Big Mouth & Ugly Girl

Joyce Carol OatesFiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2002

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Introduction

Before Reading

Reading Context

During Reading

Reading Questions & Paired Texts

Answer Key

After Reading

Discussion/Analysis Prompt

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Exam Questions

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Introduction

Big Mouth & Ugly Girl

Genre: Fiction; young adult realistic
Originally Published: 2002
Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 720L; grades 9-12
Structure/Length: 49 chapters; approx. 288 pages; approx. 6 hours, 8 minutes on audio
Protagonist and Central Conflict: High school students Matt Donaghy and Ursula Riggs form a close friendship when Matt’s reputation is damaged due to his “big mouth.” Ursula, known as “Ugly Girl” for her height and rough appearance, is well versed in harsh treatment from others and lends support to Matt.
Potential Sensitivity Issues: Attempted suicide; ostracization, harassment, bullying; bomb threats, school shooting threats; profanity

Joyce Carol Oates, Author

Bio: Born in 1938 in New York; novelist and short story writer; earned graduate degree in English and later was a professor of English at the University of Detroit, the University of Windsor, and Princeton University; established a literary magazine, The Ontario Review; awarded the National Book Award (Them) and the F. Scott Fitzgerald Award for Lifetime Achievement in American Literature; earned the PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in Short Fiction; was a 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction finalist (Lovely, Dark, Deep)
Other Works: A Garden of Earthly Delights (1967); Bellefleur (1980); We Were the Mulvaneys (1996); Mudwoman (2012)
Awards: ALA Best Books for Young Adults (2003)