This symbol represents the theme of big mouth, ugly girl. Matt is the one of the main characters and his nickname is big mouth. People in his school call him this because he says stuff without thinking properly which gets him into trouble. Big mouth and ugly girl by joyce carol oates monday, february 17, 2014 vol xciii, no. Find books like big mouth and ugly girl from the worlds largest community of readers. Anyone can be misheard, joyce carol oates has created an amazing book on just the effects on the person who has bee misheard. Big mouth a fairly popular boy, good student, makeem 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. There are two different types of main characters their is ursula riggs ugly girl and matt donaghy. Critics circle ivan sandrof lifetime achievement award, the chicago tribune lifetime achievement award, the national book award, and the penmalamud award for excellence in short fiction, and has been nominated for the pulitzer prize. It was a thursday in january during the middle of 5th period study hall when there was a knock on the door. Lowe plays matt donaghy, who readily admits to being a big mouth. I did not say those things, and i did not plan those things. Chad lowe matt donaghy has always been a big mouth, but its never gotten him in trouble until the day he is accused of threatening to blow up rocky river high.
She plays basketball well, but is also made fun of a lot for many reasons. He knows he has a big mouth yet cant seem to help it, at times. Goodreads members who liked big mouth and ugly girl also liked. But its never gotten him in trouble, until the day matt is accused of threatening to blow up rocky river high school. Publishers web page for audiobook with real audio excerpt. Through out the book she become friends with matt donaghy a popular class clown. Tea with jules with the girl who fell from the sky em. It was an ordinary january afternoon, a thursday, when they came for matt donaghy. Oates, joyce carol big mouth ugly girl summary alexander sim term paper didactics english literature, works publish your bachelors or. Does the electronic version of the book completely replace the paper version. Joyce carol oates, author, read by hilary swank and chad lowe.
Ursula and matt become friends after he is accused of making a bomb threat at their surburban high school. Not really, but in the age of terrorism and zero tolerance, the adult authorities mistakenly take it seriously. She gets even more pissed that evening because of her mom and her younger sister, lisa. He says he want to blow up the school and massacre many students and teachers, but it was only a joke. Ursula and matt become friends through chatting with one another about the misunderstanding of the.
But its never gotten him in trouble until the day matt is accused of threatening to blow up rocky river high school. Matt gets in trouble by being funny in public, needing to make his friends laugh. Id told my mom what id heard in the cafeteria, and shed told dad. Ursula is a misunderstood all star female high school athlete. Download and keep this book for free with a 30 day trial. Big mouth and ugly girl is the kind of book that makes you feel the characters emotions.
When matt donaghy, a big mouth by his own admission, is overheard in the cafeteria making a joke about blowing up the school and then yanked out of class by cops who investigate it as though he was serious, ursula is the only one who believes. Ursula has her hair cut short, and lots of earrings in her ears. When a classmate he barely knows tries to help, an unlikely friendship forms between them. The next threequarters of the book become even more interesting, as the author explores the subsequent social pressures placed on the teenagers and adults in a fictitious, affluent suburb of new york city. Books similar to big mouth and ugly girl goodreads. Big boulders, and through the center, like a razorblade cut, that dark cascading water. It seems obvious to her that her face is not her greatest virtue, so shes labeled herself ugly girl. Hes insecure with his friends, and making them laugh has been a way of being accepted. They enjoyed listening to the audio version, especially the chapters narrated by hilary swank.
Oates has found a way to tell this story in a way where being misheard can cause you to go through many problems for simply telling a joke. Ugly girl is ursula, a loner and star of the girls basketball team who doesnt feel at home in her skin. Best of all, if after reading an e book, you buy a paper version of big mouth and ugly girl. Get 50% off this audiobook at the audiobooksnow online audio book store and download or stream it right to your computer, smartphone or tablet. Ugly girl doesnt want her mother to know what is going on there, because she is not in mood to talk to her. Ursula was a girl who needed to be unwrapped to understand how she feels because on the outside she does not show her true emotions. It was a swift ugly girl tactic to smile when youre scared as hell. At the risk of sounding cliche, i did judge this book by the cover.
Whats the setting of the book big mouth and ugly girl by. Unlike any other book ive read, the author switches between first and third person pointofview, which is confusing at first but also makes the story very unique. Sixteenyearold matt is accused of threatening to blow up his high school. Hilary swank and chad lowe did a great job of adding depth. They came for him during fifth period, which was matts study period, in room 220 of rocky river high school, westchester county.
I eyed the crude typeface of the title, and glanced dubiously at the jacket pictures depicting a big mouth and an ugly girl. Big mouth and ugly girl book summary and study guide. Big mouth and ugly girl by joyce carol oates goodreads. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Big mouth and ugly girl is an easy read and can be related to very easily.
No one messes with big ursula because she doesnt care what others think of her and she definitely does not put up with anyone, and that includes teachers. Ursula riggs, our main protagonist is a taller high school student, more on the unattractive side who just happens to be a top student at her school, rocky river high school. Matts story is told in third person, telling of a witty student who is. From that, we follow big mouth and ugly girls surprising relationship that sprouts from this disturbing scene and how it effects families and other members of the community. Like almost always ugly girl has inky black in her head and she thinks it would go away by leaving the team, but it doesnt. Big mouth and ugly girl is a foray into teen fiction by prolific adult writer joyce carol oates. The book i read for my english class is big mouth and ugly girl by joyce carol oates.
Big mouth and ugly girl is one of the most tremendous young adults books i have read in a while. I picked it up, kind of on a whim after reading another of joyce carol oates ya novels last year, after the wreck, i picked myself up, spread my wings, and flew away. Title of a book, article or other published item this will display to the public. Sixteenyearold matts big mouth has got him trouble. Matts friend who watched him be removed from study hall. In striving to enrich the lives of all readers, teachingbooks supports the first amendment and celebrates the right to read. Innocent matt is suspended, the false accusation takes on a life of. Big mouth and ugly girl is about a boy and girl who have to go through many obstacles in there life and create a unique friendship. A wonderful tale of two unlikely friends told in two voices. Ursula, who is a top student, decides to become ugly girl, big, roughly dressed and definitely defiant. If you are looking for a book club, book discussion, or book talk ya title, consider this for your next pick. They have totally completely different personalitys.
I thought it might also tie in with jos body image and selfperception month. Oates has a good ear for the speech, the family relations. I figure if my parents get that far reading the book, they will. Ursula riggs is a 16 yearold high school student at a school called rocky river high in the us. Read the book on paper it is quite a powerful experience. A recipient of the national book award and the penmalamud award for. Big mouth and ugly girl by joyce carol oates one billion. Im afraid to sound like such a coward asshole asking you not to tell anybody. Ursula riggs ugly girl in the beginning of the book ursula was known as ugly girl and the girl who only liked sports and winning, she was a shy girl who hope never to be noticed in the halls. He says he want to blow up the school and massacre many students and teachers, but it.