As the controversy swirls around Matt, the only person to come to his defense is the 'Ugly Girl' of the title, Ursula Riggs, an intense, sometimes bitter young woman with problems of her own. Worse still is the isolation he experiences from family and friends. Matt, an aspiring playwright, is shocked that his joking remarks have been taken out of context. Set in an affluent New York suburb called Rocky River, the story opens as Matt Donaghy is suspended for allegedly making threatening remarks about blowing up his high school. Big Mouth & Ugly Girl is sure to endear her to a whole new generation of readers. A National Book Award-winning author, Oates has tried her hand at every genre, from gothic fiction to journalism. Yet as the situation around her worsens, and her family becomes directly involved in an attempt to overthrow the ruler, Anita must summon resources and courage she didn't know she had.Ī different kind of courage is explored in Big Mouth & Ugly Girl, a fascinating and provocative novel by the well-known writer Joyce Carol Oates. Anita emerges as a girl with the normal concerns of other pre-teens: a crush on a neighborhood boy and confused feelings about her changing body. While the political situation and life in the Dominican Republic are both portrayed with authenticity by Alvarez, they never overwhelm the vibrant characters. Her cousin's family leaves suddenly for the United States, her favorite uncle has disappeared and her parents, who oppose the country's dictator, seem nervous and fearful. As the story opens in 1960, 12-year-old Anita de la Torre's world is starting to fall apart. In Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez, author of the adult novels In the Time of the Butterflies and How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents, has crafted a poignant, suspenseful tale based on her childhood in the Dominican Republic. But don't be surprised if you find them staying up late to finish these stories, just as you did on long-ago summer nights. Three compelling new books for teens written by popular adult authors offer the perfect opportunity to get your kids started on summer reading.

Indigo by Alice Hoffman