The DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend)

This novel was written by Kody Keplinger and it is set in a town called Hamilton. I assume that Hamilton is in America since the author lives there but it is not specified in the book. Bianca Piper, a seventeen-year-old girl is the protagonist. She is often described as a cynical but loyal person. However, she is not one of the prettiest girls. Especially not next to her best friends Casey and Jessica. She has a low self-esteem and cannot imagine someone finding her attractive. Bianca finds out that she is the DUFF, designated ugly fat friend at the Nest a local club for teenagers in Hamilton. Wesley Rush, the school’s heartbreaker and womanizer explains to her that if he socialized with her, Casey and Jessica will then want to sleep with him. Her first reaction was to throw him a drink in the face. Bianca’s life is tough. Her parents are going through a divorce and her father falls back into alcoholism after 17 years of sobriety.

Bianca starts sleeping with Wesley as a distraction from her problems and they develop a complex relationship. Despite what Bianca previously thought, Wesley is a really good listener and helped her through some of her problems simply by being there for her. That is why she falls in love with him. Bianca was upset about being called the DUFF even though she knew that it didn't really mean anything. "I couldn't believe he was making me worry about such stupid, pointless, shallow bullshit." (Page 16). When Bianca's relationship with Wesley becomes more and more complex, she focuses on him and forgets a bit about her friends who also start drifting away. However, she realizes that she can talk to her friends about her problems and that they care about her.

Bianca is the main character in this novel. She is a strong and intelligent young woman. She seems to think that she is more mature than most teenagers. She is also sardonic and extremely skeptical. She lives in Hamilton. Her dad works at a technology store and her mother wrote a self-help book and now travels all around the country as a motivational speaker. In consequence, she is rarely home with Bianca and her dad. Bianca is rather misanthropic. She dislikes parties and clubs and prefers spending time with her best friends at home watching James McAvoy movies. She hides from everyone the fact that she loves the TV show Gossip Girl in fear of being judged. When she was young, she had a crush on the Canadian-American actor Michael J.Fox as a result to watching the sitcom Family Ties with her parents. Her favorite book is The Catcher and the Rye by J. D. Salinger as she loves Holden Caulfield's contemptuous perspective. She is vegetarian and hates techno music. Her favorite band is Paramore, an American rock band.

Bianca is an atypical narrator for a young adult book. She does not hold back, she is not afraid of being catty and sarcastic but not in a bad way. She is brutally honest and still manages to not be a jerk. I deeply appreciate her candor and confidence. "Once again, Casey and Jessica were making complete fools of themselves, shaking their asses like dancers in a rap video." She is extremely negative in some places and she is not afraid to criticize her friends.

The first symbol in the DUFF is Bianca's car. Bianca's car is worn and does not have heat or air conditioner therefore it is cold in the winter. This car makes her experience numerous things since it is the reason for her ride with Wesley and her need to call Casey to pick her up. It is a dull car. The Scarlet Letter is the second symbol in this book. She was paired up with Wesley to write a paper on the book. This paper offers Bianca the opportunity to analyze her emotions about Wesley, at first offering the clarification that Hester laid down with Dimmsdale as a diversion. She censures Hester for the very activities that she takes part in later on. The Scarlet Letter is one of the first association between Wesley and Bianca, permitting both of them to start their affair.

The topic of change and transformation is found throughout the whole book. Huge numbers of the principle characters experience some type of it. Bianca changes from critical divider and blossoms into a young lady who is all her own. To begin with, she is snarky and wry, yet she is steadfast and minding to her companions. She is indicated to be exceptionally smart however extremely hesitant. This is because of her prior stumbles with a kid four years more established than her. This early hurt has plainly injured her and dismissed her from regularly seeking after any sentimental association with anybody. What's more, when her parents declare their divorce she is certain that it has nothing to do with affection. It all closures the same way, she considers. Then again, the change starts when she is combined up with Wesley for an English task and they wind up getting to be cozy.

Discussion Questions:

-Did you appreciate The Duff? What did you like about it? What didn't you like about it?
-Would you be able to identify with Bianca and her companions? Did you feel they were sensible illustrations of high school young ladies?
-Had you ever heard the to some degree dubious term DUFF before this book? Is it safe to say that you were insulted by the term the Duff before you read the book? Has your feeling changed in the wake of perusing the book?
-At first Bianca uses sex with Wesley as an approach to quickly overlook her inconveniences. Is it accurate to say that you were astonished by her activities? Do you think utilizing sex as a diversion is a common conduct?
-Would you say you were astonished by what amount of "outcome free" sex there was in this YA book? Should sex be so predominant in a book coordinated at adolescents?
-Joe says to Bianca "And girls love jackasses… " Do you trust this is valid? Have you ever succumbed to a fellow you knew was a bastard?
-What message (if any) did you detract from The DUFF?