Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Lenore

Big Mouth and Ugly Girl is a foray into teen fiction by prolific adult writer Joyce Carol Oates. Big Mouth is Matt who is accused of threatening to blow up his high school. Ugly girl is Ursula, a loner and star of the girls basketball team who doesnt feel at home in her skin. Even though she barely knows Matt, she steps in to defend him when everyone else is against him and they form a genuine and affecting friendship.

The novel explores the hot topic of school shootings, though there is not an actual shooting, just the supposed threat of one. And it also explores the whole culture of suspicion and paranoia and how tough people have it when they are accused of crimes even though they are innocent (and in our justice system supposedly innocent until proven guilty). Though all this may sound like pretty heavy reading, the focus is really on Ursulas and Matts characters, their personal and family struggles as well as their growing friendship.

Though not as high concept as most of the books I read, I very much enjoy the authors writing style, character development and storytelling abilities. Despite the heavy themes, it is a quick, satisfying read.

Reprinted here with the author's permission