The List is a middle grade dystopian novel billed as a thematic descendant of The Giver. In a world completely destroyed by global warming, Ark is a city tightly controlled in all ways - including language. A new language, "List" only allows the use of 500 words; repeated use of unlisted words carries a penalty of banishment, which is certain death in a world repopulated with the wildlife humanity spent centuries destroying. The main character, Letta, is the Wordsmith in Ark, keeping language alive with the hope that someday humanity can be trusted with it again.

There's a lot of good in The List. Letta is brilliant and well-spoken, and has clever ideas. It's refreshing to read a book, especially a YA one, where the central relationship is between the main character and his or her parent figure instead of a romantic interest. The cover is gorgeous, the premise is very cool, and I was absolutely transfixed every time someone spoke List.

Unfortunately, there are two major issues I just couldn't get past with this one.

First, the timeline just doesn't make sense at all - there simply hasn't been enough time since the apocalypse for many of the changes to have occurred in the world. The main adult characters in this book were all mature adults and respected in their careers when the apocalypse happened - say they were 30. Now, they're old, but not elderly - say 65. 35 years is an extremely short time for tigers to take over over North America.

Second, The List features a major, unequivocal, absolutely infuriating deus ex machina for the villain. Never before have I been so enraged by a plot element. This chemical, "nicene", is so nonsensical, so sadistic (even in the established world), and so damn convenient that I simply can't get over it. I mean really - it's odorless, colorless, dissolves in water, 1 container is enough to poison the entire population and OH WHAT A COINCIDENCE here's a container now, washed up on the shore! And it's not like this is a bottle of aspirin that would have been stocked at every gas station, grocery store, and drug mart. This was a highly experimental, tightly controlled torture chemical. And here it is floating up onto the beach within miles of the big bad guy. WHAT.

I would have given The List two or three stars without the addition of the horrible, ridiculous plot point. With it, I have to drop to 1 star.

I truly enjoyed this book and feel that middle-graders will certainly love it. Yes, it is fairly predictable with a strong, lovable heroine and, of course, a villain who, if not stopped, will destroy the new dystopian world made after 'The Melting'. Well-written and very readable - I didn't want to put it down.

Ark is the last safe place on Earth after The Melting, where climate change caused the waters to rise and flood much of the world. Everyone in Ark is required to speak List - language reduced to 500 words - to help this new society to survive. Everyone except for the wordsmith and his apprentice, Letta. They can read all the banned words - like music, painting, freedom, and love. When the wordsmith disappears, Letta becomes the new wordsmith and through her search to find what happened to her master has found there is a plot to make everyone in Ark wordless.

An interesting and fun adventure. Lots of fun.

Thanks to Patricia Forde and Sourcebooks Jaberwocky through Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

It has been years since I have delved into books for middle grade readers, so I opened this book with no expectations. I was happily surprised by the character development, action, and world building.
Letta is an apprentice Wordsmith in Ark, the last bastion of civilization after the Melting. As an apprentice Wordsmith, she has access to the old language. Everyone else is limited to the List - 500 approved words.
When Letta meets Marlo, a Desecrator, her whole world is turned upside down and she is exposed to the dark underbelly of Ark. Plots are exposed. Letta and all of Ark are in danger. Can she save herself, Ark, and the words? Patricia Forde takes her readers on a wild ride to discover the answers.
I would happily recommend this book to middle grade readers and their parents.

I so wanted to love The List but what starts off as an intriguing premise, falls short as it becomes predictable.

In Ark you can only speak from the List: five hundred words which are pre-selected and handed out in school. All other words are forbidden, with the most extreme punishment of banishment. It is the Wordsmith’s duty to record the words, distribute them, and collect ‘lost’ words. Letta has been training to be a Wordsmith since some of her earliest memories and her dream finally becomes true, when her Master mysteriously dies. But this is just the beginning of her questions, and his ‘death’ sets her on a path that will rock not only the foundation of her world views, but also the entire city of Ark.

So the premise of only five hundred words was the main reason I decided to pick this book up. That and I cannot say no to dystopias. It’s an actual problem. What I ended up reading was an incredibly vivid world, better than most YA fiction I have been reading lately, and an interesting nugget of thought about language in general. Each chapter is introduced with a word and a definition. Often this definition is simple and incomplete. It merely highlights the adaptability of language and the way the very definitions of words change. We, as language users, have the power to change the very fabric of how we shape our existence. And that, to me, is just so incredibly unique and terrifying.

This very thought experiment, kept me hanging on until the very end of the book. As a former English lit major, the idea of limiting our capability for expression offends my very senses. I have been in the trenches to defend culture since I realized I had a voice. Additionally, I enjoyed the anterior plot line and the rhetoric of its leaders.

This element of the world building that results is a mixture of 1984 and The Giver. Except without the novelty. What held me back from enjoying this book, despite its premise, was the predictability. It was pretty clear from the start that this Ark would be quite similar to the biblical tale of Noah’s Ark. And I could have overlooked that, but the entire plot is similarly predictable, like something you’ve seen before and cannot place. You remember where it’s going, but not where you saw it. That’s what I experienced here. It was as if I saw a collage of snapshots of all the major dystopias I have read last and what happened was this similar plot arc.

Combined with this déjà vu feeling was the lack of personality in the characters. Don’t get me wrong, Letta is extremely compelling. But she is like so many heroines within these dystopias: headstrong, willing to fight the system for good, and honorably motivated. Besides her quest, and the various pieces of the puzzle that the side characters and her own history played, there was a lack of personality within her.

Overall, this is a middle of the road read for me. It had the potential to be so much better and I am actually more interested in what happens after this book. In this sequel I would hope to see more character development and originality in plot to deliver on these wonderful promises and vivid world.

If I could review this book with only one sentence, it would be: this is a perfect introduction to dystopian novels for older children. This genre of fiction is now taught in most schools through books like Brave New World and Fahrenheit 451; meanwhile, teens are willingly picking up Hunger Games and Divergent at the library. I think “The List” is a great way to introduce a younger audience to the genre.

Another reason why this is a good introductory book is to keep an element of surprise. After reading several dozens of dystopias, I could easily deduce most of the plot twists before I had 20% of the book read. Nothing of the ending surprised me, although it was a lovely and fitting ending. Still, the main character was adorable, and I grew fond of her; I wish I could have read more about her job (which was what appealed to me when I requested this book) and less about the secondary characters.

So truth be told, there is nothing wrong with the book, it just wasn’t something fresh for me… but I do believe that it would appeal a younger audience. I’d like to thank Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, as well as Netgalley, for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was honestly one of the most creative stories I"ve read in a while. I even read it out loud over the course of two weeks to my younger kids and they were riveted by Letta's journey. Bravo!

Letta is a wordsmith apprentice years into our future where words are banned and only a select few are allowed. But when her master goes missing and declared dead, she must rise to the challenge and become the wordsmith. But in doing so, she uncovers a dark plan the man who saved society is planning.

The List is simply a dystopian young adult novel. The world went away in The Melting, John Noa was able to save some people but now regulates what can and cannot be said.

I felt like it had an interesting take on the reason for dystopia but there's not anything new or amazing about the book. The pattern of speech with the "list" words took a bit of time to get used to but was also interesting to think of what words would and would not have made it.

The characters were fairly interesting. I actually felt like there was a better backstory on the villain where I was hoping for redemption for him which didn't come and was a bit sad when it did not.

Overall, quick read, interesting bits but nothing spectacular. I did like the play on Noah's Ark and that reference. It did make me wonder about the post flood world a bit more. I am curious now whether this will become a series or at least have a sequel as it is left opened for such a thing.

A beautifully constructed world, moving characters and an excellent reveal of the final plot points. Some of the science required greater suspension of disbelief than I like, but it fit into the context of the story well. However, I found the ending rushed and unsatisfying. I wasn't sure if it ended to be open for a sequel but the resolution of the novel left with many questions unanswered. Overall, a great read and compelling.

Set in a future where global warming destroyed most of the world’s population, this dystopian tale focuses on how one small group, heeding the warnings ahead of time, built a safe place and are now trying to rebuild society in a better way, closer to the harmony found within nature. Their leader, a man who believes passionately that words were to blame for the global disaster, imposes a narrow list of words to try and avoid another apocalypse. At first this seems almost reasonable. However, as Letta, the story’s protagonist, begins to question her society we see the chilling truth revealed. Everything she’s ever known gets turned upside down and sideways and she winds up having to make some pretty hard choices.

I will admit the cover caught my eye at first. Then when I read the premise about a short list of usable words allowed, I was hooked since this was quite different from other dystopian stories I’ve read. I also liked that the heroine was a collector of the forbidden words which gave her a better understanding of the importance of words which gets threatened later on in the book.

Once I began reading, I was pulled in by the imagery to the point where I could visualize the scenes. As things go on, there is a gripping thriller element that gets added to the mix. While I could pretty much guess ‘who dunnit’, the path to that reveal was filled with a lot of nail biting danger and loads of uncertainty. I felt the pacing of the story was pretty spot on.

The heroine, Letta, shows both strength and vulnerability making for a very believable character. While she has moments of self-doubt, she’s never whiny and though she might be afraid, she struggles to overcome her fears to do what is necessary. All the other people she meets along the way were also fairly well-rounded. The only exception was one enforcer type who was a fairly stereotypical thug which isn’t bad given the number of side characters in the story. Even the main antagonist was believable and scary when we learn just how far he’s willing to go.

The setting is pretty small – just a single outpost with a shanty town of have-nots outside it and the forest. However all the areas were very nicely detailed and felt real. The mix of remaining technology and loss of knowledge was well blended together into a believable whole and I didn’t find myself missing a larger world at all.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and recommend it to anyone who likes reading about dystopian futures.

I started this book and got about 20% of the way through it. It's an interesting story, and I think it might resonate more with a younger (e.g. young adult) audience. The character lives in a world where language is limited, and most words are banned. I think that is probably what makes for a difficult read - the prose is limited because in the characters' world, language is limited. Interesting concept, but did not keep me reading.

BROOKE’S REVIEW

Patricia Forde’s The List is described as “Fahrenheit 451 meets The Giver for tweens.” A timely novel, this story is about a society called Ark - where the ruling class has decided to limit the words to which its citizens can access. Letta, the wordsmith’s apprentice, has access to all of the words society has lost and is responsible for dolling out the words that are still acceptable for use.

Letta is comfortable in her role in society until she meets an outsider, named Marlo, and her beloved master, Benjamin, goes missing. Coming to a crossroads, Letta must decide to support the society of which she has been a part of her whole life or a band of outsiders who dare to imagine a different life - one of freedom of language and expression.

This book is one that is sure to lead to many deep discussions in classrooms, but be warned - there is no neat ending here. There’s sure to be at least a sequel to this book, and perhaps a trilogy.

PRAISE

“An electric sci-fi novel with a strong ecological and moral stance.” - The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“[A] gripping postapocalyptic thriller… it is a well-crafted page-turner, as well as a compelling commentary on censorship and the role of language, while also inviting discussion about what distinguishes humans from animals. For dystopian fiction aficionados, this well-paced entry offers plenty of food for thought.
” - School Library Journal

“Forde’s pacing and characterization are compelling… An intriguing speculation about authoritarian futures with a terrific cover.” - Kirkus

AUTHOR

Patricia Forde lives in the Galway, Ireland. She has published three picture books, lots of easy readers, two plays, and her first novel, The List. She has also written for several television series, including dramas for children and teenagers and English- and Irish-language soap operas. In another life, she was a primary school teacher and the artistic director of the Galway Arts Festival. She now lives with her husband, two teenagers, and a dog called Ben.

I found The List to be a compelling read that also made you think about the power of words and the power of power.

The List is the story of Letta, an apprentice wordsmith in the city of Ark. Ark is a dystopian culture founded by John Noa after climate change melted the polar ice caps destroying much of civilization. In Ark, there is a sense of communal living as everyone is fed by the city, but there are always limitations - "nothing wasted, nothing lost." You have your food rations, water rations, and word rations. Rather than speaking English, people speak List - the 500 words that you are allowed to use supplemented by additional words based on your job. Our protagonist, Letta, is of the privileged set, a keeper of the words, but a single event starts her world unraveling and her faith in Noa to crumble.

The concept behind the list is that the melting could have been stopped if the politicians didn't use words to assure people that global warming wasn't actually happening and if industrialists didn't hide behind words deceiving people of the actual harm they were doing. So John Noa created Ark as a safe space after the destruction.

But in that space, there was no room for art and creative thought. There was no room for individuality. Those that disagreed with John Noa were kicked out of Ark and seen as "Destroyers." The Destroyers are people who want to see a world with creativity allowed, a world where dreams and hope are words in their lexicon.

I found this book a compelling read. There are a lot of similarities to 1984 and The Giver, but with a more modern feel. Those books are honestly better dystopian fiction, but The List will probably resound more with the upper middle-grade/young-adult audience that The List is intended for.

Reminiscent of "The Giver" and other such titles, this is the story of how one girl discovers the power within to balk the system and make a difference. A really well-written middle grade title. I will definitely be considering this book for my Tween Book Club.

I enjoyed reading this book, it was written with an interesting premise - limit the words people can use and punish them for using words that were not on the word list!
The story begins by describing a scavenger who found an object with some strange letters on it that will affect the future of the whole village!
Only certain people can make Word boxes and hand them out to the villagers. Benjamin and Letta are the only two people who can make words and write out their definitions.
Letta is a teenager who dreams of having her lost parents return to claim her. Benjamin has been like a father to her, teaching her his trade and taking care of her.
Benjamin searches for lost words all over the dangerous countryside, which is inhabited by wolves and other animals.
Noe is the leader of the village called "Ark", he is the one who has put wolves in the forest, he is the one who controls the "List" of words people are allowed to use, how much water and food each person gets, and how people are punished for using words that are not on the list.
One day Benjamin goes off to look for words and he does not return, Letta keeps working but one day her world changes. She saves a young man named Marlo from the "gavvers", Noe's soldiers. She decides to help him even though it could mean her imprisonment or banishment.
Marlo tells Letta he needs help from his people as they do not live in the village but the forest and are called "Desecrators" because they can use any words they want and they use arts like music and painting. Letta gives a message to Finn, who is able to come and get Marlo and take him to get medicine.
You will need to read the rest of the book yourself to see what happens to Letta, Marlo and the village - will Noe win or the "Recreators?"

This young adult dystopian novel is centered around an interesting premise that if you had a human society with a controlled and small vocabulary, could you eliminate the more negative aspects of the human condition? Our main character Letta starts out mourning the loss of creativity and expression but believing that her community's leader is creating the "List" for the benefit of the greater good. There are interesting hints of the long-term impacts of global climate change, and occasionally glimpses of other communities and how they have managed. However, the book's tight focus on Letta means much of the interesting premise is under-explored. Furthermore, while the author's choice to contrast Letta's rich vocabulary during her inner narration compared to the terseness of "List" speak makes sense, the feeling of never-ending constraint made this book hard to get through and consequently I felt more obligated to finish than anything else.

I REALLY love the concept behind this book - that people are only allowed to use a certain amount of words - those words being maintained by a wordsmith.
I usually don't pay mind to dystopian novels - but the description on this one really made me want to take a second glance, and I am glad I did.
It's a fairly easy read - meant for middle graders. It's well written and the plot twists and suspense really help to draw you into the story - always wanting more.
The beginning of the story goes a bit slow - but once you hit the middle it starts getting good - and makes the read worth it!

I love this book. It reminds me of a mix of Harrison Bergeron, 1984 and the new crop of dystopian novels (like the Hunger Games. Forde manages to educate without being preachy. It tells the story of a society limited to a very short list of words. She writes characters in the manner of Vonnegut, the plot of 1984 and the "readability" of Suzanne Collins.

Letta, our protagonist, is the apprentice of the Wordsmith. She meets another kid who has an expansive vocabulary. What happens to someone who doesn't follow the norm? Read it and you'll find out.

The premise of this book was excellent. Unfortunately it feel far short of my expectations. It reminded me of a lot of other dystopias that are popular right and was very predictable. The world building was very scarce and happened to late in the book that I almost gave up. I never felt like I had a good sense of where we were or what the set up was. In addition, I did not become invested in the characters. I had no emotional attachment and was not concerned with what happened to them. I will add though that there were interesting elements to the story and that I don't regret reading it. I do believe that it would definitely appeal to middle grade readers and may just be one of those books that only appeals to that age group.

This is my own blog so I will not say “Personally” nor “in my point of view”.. but personally 😜 I think this story is weird and unique at the same time. I am currently struggling on my thoughts about this one….

I don’t like Carver, the gavver. His personality is more villainous than the villain John Noa, who has a twisted thinking. It was a struggle for me — a 10min struggle when I learned that Noa cut the tongues of some people. I mean, what’s sickening with people having language??

I feel lucky to live in the age where people are free to talk, able to learn many languages. I don’t think I can live in the world of Ark. It was twisted, sick bastard Noa I can’t understand… really..


for more of my reviews: https://mypoppingthoughts.wordpress.com

A page turner of a book that illustrates the power and importance of words and language, as well as the danger in them when twisted or used for ill means. Beautifully written, unsettling and with an ending that has me hoping for a sequel, Forde has written a book that transcends the YA category.