Jennifer's review
Big Mouth & Ugly Girl by Joyce Carol Oates
Jennifer's review
rating:
bookshelves: ya-fiction
recommended for: YA readers
status: Read in October, 2007
rating:
bookshelves: ya-fiction
recommended for: YA readers
status: Read in October, 2007
Big Mouth and Ugly Girl shows that Joyce Carol Oates is just as capable at writing young adult fiction as she is writing adult fiction. This is the story of two teenagers who become unlikely friends. Matt Donaghy(Big Mouth) is fairly popular, a good student, known for his sense of humor and playwriting until he is overheard jokingly saying he's going to blow up the school. He ends up being hauled out of class by the police and rumours begin to fly wildly. The only person who stands up for him is Ursula Riggs (Ugly Girl) a tough basketball player who has carefully constructed a shell of indifference to the world.
Eventually Matt and Ursula become friends. Ursula helps Matt through his lingering anger and depression, and Matt helps Ursula see herself as more than Ugly Girl.
The depictions of teenage emotions and thought processes are well-written and convincing. Even given today's climate of fear in the wake of the Columbine shootings, I found the premise that Ma...more
Eventually Matt and Ursula become friends. Ursula helps Matt through his lingering anger and depression, and Matt helps Ursula see herself as more than Ugly Girl.
The depictions of teenage emotions and thought processes are well-written and convincing. Even given today's climate of fear in the wake of the Columbine shootings, I found the premise that Ma...more
