Throughout the book ursula proves willing to confront those aiming to harm her or others. Nov 05, 2009 big mouth and ugly girl donnerstag, 5. Its kinda like a movie about the book by joyce carol oates. Dont think i havent been feeling bad about it, too. Watch two high school outcasts find true friendship in the face. Matt, youd asked me weeks ago what i thought about the lawsuit. Berlind distinguished professor of the humanities at princeton university and has been. A seasoned pro from the world of adult literature turns her keen observers eye to youngadult realism, with notable success. Big mouth is matt who is accused of threatening to blow up his high school. But its never gotten him in trouble until the day matt is accused of threatening to blow up rocky river high school. Sixteenyearold matts big mouth has got him trouble. Reading length provides a calculation for the word count of this book, find out how long it will take you to read. Chapter 2 in chapter 2 you get to know another important character, named ugly girl ursula riggs. Another important topic is the society and especially the suburban society.
The fact that the guy got in trouble for saying something was really ridiculous as well. Theme the theme the author is trying to make the readers understand is to never judge a book by its cover. Joyce carol oates is a recipient of the national medal of humanities, the national book critics circle ivan sandrof lifetime achievement award. Watch two high school outcasts find true friendship in the face of adversity and redefine bravery. Big mouth and ugly girl by joyce carol oates 9780007145737. Big mouth and ugly girl book summary and study guide.
When matt is accused of plotting to blow up the school by two anonymous students, his whole life is thrown into turmoil, and he suffers its continuous effects for months to come. Not really, but in the age of terrorism and zero tolerance, the adult authorities mistakenly take it seriously. Big mouth ugly girl, written by joyce carol oates, is an excellent book for high school students to read. At a pivotal point in the story, matt considers suicide, and the story takes us to the nature preserve which matt usually finds to be. Believable, fullblooded characters propel oatess first ya novel past some plotting that doesnt quite add up. Booktopia has big mouth and ugly girl by joyce carol oates. Berlind distinguished professor of humanities at princeton university and a recipient of the national book award and the penmalamud. Schultz, our gym teacher kind of an ugly girl herself, big. Ursula and matt become friends through chatting with one another about the misunderstanding of the bomb threat and. This is most on display through her aid to matt after the bomb scare incident and when pumpkin is abducted 233, as well as through her immediate confrontation of the brewer twins when. Books similar to big mouth and ugly girl goodreads. Pupils care about anything and thats a big problem at all schools. Through out the book she become friends with matt donaghy a popular class clown.
Joyce carol oates is a recipient of the national medal of humanities, the national book critics circle ivan sandrof lifetime achievement award, the national book award, and the penmalamud award for excellence in short fiction, and. Big mouth and ugly girl by joyce carol oates goodreads. Hardhitting, pageturning and celebratory of friendship in unlikely circumstances, joyce carol oates sure touch with small town life hits home. The authur of big mouth ugly girl is an extrodinary woman click the link for more information the main characters of this book are matt donaghy and ursula riggs.
I think the ya books help her to avoid some of the problems in her books for adults. Ursula and matt become friends after he is accused of making a bomb threat at their surburban high school. But ursula is the only person who knows what matt really said that day. Chapter two that january afternoon, when ugly girlstruck out. Ursula was just an annoying character that needs to get over herself and just drop her tough girl act. 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. She gives listeners the tale of matt big mouth donaghy and ursula ugly girl riggs. My right knee is throbbing with pain, both my knees are weak as water. Because ugly girl played so well until now, it looks as if shes coasting, or hanging back. Buy a discounted paperback of big mouth and ugly girl online from australias leading online. Even the guys had to acknowledge that fact, however they hated to. The story is like the life itself very multilayer, but if i would have to pick a central topic it would be friendship and love.
Big mouth ugly girl summary essay 717 words bartleby. Id told my mom what id heard in the cafeteria, and shed told dad. Theme refers to the message that the author wants to send to society. Big mouth is matt donaghy, and when the reader first meets him, he is.
In big mouth and ugly girl i was going to talk about the parents and their impact on matt and ursela. Joyce carol oates, author, read by hilary swank and chad lowe. Id thought for sure they would want me to speak up for the truth. Big mouth and ugly girl 9780007145737 by oates, joyce carol and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Publishers summary matt donaghy has always been a big mouth. It was a thursday in january during the middle of 5th period study hall when there was a knock on the door. Nov 05, 2009 pupils say a lot of things only to make the normal schoollife a bit more interesting and they dont care about the feelings of anybody or about the truth of the story. Big mouth and ugly girl was not really a good book at all in my opinion. Oates weaves controlled, elegant writing with her storytelling magic in a sweet story that includes a bit of kafka, a little david and lisa, and even some nicholas sparks. Big mouth and ugly girl is a foray into teen fiction by prolific adult writer joyce carol oates. Ursula is a misunderstood all star female high school athlete.
Big mouth and ugly girl by joyce carol oates bookloons. Ursulas dad is the ceo of a big company and doesnt take an interest in ursulas life whatsoever. May 14, 2002 big mouth and ugly girl was not really a good book at all in my opinion. Ursula is a misunderstood all star female high school athlete whose friend matt is picked up in class by police accusing him of some serious crimes.
Joyce carol oates when sixteenyearold matt is falsely accused of threatening to blow up his high school and his friends turn against him, an unlikely classmate comes to his aid. Sep 14, 2004 matt donaghy has always been a big mouth. Mar 19, 2020 best of all, if after reading an e book, you buy a paper version of big mouth and ugly girl. 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.
But ugly girl was one of the best athletes at rocky river high. After reading the 3 chapter ugly girl gets more important to me. I n her first trek into ya fiction, joyce carol oates delivers a great story about friendship, unfortunate consequences, and the effects of school stratification on youth, that should be read by all ages. He says he want to blow up the school and massacre many students and teachers, but it was only a joke. Title oates, joyce carol big mouth ugly girl summary author alexander sim author year 2005 pages 5 catalog number v109110 isbn book 9783656500094. Her most recent novel is a book of american martyrs. Books similar to big mouth and ugly girl big mouth and ugly girl. If you are looking for a book club, book discussion, or book talk ya title, consider this for your next pick. Jul 01, 2003 in this tale of two 16yearold high school students, an unlikely romance blossoms out of a police investigation, matt donaghy, eager to be popular, is big mouth, whose joke about a school massacre is overheard and misconstruedresulting in a detective inquiry and subsequent lawsuit that comes close to ruining his life and that of his family. She plays basketball well, but is also made fun of a lot for many reasons. I know the one quote i remembered, matt said my parents arent rich like yours, ursela my other 2 books are in the process of being read black water and ill take you there any help on big mouth and ugly girl quotes or just respond. When matt is accused of plotting to blow up the school by two anonymous students, his whole life is. In this book, body image, motivation, depression, and justice are examples of prevalent themes. They came for him during fifth period, which was matts study period, in room 220 of rocky river high school, westchester county.
Ugly girl liked a good fight she was morally certain she should win. But its never gotten him in trouble, until the day matt is accused of threatening to blow up rocky river high school. Read the book on paper it is quite a powerful experience. 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. Contents chapter one it was an ordinary january afternoon, a thursday, when they came for matt donaghy. Oates, joyce carol big mouth ugly girl summary grin. Joyce carol oates booklist joyce carol oates message board. I did not say those things, and i did not plan those things. Ursula riggs, a high school junior, has adopted a stance of invincible indifference since that day i woke up and knew i wasnt an ugly girl, i was ugly girl. This blog deals with the book big mouth and ugly girl written by joyce carol oates. In postcolumbine america, matt donoghy has been pulled out of class by police due to accusations of making remarks that he will blow up the school. May 14, 2002 big mouth ugly girl, written by joyce carol oates, is an excellent book for high school students to read. This is very easy to notice in her ya books, when she has to constrain herself to 300 pages and a moderately happy ending. This book really had me on the fence, trying to figure out if i liked it or not.
1486 1313 566 1351 268 175 183 762 1296 649 216 1197 346 1410 1307 869 1520 1521 957 512 641 509 103 1250 1560 170 1180 1399 354 1204 1344 1446 832 697 26