As the story unfolds, several interactions make her question Noa’s limits on language and the validity of his vision for humanity. Letta accepts this as simply the way things are until a series of events force her to question Noa’s intentions including the disappearance of Benjamin (the wordsmith) and the appearance of Marlo, a teenage boy who knows about all of the words and is a dissenter living outside of Ark’s society. Words including art, hope, love, freedom are all banned and deemed unnecessary. He decrees that the list of words be cut again and again to the bare minimum required to function as a society. John Noa, the leader of Ark, believes that words are the cause of all of humanity’s problems. It is her job to write out lists of acceptable words and provide the lists to the people of Ark. Letta, the main character, is the wordsmith’s apprentice and one of the few people “allowed” to know about the full range of language of the past and speak freely.

The story is set in a place called Ark, the surviving society after a catastrophic event called “The Melting” – think worst case scenario climate change impact. Part apocalyptic/dystopian novel and part social commentary about courage, morals and the power of words, I had a very difficult time putting this book down. This is exactly the premise of Patricia Forde’s brilliant new YA book The List. Now imagine that the leader of your society limited those words more and more each year (only 500 words allowed) and put strict rules in place for the language you could speak, the tone you use and the images they evoke. Consider how may words have multiple meaning based on culture, region or slang. Think about the impact that nuance, tone and irony can have on the words you deliver and the way that they are received by others. Think about how many choices you have in terms of deciding what you want to say and why and the images that your words can paint. Imagine how many words you speak, read and hear each day.

Patricia forde the last word