and the Prettiest. By the end of this book, you'll be asking yourself which label is worse. No matter if it is an honor or a horror to be put on this list, one thing is for sure, these 8 girls become the center of attention as everyone looks to see their reactions. Each of the girls this year have a very different reaction. As you read you will meet each of the 8 girls and see how they have been affected by seeing their name on that list. No one knows who posts the list each year, but a stolen school seal marks that the list is official. How is the seal being passed around? Is it a boy or girl posting the list? Will anyone ever find out? High School captured perfectly.

Helpful Hint: Make sure you read the prologue. It provides you with the list which I found to be a great reference when I first started reading and couldn't keep all 8 of the girls straight.


Reading Level: Ages 12 and up

Teachers: Here are some resources to help you use this book in your classroom.

Web Resources:

• Writing Prompt: This site is a link to a writing contest (unfortunately the contest ended in April). The prompt for the contest is a great post reading activity. Maybe you can create a contest in your class using this prompt!
• Being that The List is such a new book, it is difficult to find much more than reviews online. Please comment with any teaching links you find and I will add them to my list!

Vocabulary: Here are some words I picked out... conspicuousness, contraband, contradict, vindication, humiliation, subjective, innocuous, impromptu, pious, penance, sabotage, languish, rescind, aloof, crass, snafu, caveat, impasse

Activities:
Before Reading: Journal: Write a journal entry depicting how you would feel and what you would do if you were on a list as "prettiest" (or "most handsome") in your class, then write a journal entry depicting how you would feel and what you would do if you were on a list as "ugliest" in your class.


During Reading: Group Work: As a group, write a character sketch for each of the 8 girls on the list. List at least 3 traits for each girl with at least one example to go along with each trait. Use these character sketches and add to them as you continue to read.


After Reading: Group Work: As a group, compare and contrast the girls at the beginning of the novel and at the end of the novel. Discuss: How did the list change the 8 girls?

Vivian, S. (2012). The List. New York: Scholastic.

Happy Reading (& Running) =)