The list
Siobhan Vivian
The list
Age Rating, Reading Level & Content Guide
by Siobhan Vivian
The text is written at a 7th grade reading level, the subject matter is intended for middle graders (ages 9–12), and the content has moderate intensity with some emotionally heavy themes.
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About This Book
What if a list could change everything at school? At Mount Washington High, a secret list names the prettiest and ugliest girls every year, stirring up feelings and secrets. How will eight girls, from freshmen to seniors, face the pain and power of this list?
Themes
Quick Assessment
This middle-grade novel explores the impact of a high school's annual list ranking girls by appearance, focusing on eight female students across different grades. It addresses themes of self-perception, bullying, and the pressures of beauty standards, suitable for ages 9-12. Parents should note the emotional challenges related to self-esteem and peer judgment presented in the story.
Why we rated The list 12ME
The list is written at a Level 7 reading level across 333 pages. Strong independent readers around grade 8.0 can typically handle this book on their own; with parent or teacher support, The list works for readers up to grade 9.0.
We rate The list as 12ME ("Moderate — Emotional") because the content sits in the "Moderate" range — moderate conflict that may involve loss, scary scenes, or interpersonal stakes. The strongest signals come from emotional weight — these are the dimensions parents should evaluate against their reader's tolerance.
No specific content flags were raised by community reviewers, which is consistent with the moderate intensity score.
Thematically, The list explores personal beauty, self-perception, high schools, schools, and friendship — these threads give the book room to mean different things to different readers.
Good fit for
- ✓ Children in the Ages 9-12 range — the maturity and attention span match the story's pacing.
- ✓ Patient readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories.
- ✓ Kids drawn to stories about personal beauty, self-perception, high schools.
Maybe not for
- ! Readers who get easily upset by emotional or moderately dark scenes — the conflict here is real, not just background flavor.
- ! Reluctant readers who need a fast hook — the pacing here rewards patience.
For Parents
Content Intensity
12ME — Moderate — EmotionalReal stakes and emotional weight. May include sustained danger, loss, or bullying.
Was our "Moderate" content intensity rating accurate for this book?
Reading Insights
Hook Factor
1/10A steady, thoughtful read that rewards patient readers.
Discussion Potential
3/10A lighter read — great for independent enjoyment.
Book DNA
Multi-dimensional content fingerprint
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Details
Book Length
- ISBN
- 9780545169172
- Pages
- 333
- Publisher
- SCHOLASTIC BK SERVICES
- Published
- 2012
- Type
- Fiction