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FEBRUARY 2007 ISSUE OF IN STYLE MAGAZINE. THE COVER FEATURES HILARY SWANK. ARTICLES INCLUDE "SHINY HAIR EVER SINGLE DAY", "27 NEW PANTS YOU'LL LOVE", "GET THE BODY YOU WANT", "INSIDE THE YEAR'S BEST CELEBRITY WEDDINGS", AND MORE. ... Read more

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Matt Donaghy has always been a Big Mouth. But it's never gotten him in trouble -- until the day Matt is accused of threatening to blow up Rocky River High School.

Ursula Riggs has always been an Ugly Girl. A loner with fierce, staring eyes, Ursula has no time for petty high school stuff like friends and dating -- or at least that's what she tells herself Ursula is content with minding her own business. And she doesn't even really know Matt Donaghy.

But Ursula is the only person who knows what Matt really said that day ... and she is the only one who can help him.

In her first novel for young adults, acclaimed author Joyce Carol Oates has created a provocative and unflinching story of friendship and family, and of loyalty and betrayal.

Customer Reviews (75)

Angieville: BIG MOUTH & UGLY GIRL
The first time I ever heard about BIG MOUTH & UGLY GIRL was on the lovely Shannon Hale's website a few years ago. I was browsing around and ran across a list of her book recommendations. This one was on the YA non-fantasy list and the title caught my eye. So I hunted down a copy at my local bookstore and went home with it. Something about her description of why she liked it made me certain it was worth buying sight unseen. I must have felt strongly because, let's be honest, I would never otherwise have purchased a book with this cover. I'm sorry, but it's horrendous. Sort of the definition of unappealing. Nothing that calls out to me in any way. And, as with so many other of my favorites, this story deserves a cover worthy of it. Not the drab, awkward ones it's gotten thus far. So I hope this review will appeal to some of you enough that you'll look past the puzzling, slightly garish cover and see the gold inside. Because it is most certainly gold and instantly went on my Beloved Bookshelf because of its honest and heartfelt approach to being a teen outsider and the often unfair and complicated ways in which others view you when you don't conform to their model of expectations.

***

It was an ordinary January afternoon, a Thursday, when they came for Matt Donaghy. They came for him during fifth period, which was Matt's study period, in room 220 of Rocky River High School, Westchester County.

***

These are the opening lines of the story of Matt Donaghy and Ursula Riggs. On that ordinary day in January the police come to arrest Matt Donaghy. To escort him from school and down to the station on charges that he was planning to blow up the school. Matt is speechless with confusion and fear. He had no such plans. He said no such thing. Or did he? It's impossible to remember. He might have joked about it. Not necessarily in so many words, but he might have. Matt is always joking. You might say he has a big mouth. Big enough, hopefully, to cover up for his shyness, his inability to blend in perfectly with his peers. Then there is Ursula Riggs. Tall, sturdy, with fierce eyes and an unyielding presence, she's on the edges of Rocky River High as well. Everybody knows of her but nobody really knows her. And in her head she is Ugly Girl. Too large and broad and forceful to be accepted, but sure of herself and determined not to be run over by anyone. But Ursula heard what Matt said that day in passing. And she decides she won't let him go to jail for a crime he didn't commit. But will the two outcasts together be able to stand against the fear and the mob mentality that arises in the wake of rumors of a crazy boy and a bomb?

First published in 2002, this is Joyce Carol Oates' first young adult novel and I was impressed to say the least. It reminded me of a more "American," if you will, version of Just in Case by Meg Rosoff. No less angst, but a little more hope. The two main characters, Matt and Ursula, develop alter egos (see title) which in turn enable them to cope with the shocking events of their junior year. The thing is you will like these two. You will like them from page one. Though skinny and geeky, and prone to skimming along under the radar, Matt is incredibly likable and funny. And Ursula. Well, as Matt would say, Ursula is "1 individual in 1 million." Often brash and abrupt and unconcerned with other people's feelings, she is actually an unusually straight arrow. And her insistence on justice and the perseverance of truth is doggone admirable. What these two accomplish together is heroic. Here is their first conversation:

***

Twice Matt dialed the number Ursula had given him and twice he hung up quickly before the phone could ring. So damned shy. The third time he dialed, he let the phone ring and it was answered at once. "Hello?" The girl's voice was husky, guarded.

"Hi, this is . . . Matt. Is this Ursula?"

"Yes."

"I . . . got your message."

Matt was speaking in a lowered, shaky voice. He was feeling a leap of irrational hope.

Ursula said, still guardedly, "You know me, I guess? From school?"

"Ursula, sure. Sure I know you."

As if they hadn't been going to the same schools most of their lives.

Ursula said, "This hasn't been such a . . . great day for you, I guess."

"No, but--" Matt paused. He wanted to say, At least I'm home, not in jail. But that wasn't much of a reason to be grateful, considering he hadn't done anything wrong. "--I'm alive, anyway."

Was that meant to be funny? Matt laughed, but Ursula remained silent.

Matt had begun to sweat, this conversation was so pained. He hated calling girls on the phone if he didn't know them really well and if it hadn't been understood, more or less, that he was going to call, and was expected. He was even uneasy sometimes calling his friends. Which was why he liked e-mail. Maybe Ursula Riggs was the same way? Her telephone voice was unexpectedly hesitant, diffident.

Or maybe she just didn't like Matt Donaghy, personally. But had to talk to him for some mysterious reason.

Ursula began speaking rapidly, as if her words were prepared. "Look, Matt. I heard what you said in the cafeteria today. I was walking past your table, and I heard. I know you were joking, and there's no way any intelligent person could misconstrue your words or gestures. If it's taken out of context, maybe, but there was a context. And I can be a witness for you. I'll go to Mr. Parrish first thing tomorrow and talk to him. Or the police, if necessary."

By the end of this speech, Ursula was speaking vehemently. Matt wasn't sure he'd heard right. Witness? He felt like a drowning swimmer whose flailing hand has been grabbed by someone, a stranger, whose face he can't see.

He said, stammering, "You . . . heard me? You know I didn't . . . wasn't . . ."

"A friend of mine, Eveann McDowd, was with me. She heard you, too. I'll talk to her."

"You'd--be a witness for me, Ursula? Gosh."

Ursula said quickly, "You've been falsely accused. I'd do it for anybody." She added," I mean--even somebody I didn't like."

Matt was too confused to absorb what Ursula Riggs seemed to be saying. That she liked him? All he could say was to repeat, "Thanks, Ursula. I--really appreciate it."

"You're the only person who's contacted me, Ursula," Matt added impulsively. "I'm a pariah, I guess--is that the word? Like leper. Outcast." When Ursula didn't reply, Matt said, "I've been suspended for 'at least three day.' Till they can investigate me."

"Investigate you? They're the ones who should be investigated."

Ursula Riggs spoke so heatedly, it was as if, suddenly, she was in Matt's room with him and Pumpkin.

***

Don't you want to stick with them and find out if she's right? If together they can face down The Man and win? This is a particularly timely tale, I think, with two painfully real protagonists that dare you to drift away and forget them after the story itself is over. Recommended for fans of Courtney Summers and Meg Rosoff.

Be yourself in High School
This book really explains a lot.You can relate it to some schools because there's always a girl who people believe is big and bad, but once you get to know her, she's very humane.
And then there's another kind of person you might find.A guy who's really smart, and never has been cruel to anybody, but gets misinterpreted at the wrong moment when he's just joking around with his friends.
The girl that takes this place is sort of a big jock.She's very bulky and plays sports, but doesn't bully anybody.But because of her size, people are so afraid of her.
The guy that takes the other place is just a regular, pretty slim student who loves writing his own plays.When he knows what's going on, he can comprehend that he was caught in the act of doing something that wasn't meant to be what came out of his mouth and actions.
As you read more and more into the book, you can glimpse on this friendship that has developed between this two different people and how they work together to make things the way they were before.But knowing all these teen stories, it never ends that way.No happily ever after.In this story though, I can tell you that this ending is one you will never forget.
If you read this book, you will find all of these people.I would say that you should be around 13-15 years old, or about to go into high school.It teaches you how high school can be sometimes, and it's okay to be yourself and stand up for other people and YOURSELF!

Pleasantly surprised
This was my first Oates book so I had no idea what to expect. What I got was a book with very well written characters and a good premise. Both main characters are completely believable and their friendship is described i a very good way. The parts focusing on "Ugly girl" are written in first person and Oates really manages to get the right voice for a teenage girl. Or at least it felt authentic to me, but I'm admittedly not a teenage girl.

The book also has its satirical moments and overall a good understanding of human nature. "Big Mouth and Ugly Girl" is a great read for kids and adults alike.

B MUG
Big Mouth and Ugly Girl is a book about a boy who is allegedly accused of stating that he is going to blow up the school. A girl named Ursula comes to his rescue when she testifies on the behalf that he didn't do it. This boy, Matt, and Ursula develop a special relationship that has its ups and downs throughout this book.
My favorite part of this book is when Ursula and Matt go to a kid's house to see if he took Matt's dog. I think this is a funny part. It shows a whole different side of the characters. I also liked it because the kid that they were "persecuting" had such a smart attitude towards them that it made it funny.
I would recommend this book to a few people. I would recommend it to people who are interested in teen life and drama and maybe people who like relationship stories. Other than that I wouldn't really recommend it. The book was a little slow moving, but once I got to a good part it was hard to put down. Also this book was kind of following the people involved in the plot but not enough about the plot.

big mouth and ugly girl
This book is about finding out what rumors could lead to. You always have to be careful with what you say, you might endup in a tight squeez like matt donaghy.
What you will find inside this book:
- respect
- support
- rumors
- truth
- friendship
- depression
- and a change of heart in the characters.
Have fun reading this book :D ... Read more

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This issue features Hilary Swank, Pete Carroll, Mitzi Shore and much more! ... Read more

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