the list by siobhan vivian chapter summaries

And, suddenly, that’s what matters to Margo. The chance to end the list once and for all. Obviously, the prettiest Senior girl, Margo has. Hopefully they have all wizened up a bit after only a week. And at the end of the six days and after the homecoming dance is underway, there were too many loose ends. But I felt like I was skimming through their lives. I wanted to find out what happens to each character. I wanted to find out who put the list up. True, I read the book through and wasn’t ever tempted to put the book aside. That’s eight, third-person limited point-of-views I had to shift between and follow and learn about and care about within the space of 332 pages. Too many girls to track within the confines of six days and from the perspective of each of the eight girls. Lots of promise, but it just tries to do too much. What was her role in the story again? Following all this? The prettiest freshman, I don’t even care about her. The ugliest freshman is a talented swimmer and not really ugly at all – just built a bit differently. There is the ugliest girl in the Senior class, for example, who is just not unpopular, but has proven herself to be a twit in the past.

The eight girls are mostly stereotypes for the groups commonly found within the confines of most any high school in America – stereotypes for most people, anywhere – with a few twists to take the edge off the cliche. If you think the ugly girls should just ignore it, you’re naive. If you think the pretty girls have it easy, you’re wrong. Eight girls in one high school are told whether they are the “most” beautiful or the “most” ugly out of their class and must live with that label. It’s a great premise, really, although a sad one.

I’d have to agree with both characters, but it is Matthew’s point that is at the center of the plot of this book. “You girls want everyone else to think you’re beautiful.” (270) “I don’t think that’s it, ” Matthew says. This is the story of the prettiest, and the ugliest.

And on this list? the prettiest and ugliest girl from each grade. Because each year, the week before homecoming, a list is published and posted everywhere. Each year, the week before homecoming, eight girls at Mount Washington High School will have their lives changed forever.

The list by siobhan vivian chapter summaries