Tulsa, Oklahona in the 1960s. The war between the greasers and the socs is about to reach yet another rumble. But who is to prevail this time? Will it solve anything at all?
Ponyboy is a fourteen-year-old greaser living with his brothers Dally and Sodapop after their parents died in a car accident. Ponyboy is smart, insightful, sensitive and aware that most of the happenings in his life can be changed if only he put the effort forth. He can't change that his parents are gone or his social standing, but he can always change where he's going and who he'll turn out to be.
One night, he and his friend Johnny meet up with Dally and set out for the drive-in. It's here they meet one Cherry Valance, a soc who doesn't see much difference between the sides. She realizes that Pony is nothing like the rest of the greasers. After the movie is over, the girls can't find a ride home, so Dally suggests that he would take the girls home. Unfortunately, the soc boyfriends of Cherry and her friend spot them with the greasers. A fight is narrowly avoided and Dally leaves Ponyboy and Johnny to their own devices. The two accidentally fall asleep, which makes Pony come home late and a fight erupts with his oldest brother, Darry. Pony flees, finds Johnny and they decide to run away. They reach a park and a car full of socs spot them at a park. Outnumbered, a fight breaks out between the two groups. What happens next changes more lives than could be anticipated.
This was an assigned book for my Adolescent Fiction class. Although I wasn't a MASSIVE fan of this book, I can see why it's still such a popular book and often taught in schools. It's still completely applicable to today's society. Aside from a few aspects, the core ideas are in no way dated. They're still relevant now. It's essentially what started the YA genre. My favorite part was that the first few sentences ended up being the last few sentences in the book. When I finished, I (out loud) said, "Oh my god! That is so neat!" I felt pretty awesome about that.
If you don't want to read the book, just do what I'm about to do. Watch the movie with, wait a second...everyone before their careers really took off. I'm coming for you, Patrick Swayze!
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