Big Mouth and Ugly Girl

Big Mouth & Ugly Girl is Joyce Carol Oates's first young adult novel. It was published in 2002 by HarperCollins. Matthew Donaghy (Big Mouth) has always had a small mouth. But it never got him into trouble — until one day when two detectives escort him out of class for questioning. Ursula Riggs is a strong athlete at Rocky River High. She secretly gives herself the proper name "Ugly Girl." Ursula has no time for petty high school distractions like friends (except for her friend Bonnie) and dating. Ursula is content to mind her own business.But she knows injustice when she sees it and is not afraid to speak out.