Big Mouth & Ugly Girl

A wonderful tale of two unlikely friends told in two voices: Big Mouth-- a fairly popular boy, good student, make-em laugh type boy who impulsively jokes about a bombing his high school and finds himself in serious trouble and Ugly Girl-- the sharp witted, plain faced, big boned and friendless loner who stands up for a boy she barely knows because it is the right thing to do. Matt and Ursula become friends-not quickly or easily-- but when the entire town turns on Matt and his whole world collapses, Ursula, who is used to being ostracized and is very strong-- but not happy-- about it, becomes his only and his true friend. Two teens who struggle with friendships and family issues and social pressures and real danger. Oates is a master show more storyteller and her characters are well thought out and nuanced. we care about every imperfect one. i really liked the book, a quick read with lots of place for conversation about society, rumors, true friends, schools, police, families, and feelings. i will say that the end seemed a little rushed and too neatly tied up, but this is still a great book and a good choice for middle and high school aged. show less

Anyone who has felt like an outcast even once in his or her life can relate to Ugly Girl. Anyone who has been caught in the crossfire of a rumor gone bad can relate to Big Mouth. Put the two of them together and you have the quintessential high school experience that we have all had. Matt opened his Big Mouth and said something terrible, so terrible he was accused of being a terrorist. Ursula walked around with a chip on her shoulder, scowling like an Ugly Girl but her insides were a different story. In her heart of hearts she knew Matt could never be the bomber everyone accused him of being so she had to say something... Together they make an unlikely pair but as rumors escalate they find out exactly how much they need each other.

High school junior Matt Donaghy is considered an okay guy. He gets good grades, writes for the school paper, is in the Drama Club, and is known for his witty, if immature, humor. Students and teachers seem to like him. But one day he says something that makes a few classmates think he's out to bomb the school. The school principal is notified, the police are called in, and rumors are abuzz. Even his buddies doubt his innocence, and none of the guys come forward in his defense. There is, however, someone else who overheard Matt's statement and understood his mocking intent. School renegade Ursula Riggs, or "Ugly Girl" as she refers to herself, doesn't know Matt very well but reveals what she heard and the context in which it was said -- show more even though her parents instruct her to mind her own business. But even if Ursula can help Matt clear up this misunderstanding, will life at Rocky River High School ever be the same again? show less

Big Mouth and Ugly Girl is a foray into teen fiction by prolific adult writer Joyce Carol Oates. Big Mouth is Matt who is accused of threatening to blow up his high school. Ugly girl is Ursula, a loner and star of the girl’s basketball team who doesn’t feel at home in her skin. Even though she barely knows Matt, she steps in to defend him when everyone else is against him and they form a genuine and affecting friendship.

The novel explores the hot topic of school shootings, though there is not an actual shooting, just the supposed threat of one. And it also explores the whole culture of suspicion and paranoia and how tough people have it when they are accused of crimes – even though they are innocent (and in our justice system show more supposedly innocent until proven guilty). Though all this may sound like pretty heavy reading, the focus is really on Ursula’s and Matt’s characters, their personal and family struggles as well as their growing friendship.

Though not as high concept as most of the books I read, I very much enjoy the author’s writing style, character development and storytelling abilities. Despite the “heavy” themes, it is a quick, satisfying read. show less

I found it admirable that Ursula stood up for the truth. Matt was smart, a joker - I'd have laughed if I was there. It was a believable story, although I have no idea whether real detectives would be so clumsy, abrasive and apparently thick, failing to investigate accuser as well as accused. I was disappointed and sad that the teachers didn't appear to support Matt. That his friends' parents told their kids to avoid him, even though they knew him to be innocent, really pisses me off at those parents. I think his friends should have ignored their parents in this case because he was their friend and needed them.

Joyce Carol Oates' books are almost always extremely well-written, with engaging characters and drama that feels very realistic. This is very easy to notice in her YA-books, when she has to constrain herself to 300 pages and a moderately happy ending. I think the YA-books help her to avoid some of the problems in her books for adults.

Big Mouth & Ugly Girl is the story of two teenagers who befriend each other at a point of their lives when they both have some sort of problem. Matt is abandoned by his friends after being suspended from school and Ursula doesn't get along with her mother. They become friends and help each other throughout the book.

I love this book, and even though it's been a while since I read it. I would definitively show more recommend it to everyone. show less

I listened to this on audio. Hilary Swank read the book and she made the reading. The book is so good. I loved the way Oates portrays the separate lives of the two characters and how they are transformed through the novel. This book is so well written and anyone interested in YA lit--teen or adult would love this book.