“The List” is a middle grade dystopia with a good premise: words are dangerous and by limiting them you can control how people spread ideas. The city of Ark has 250 approved words, and it is up to Letta to keep the meanings of the others. The problem is that the narrative is muddled and slow because so many other issues are tackled but not given any depth. Everything from religion to the environment to prisoner’s rights are thrown in and it keeps the story from flowing well. I would stick with “The Giver” when it comes to middle graders.

Well-written dystopian novel. I admired the quality of the writing more than the content itself which was unrelentingly depressing. But then, how many upbeat dystopian novels are there?

The pace seemed to drag until the climax at the end.

It was thought-provoking but I think it was beyond me to relate to it in other than a tangential way.

Letta, the wordsmith apprentice, works every day to save the language of their past while providing limited words and definitions to the people to use to speak. The citizens on Ark can only speak “List” words that have been approved by their leader, John Noa. That list has been shrinking over the years, and it now stands at only 500 words.

Language was the reason the world collapsed, claims John Noa. Language spoken in Ark is only enough to get by with the necessity of life. No feelings, art, or music is allowed in the city. But not everyone agrees that limiting words is the way to go.

The desecrators are a group of people who believe that music, art, and feelings should be felt and shared with everyone. The desecrators briefly appear throughout the city to sing songs, create art, and play musical instruments. If caught, the desecrators will be beaten and banished into the woods to the die. It’s a huge price to pay to share art, but they risk their lives anyway because they know important art is to civilization.

When the wordsmith is out of town, Letta runs into a young desecrator who opens her eyes to a world of art and emotions. This chance encounter leads Letta down a path of adventure, suspense, and horror. She learns the truth behind the limited list and why it’s shrinking. Letta will have to team up with the desecrators to save the city, the people, and their language.

I’m a sucker for a good dystopian novel, and I enjoyed this story.I think that’s what make this book is great is the matchup of many different great dystopian novels. If you are looking to read a quick dystopian novel, this is the book for you.

A bit of a slow start but once the story got more intriguing, this was a pretty good book. The world-building was good at times, decent at others, and the main story arc was pretty engaging once we finally got into it. I do wish it would've been less of a slow burn to get to the meat of the story (I definitely needed a smidge more foreshadowing for some revelations that came late in the book) but otherwise, I enjoyed this book quite a bit.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Sourcebooks Jabberwocky and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The List. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

The List is a preteen dystopian novel, set in a world where words and language are perceived to be trouble. Citizens are permitted to use only certain words, the ones that are on the approved list. 12 year old Letta becomes Wordsmith after her master, Benjamin, disappears. Noa, the leader of their society, sets forth demands until Letta must make a difficult choice. Will she choose to fight for the rights of the citizens or quietly acquiesce to the demands?

This book shows the extreme of what can happen when power corrupts. Fear is a useful tactic and intimidation can lead a society down a dangerous path. For the people of the Ark, the leader has determined that the ills of the past were formed because of the peoples connection through words. Like any fictitious dystopian novel, The List shows life that is really outside of the realm of possibility. The plot flowed smoothly and the characters were well developed. My favorite character was Letta, as her strength and determination despite insurmountable odds made her interesting. The List fits right into that preteen range, as this would be a stepping stone book to The Giver, The Hunger Games, or Divergent.

Young Adult Dystopian fiction is not my usual choice. Patricia Forde's, The List had such an enchanting premise, I gave it a read. Overall I was impressed with the novel. The scene is set well, I found it easy to visualize the setting and the circumstances that led American Society to the place we visit in The List. There are some rather adult situations addressed, (torture) but they are not detailed. There is a light romance, but nothing intense. The characters are complex, and dialogue seems appropriate to character and situation. Im thinking I'd rather my child be at least late middle school before tackling this novel.
I did find it entertaining but a little slow in places.

This book is an interesting middle grade dystopian book, I enjoyed the character development in this book - and it is a page turner where you want to find out what happens next. I think the plot is interesting - where only a certain few people can speak more words than others - an interesting read for younger people.

Check out my review on my blog, Literacious

This dystopian story takes place in a place known as The Ark. Letta is an apprentice to a wordsmith named Benjamin. This story was reminiscent of 1984 by George Orwell.

The List held the promise of a really cool premise. I'm a sucker for dystopians, and the loss of language in this way was one I haven't heard before. My only complaint is that I wish the author took the time to build out the world and characters a bit more, and in more of a unique way. This felt very "The Giver" - which could be a really cool thing if it was just stood on its own a bit more. I'd read more stories that take place in this post-apocalyptic world, though. It may be a touch unpolished, but it was a fun, quick read.

<i> I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. </i>

This book was a struggle for me for some reason. I can't put my finger on it, but it just didn't resonate with me. However, as I was reading, I kept thinking about students I have who I want to hand this book to. I fully believe this book will be popular; it just wasn't right for me in this moment.

The List is a fascinating dystopian tale of a post-apocalyptic society in which language is limited to only 500 words. And falling. The leaders of Ark--a relatively save haven in the midst of chaos and wilderness--believe words are to blame for the cataclysmic Melting, hiding the impending disasters behind pretty lies and false promises until it was too late.

Now, only the aging wordsmith and his young apprentice, Letta, are allowed to use words that are not on the List--collecting and protecting them until the day that humanity might once again deserve the full range of language and expression. When the wordsmith fails to return from a word collecting mission, Letta must take his place, only to discover that the promises of Ark itself are beginning to unravel.

I loved the world that Patricia Forde has created. The premise of the novel is fascinating and all too believable, and the plot moves along at a steady clip. The List-based dialog is intriguing, giving the reader a true sense of immersion in the story, and I would have liked to see more of it. I enjoyed that bit immensely!

I would also have enjoyed getting to know Letta better. She <i>did</i> a lot of things, and there are plenty of readers who will love that about the book. But I walked away feeling like I didn't have a solid handle on who she <i>was</i>--on the quirks of her personality that make her unique. (To be fair, the reader does get a lot of her thoughts; they just came across as somewhat scattered to me, so that I didn't ever feel like I got a solid handle on them.)

That said, both the world and the story held my attention to the end. I'd definitely recommend at least checking out a sample. If you enjoy the author's style, you'll love the read.

A beautiful novel, although, a little predictable in parts. The List follows Letta, an apprentice Wordsmith, living in the post-apocalyptic town of ‘Arc’.

The start of this book is tough. I picked it up after glancing over the blurb. Something I’m thankful for as it gives too much away. It’s a slow dystopian novel to chomp through. The first half (or 51% to be precise) included beautiful world-building. This brings with it a slow pace, thrilling some readers, but leaving others struggling and bored. That said, if you, or your mini-me, like chomping and enjoy a book world’s gradual unfolding here is a great read.

As you’d expect with a slower beginning you empathize with characters living in a world with limited words and harsh rules. Letta, Marlo, Benjamin, Finn, even John Noa are enjoyable characters to watch progress.

Push through the first half, the plot starts to mature. A wonderful action adventure with deep, developed characters emerges. It’s an interesting, well thought out setting tackling real-world issues. Climate change, the innate need for humans to be creative and control form a fundamental part of the plot. Giving middle-graders, parents, or teachers discussion points around moral issues helping develop a further understanding.

This is a good book. It book offers a good introduction to dystopian novels for the younger reader. If you love middle grade fiction, I recommend this book, but be aware, the start is slow.

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Letta is the teenaged apprentice wordsmith of Ark, a community of survivors on post-apocalytic Earth. The ice caps melted and the seas rose and John Noa built a fortified town where some of humanity would survive. Letta's parents, residents of Ark, disappeared when she was a small child, bound to search for more survivors. Letta was raised by the wordsmith, Benjamin, to treasure words, though the people of Arc are only given license to use the 500 words on their List as their language.

Benjamin isn't pleased when he's told to cut the List to 300 words, and Letta isn't any happier. She's in love with language, and words are her trade. She relishes knowing more words than most of Ark's residents, and does her duty to keep making List words for the school children and apprentices of Ark when Benjamin goes on an extended journey.

John Noa's theory that deceitful words of untrustworthy politicians destroyed the world has warped his mind, and he wants language eradicated and man to return to that of beasts, is pretty out there. Benjamin fought against him, and lost, which Letta discovers before it's too late. She meets Marlo, a "Desecrator" or person who creates are or music and lives in the banished forest outside of Ark. Letta helps him recover from an attack by the Ark policing agents, and his family helps her track down the fate of Benjamin, and others who'd gotten in John Noa's way.

This is an adventure that's filled with intrigue and peril as Letta endeavors to find truth that's been well hidden in ignorance. Her worldview is opened by her experiences with the Desecrators, and in witnessing the callousness of John Noa's agents. They banish the old and infirm as well as the young. Their idyllic world is a shell game, and Letta's blinders have been removed. She does her best to save the day, but it's not over when it's over. Letta, Marlo and the Desecrators need to find a way to help their fellow humans find a new direction, and it'll take another book to get us there. Really interesting look at a totalitarian regime, and a censored society, from a teen's point of view, and the plot kept moving along nicely as Letta made truth her mission.

Looking forward to the next adventure on this journey.

“The List” is a Fantasy / post apocalyptic / dystopian story. I really liked this book a lot and I can see it being a big hit with middle school aged children this year. I found it to be a thought provoking story that leaves the reader with a lot of questions to consider.

This is a debut novel for author Patricia Forde. I will be looking forward to reading her future novels.

There's not a lot of “world building” in this story because the world has been built prior to the beginning of the story. The author does do an excellent job describing the locations and conditions, both physical and emotional, of this world of survivors. The characters are well developed and believable in this setting. Some characters you will like, others you won't. Some are nice and kind, others are cruel and ruthless. Before the story is over, maybe you'll find yourself liking some characters you didn't think you were supposed to.

Letta is the story's main character. She is one of the survivors, one of the followers of John Noa. During the years that Noa has been the Master of the survivors, he has limited their allowed vocabulary to 500 words. This is The List. Noa believes that words were the cause for the destruction of the world as it was.

Letta doesn't agree with Noa's plan to continue shortening the approved vocabulary list. Why are so many precious words eliminated? Abstract words such as dream, love and hope.

The story follows Letta through her discovery of a treacherous plot against the survivors. Through her struggle to discover the truth.

Letta simply wants peace, happiness and hope for the future of this small group of survivors.

I can see a lot of good classroom discussions coming from this story. The power of words, both good and bad. What are the moral responsibilities of the leaders of humanity.
What would you do if you were limited to 500 words?
Which words would be the most important to keep and why?

This is the first novel by author, Patricia Forde, and I will definitely be following this new author.
I wrote my review on paper before submitting online. After reading a few other reviews, I wish my review could better express my enjoyment of this book, or at least sound more “professional”. Alas, I'm a reader, not a writer. My review is that of your average reader.

Wow! What a great book. The story plot is unique and shows the author has a wonderful, creative imagination. The reader is given enough background to set the theme, time and conditions. The characters were well developed and the reader will feel an emotional connection to them.

The story is set in the post-apocalyptic world where there are few known survivors. There are 3 groups of survivors:
The followers of John Noa being the most “civilized”.
The people of Tin Town who live just outside the settlement. These are the late followers of Noa and he does not allow them to live inside the settlement, nor does he allow them much in the way of resources. They live in crude shacks, in filth and squalor.
The 3rd group, Noa has called The Desecrators. These are the people John Noa has banished. They must survive in the forest with the wild animals.

Letta is one of the survivors and is the main character in this story. Letta's group of survivors are the followers of John Noa and their settlement is called Ark. [ok, I found that a bit unimaginative – but it does set the tone of this story being a new beginning for man-kind].

It is Noa's belief that too many words will cause the destruction of this small group of survivors. In the decades that Noa has been the Leader {Master}, he has “deleted” all but 500 words from their allowed vocabulary. This is the List. Letta is the Wordsmith. It is her responsibility, under orders from Noa, to create boxes of the approved “List” words. She also has a duty to collect and catalog words deleted – for humanity in the future.

What Letta discovers about the other groups of survivors, even her own group, including their leader John Noa, turns her life upside down. People are not always who you think. People are also not always what you've been told. Letta begins to realize how every aspect of the people's life is controlled by Noa. He alone controls their vocabulary, food, water, clothing, even who they mate with.

I feel like I've left out so much that made the story exciting – but to include it would be a huge spoiler. You'll have to read the book.

The story leaves us with Letta's 2 strong and lasting beliefs:

Words have power because they create ideas. Extinction is the saddest thing of all.

This is an excellent book for middle school age and older. It is a great introduction to dystopian/post apocalyptic books for this age group.
Thank you sourcebooks jaberwocky and netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review. My review will be posted on amazon, goodreads, netgalley and moonshineartspot.blogspot

Thank you to Sourcebooks Jabberwocky and Netgalley for providing me a copy for review.

The List is a middle-grade dystopian novel set in the not-too-distant future where global warming has melted the ice caps in an event called The Melting. It follows Letta, the young apprentice wordsmith of Ark, the planned community of survivors which is ruled by John Noa and his Green Warriors

One of Letta’s jobs is to assist her master, Benjamin, in maintaining The List: an approved vocabulary of 500 words. Those not using List to communicate (aside from Letta, Benjamin, John Noa and his ruling class) are punished for infractions, and banished if they continue.

Banishment means being taken from Ark and left alone in the surrounding forest. Some people survive, some do not.

There is also Tintown outside Ark. These were people who arrived too late to be granted entrance into Ark, so they are forced to live outside and survive in any manner they can. Some scavenge and exchange their finding for favors from within Ark.

There’s also another group of people called Desecrators by those within Ark. They are looked down upon, considered evil and a threat to the way of life in Ark.

While Benjamin is away on a wordfinding mission (the wordsmith is in charge of gathering and recording words and their meanings from outside of Ark, determining whether they should be stored or a plea to John Noa should be made to have them added to List), Letta encounters a young boy, Marlo, who has been wounded by gavvers (Ark’s version of police/guards). Letta soon realizes Marlo is a Desecrator, but despite this, she risks her life to save his.

While Letta has always felt safe in Ark, in Marlo’s presence she begins to see how every aspect of life is controlled by Noa: vocabulary, food, water. the inability to choose one’s mate, the inability to have as many children as you like (each mated pair is allowed two: if you have a third child, it is taken away and given to a couple with one or none—having a fourth child means the entire family is banished). There is no art, no music.

Letta helps Marlo recover and contacts the Desecrators to come get him. Then Letta receives word that Benjamin died on his trip, and she is now the wordsmith and must carry on his work.

Aside from learning the man she has considered a father figure has died, there is something that doesn’t sit right with Letta, and as she begins questioning more and more the inner workings of Ark, she receives a note: BENJAMIN NOT DEAD.

Letta’s search for the truth leads her back to the Desecrators and uncovers a plot to rid Ark of all language, permanently. As wordsmith, Letta feels she cannot stand by and let this happen.

Her quest to foil Noa’s plan leads to revelations about her own forgotten past that changes everything she thought she knew about the world.

The characters are a strong point in the book. Letta is a likable protagonist. Secondary characters aren’t as well developed, but serve their purpose.

At times the story felt like a mishmash of other dystopians: The Giver, The Hunger Games, even a tiny bit of The Maze Runner. This felt more like an homage rather than a wannabe copycat retelling, but the similarities did very much lend an air of having read this all before.

If you are considering this for your middle-grade reader: be advised there are some descriptions of torture and death that might be an issue for some, based on maturity level.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I felt like the ending was setting up a potential sequel, and I would be interested enough to return to this world.

3 out of 5 stars.

The List was an engaging book about Leta's discovery of the power of language, and her own power to influence the future. Leta is a problem solver and once she sets her mind set to a task she gets things done. She is a very active and resourceful heroine, which made her story very enjoyable. The book was left open-ended enough that there will likely be sequels, I think there is a lot of potential for the this story to develop further.

I had a hard time understanding how everyone in the book became so willingly restricted in their words, a lot of the restrictions were based on fear, but I kept thinking it would have been interesting to explore how people become very creative with language. Throughout the book I kept thinking that despite the restrictive List that people would still be able to communicate in complex ways, and I am certain that it would happen quite naturally.

Lastly, I wasn't a fan of the subtle, but definitely there romance. It seemed unnecessary to include these elements, which are hallmarks for the young adult genre rather than middle grade (as which this book is classified). I would have been more interested in a well developed friendship.