Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel is told from eight different points of view. How did this multi-perspective structure affect your reading experience? Did you find it effective in showing the list’s impact, or did you wish you could have stayed with one or two characters?

2. Of the eight girls featured on the list, whose story resonated with you the most, and what about her journey captured your attention?

3. What was your reaction to the book’s ending? Margo is crowned queen with a cheap plastic tiara, and Jennifer leaves without giving up the stamp, leaving the future of the list uncertain. Did you find this conclusion satisfying, and what do you think it says about the possibility of changing toxic traditions?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. The list forces a label onto each girl, which deeply affects how she sees herself and how others see her. Think about a time in your own life when a label, positive or negative, was applied to you or someone you knew. How did that label shape perceptions or behaviors?

2. Candace’s identity is shattered when her friends abandon her overnight. Have you ever experienced or witnessed a sudden shift in friendship dynamics, perhaps due to a change in social status? How did you react to it?

3. Much of the conflict between Abby and Fern stems from them being compared to one another, privately and publicly. In what ways did their dynamic feel realistic to you? How have external comparisons put pressure on relationships between siblings or close friends in your own life or in the lives of those around you?

4. Sarah chooses to protest the list through a very public and physical act of rebellion. Can you think of a time when you felt compelled to push back against a rule or social expectation you felt was unjust? What did you learn from that experience?

5. Danielle struggles between her identity as a powerful athlete and the pressure to perform a more traditional version of femininity for her boyfriend. Have you ever felt torn between a personal passion and the expectations of a social group or partner? How did Danielle’s journey toward embracing her strength resonate with you?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel was inspired by real-life “hottie lists” circulated in the early 2010s. How do you think the rise of social-media platforms since the book’s publication has changed the way these kinds of public rankings and cyberbullying manifest among young people today?

2. Bridget’s eating disorder is framed by the “Master Cleanse,” a diet trend popularized by celebrities in the 2000s. What does her storyline suggest about the influence of celebrity and “wellness” culture on body image? Do you see similar trends today, and how have they evolved?

3. The adults in the story, from Principal Colby to Mrs. Finn, often seem ineffective or misguided in their attempts to intervene. What commentary do you think the book is making about the roles of parents and educators in addressing the complex social worlds of teenagers?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Jennifer is revealed to be the list’s most recent author, making her both a victim of the tradition and a perpetrator of its cruelty. How did this twist change your perception of her? How does this complicate Vivian’s messages about who perpetuates harmful beauty standards and why?

2. The homecoming dance serves as the novel’s climax, but Margo’s victory is marked by a plastic tiara. What is the significance of this final detail? How does the novel use homecoming rituals to critique the idea of social success and beauty?

3. What is the symbolic importance of the Mount Washington embossing stamp? How does its history and the fight for its control between Maureen, Jennifer, and Margo deepen the theme of internalized misogyny?

4. The recurring motif of mirrors and reflections appears throughout the novel, often at moments of crisis for the characters. In what ways does Vivian use these moments to visualize the theme of how Objectification Shapes Self-Perception for girls like Candace, Danielle, and Bridget?

5. Many popular American films and books across genres prominently feature high-school dances, with movies like She’s All That and The DUFF specifically playing on beauty standards among teenagers. How does The List build on or subvert the tropes, themes, or character archetypes explored in these stories?

6. Consider the different ways female relationships are portrayed, from the transactional bonds of Candace’s clique to the fraught sisterhood between Abby and Fern. How does the novel explore the theme of internalized misogyny through these relationships?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were to add a ninth point of view to the story, who would you choose? Consider a character like Fern, Milo, or even an antagonist like Andrew. What unique insights or secrets could their perspective reveal about the events of the week?

2. Imagine you’re the new principal of Mount Washington High, and you’ve decided to create a program to counteract the list’s negative influence. What would your initiative look like? What values would you want to promote, and how would you get students to participate?

3. At the end of the novel, the future of the list is uncertain. Write the next chapter. What do you think happens on the Monday before homecoming the following year? Does a new list appear, and if so, who’s behind it?