Big Mouth and Ugly Girl

In Joyce Carol Oates' young-adult novel Big Mouth and Ugly Girl, a thoughtless comment made by high-school senior Matt Donaghy in the cafeteria is misheard and quickly spreads as a rumor that he plotted a school shooting, turning his world upside down. Ursula Riggs, a seemingly ordinary classmate who initially judges Matt as a loudmouth, becomes convinced that the story is wrong and dedicates herself to finding out what really happened. The narrative alternates between Matt's panic and Ursula's quiet resolve, exploring how gossip, fear, and moral courage intersect in a community on the brink of panic.