Stupid High School Traditions

The List by Siobhan Vivian

Let me just start by saying how happy I am that the list in this book does not exist in the high school where I teach. Of course, there are class favorites, Homecoming Court, etc, but nothing to the extent of this. I'd like to believe that if there were, we'd nip it in the bud.

This book takes place over the course of the week before Homecoming at Mount Washington High, located somewhere in the United States. For many years, during this particular week, a list comes out, indicating the prettiest girls in each class, as well as the ugliest girls in each class. No one knows who makes this list, but everyone knows it's the "official" list because in the bottom corner, the school seal (that has been missing for years) is embossed on the papers. Typically, the senior girl who is named the prettiest becomes the Homecoming Queen.

In the freshman class, Abby is labeled the prettiest. Unfortunately, she thinks that's all she is. She has a very intelligent older sister, who while not pretty, Abby feels like she lives in her shadow. Ugliest freshman is Danielle, a swimmer. She's not really ugly, though the reader won't know why she is chosen until the end of the book.

The sophomore class gives us Lauren, a girl who was recently homeschooled but genuinely nice as the prettiest. The ugliest girl in that class is Candace, who is actually very pretty, but apparently mean. You know what they say about being the prettiest person, but if you are ugly on the inside, you're just ugly? That's what's in play here.

For the junior class, there's Bridget, prettiest, who stops eating and throws up her food in an effort to make herself smaller. She doesn't think she's pretty, and this list has caused many problems for her. Then there's Sarah. Sarah is labelled as ugly, and she embraces it. The day the list comes out, she has a friend write UGLY on her forehead in permanent marker. She also decides not to bathe, brush her teeth, change clothes (including underwear), etc as a personal protest. She figures why not give the people what they want.

Last is the senior class. Margo, whose older sister was prettiest the year before, is labelled prettiest this year. This isn't her first year on the list, as she made the list as a freshman too. Margo is a cheerleader, and thinks this is her year. The girl chosen as ugliest has been on the list before too--every year of high school she has been the ugliest girl in her class. She also used to be Margo's best friend. This girl is Jennifer, and some of Margo's closest friends try to make things better for Jennifer, including getting people to vote for her for Homecoming Queen.

This book shows what each girl goes through during the week leading up to Homecoming. It shows how this list changes them. The reader also finds out who was responsible for the list. Interesting read, but, again, I am glad we don't deal with this crap at my high school.