The List opens with each girl finding out she is either the ugliest or prettiest in their grade. Through their viewpoints, we see the dynamics of their home lives, their school lives, and their relationships with their friends.
The depth of the characters Vivian is able to create is astounding, especially for such a relatively short book with tons of characters. I found myself crying, cringing, and yearning for acceptance along with the girls. One thing I have learned since working in education is that every student has a story. Every. Single. Student. Some stories are so heartbreaking you wonder how they even come to school each day. The List reminds me of that.
I will recommend this book to students who enjoy a good underdog story, those who like romance novels, and to every teacher and administrator who asks for any kind of recommendation. This book should be required reading in education classes.