Big Mouth & Ugly Girl audiobook

Give this book to every tween and teen you know. Adults, you should read it too. It's a fast read, a day or two at most, and the pages are filled with a sparse, honest prose that creates two characters who somehow manage to be outcasts and everygirl/boy at the same time. You know that teenage experience of feeling totally alone and different from everyone around you but then as an adult you realize everyone was feeling that way and so you were all actually together in that aloneness? This book explores that experience with kindness and sympathy. It's a book I wish I'd had at that age. Ugly Girl is accepted by some and rejected by most at her school, but her awesomeness is readily apparent to readers, and that's not because this book carries the trite, ham-fisted message to be nice to the outcasts, they are people too! It's because Joyce Carol Oates is so skilled at laying out the intricacies of Ugly Girl's personality in a subtle and truthful way -- from her fierce devotion to doing the right thing to her shaky, but deep confidence despite an outward uncertainty. Please read it, and remember that the teenagers you know have inner lives just as complex as any adult.

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.

Yhdysvaltalaisen Joyce Carol Oatesin nuortenkirja Syntipukki alkaa vakavalla aiheella, sillä etsivät tulivat puhuttamaan 16v. Mattia kesken hänen äidinkielentuntiaan. Eikä Matt ymmärtänyt miksi. Tästä puhuttelusta vyöryivät koko kaupunkia ravistelevat tapahtumat. Matt sai hyvästellä huolettomat koulupäivät ja kaveripiirinsä, sillä häntä syytettiin aikeista räjäyttää lukio ja ampua kaikki lukion oppilaat.Kirjan toinen päähenkilö oli 16v. Ursula. Ursulaa haukuttiin selän takana ison kokonsa vuoksi, sillä hän ei ollut ainoastaan pitkä. Pituudesta oli hyötyä koripallossa, mitä hän rakasti, mutta Ursula ei tykännyt muuten joukkueurheilusta, sillä hän halusi yksin tehdä kaikki pisteet. Häviöt ottivat lujille. Ursula ei ollut suosittu. Hän oli liian erikoisen näköinen, eikä hän välittänyt muista. Syntipukin tarina koostui vahvoista ajankohtaisista teemoista ja hienosta tekstistä.

Sucked at first but it turned out pretty well in the end

"Joyce Carol Oates is a wonderful author and even when she writes an apparent "young adult"-novel it is very fulfilling even for a general audience. Matt (the self-proclaimed "Big mouth") is a popular high school student who gets into trouble due to shooting off his big mouth. All of a sudden he finds himself not only not popular, but seemingly without any friends and when his parents move to sue the school for defamation he ends up being harassed by older kids. The clearing up of the trouble he was in was possible due to one person testifying on his behalf; Ursula (the self-proclaimed "Ugly girl") big, strong and athletic, but a loner and anything but popular (however, a lot of times we glimpse that she most likely is not percieved by others the way she thinks). A most unlikely friendship develops."

I enjoyed this story way more than I thought I would when I first started it. I had to re-read the beginning chapters a few times before I could get into it. But, once I focused and got about a third of the way in, it was a quick & enjoyable read. Usually I'm very cynical about young adult novels and how characters are either cheesy or unbelievable, but I really loved Matt & Ursala at the end of the novel. I found them both to be extremely honest and relatable. I may not necessarily have believed in their romance at the end of the novel, but everything leading up to it made up for the end!

This felt like something you would read in school but I liked it very much none the less. (Or maybe especially because of this?)As I'm a sucker for High School Settings and Coming of Age tropes "Big Mouth & Ugly Girl" was the perfect read for me. I love myself a good story about a set of outcasts mixed with the topic of mental illness (Which are almost always intertwined because let's be honest outcasts in high school never do well when it comes to mental health). I especially loved all episodes where the dog was involved and found myself strangely invested in that fictional creature's well being, which doesn't happen very often. So I was pleasantly surprised by that. Circling back to the "school read" I bet there is a hidden meaning behind using the first person narrator for the one PoV and the third person narrator for the other but as I'm not in school anymore I don't have to analyse this. Yet, I'm intrigued by it and would love to hear why the author did that and what it means that Ursula was switching between using "I" and third person for her alter ego. So if anyone knows and cares to tell me please come forward!As it is, I could very well imagine reading this book with my own English Class one day. But before that I definitely have to figure out all hidden meanings and implications myself :DI'd give "Big Mouth & Ugly Girl" a 4,5⭐ rating as I was overall very satisfied with the novel apart from the constant focus on a girl's need to be pretty and the "you're not like other girls"-trope. I think we're at a point in society where we can leave that well behind. The book was written 20 years ago though, so I'll give it a pass.

Published in 2003 by HarperTempest.Synopsis:This book features two high school juniors - Matt Donaghy (Big Mouth) and Ursula Riggs (Ugly Girl.)Matt Donaghy's a popular guy, but not the most popular guy in school. He's got a reputation as a funny guy and his mouth gets the best of him sometimes. His world gets turned upside down when he makes a joke that is wrongheadedly "misinterpreted" as a serious threat. The police are called and Donaghy is taken into custody and suspended. His name is kept out of the papers, but schools are like small towns - everybody knows all of the details (or thinks they do) soon enough.Ursula Riggs is a star athlete. Her mom clearly prefers her little sister who is a ballerina and her dad is always away on business. Ursula is big for a girl and feels like she is out of place. She adopts the persona of "Ugly Girl" as a way of coping. "Ugly Girl" is a heartless warrior on the basketball court and acts the same way in the hallways of the school (even though she really does care.)Riggs overheard Donaghy's comments and knows that they were intentionally taken in the wrong way and she overrides everyone advice and tells the principal that a horrible mistake has been made.And that is when things change for Big Mouth and Ugly Girl.My review:I teach high school and these characters felt pretty real to me. After a slow start with Ursula Riggs, I found myself totally buying into this book. I rate this book 4 stars out of 5.https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2023...

High school fiction published 17 years ago but still feels contemporary. It’s a quick read but Joyce Carol Oates creates great characters and covers a lot of ground in this short book.

Young adult fans are not to be fooled, played, or tricked. We know what we want - humor, excitement, teenage drama, lies, most of all we want laughs!!! We want to be able to vision the scenes and feel the scenes as well!!! Big mouth & ugly girl by Joyce Carol Oates..... This book has not just made me upset but also made me feel some what sad for Matt... Okay now I don't think its right how everyone decides to listen to the rumors that go around the school. Like someone should go ask directly to verify or maybe helping the rumor not be spread around don't you think??? but yet again its high school what do you expect!!! Now everyone doesn't want to talk to Matt because of this... WOW big mega WOW! But on the good side we still have Ursula Riggs that wont let the rumors stop her from talking to Matt. Ursula knows the truth because she heard what had happen that day at lunch... should I let you find out the rumor on your own by reading the book or just tell you???? nah ill let you read to find out(: anyways back to topic Ursula is by far the best athlete at Rocky River High School. Yet she is not very social. Therefore, she doesn't really have any friends whatsoever. I don't want to spoil the book for you so I'll make the review short and simple! Get your lazy butt off and read this book! What I think about this book would you really want me to put my opinion in this well okay I will! This book was off the chain! Like seriously!! It had so much ahh stuff! All I didn't like was the rumors that made everyone mostly stop talking to Matt even his own friends!!! Ahh lord this is just not the deal like seriously. Friends are suppose to be there for you no matter what! but Ursula will be a friend i'm sure and who knows maybe even more......

Big mouth and ugly girl is one of the most tremendous young adults books I have read in a while. There are two different types of main characters their is Ursula Riggs(ugly girl) and Matt Donaghy. (big mouth).They have totally completely different personality's . Matt always gets bullied around school by all the football players and jocks for spreading rumors.He is also suicidal. Ursula is very insecure because she is not the prettiest girl.They come together in a loneliness kind of way, they become good friends. One day Ursula overheard someone saying that Matt was going to blow up the school, and wanted to murder as much people as he can. She was worried.Ursula was so lonely and thought she finally found a friend and he was psycho. Or was this just a rumor she just heard because people always make rumors like Matt. Or was it the football players? the jocks?or was he really psycho? Is he going to kill Ursula his best friend? or was it just a rumor? Find out read the book