“Maybe the two different worlds we lived in weren’t so different. We saw the same sunset.”
–The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton.
This book is about a fourteen-year-old Ponyboy Curtis and his life since he “stepped out of the movie theater with two things on his minds, Paul Newman and a ride home.” He lives on the east side of the town Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the Greasers live, with his two brothers Darry (Darrel) and Sodapop Curtis. On the west side of town was where the Socs (pronounced so-shiz) lived.
Greasers are like street punks. They wear t-shirts, jeans, leather jackets, and boots or Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars. They listen to Rock n’ Roll singers like Elvis Presley. They love hot rod cars and put grease in their hair to look cool. Each Greaser is in a gang. Ponyboy is in a gang with his brothers, Dally (Dallas) Winston, Two-Bit (Keith) Matthews, Johnny Cade, and Steve Randle.
Socs, short for Socials, are the rich kids in town. They wear Madras shirts and have Mustangs for cars. They like to yell “GREASER!” when they drive by a Greaser and also jump (attack) Greasers. The main Socs in this book are Cherry (Sherri) Valence, Marcia, Bob (Robert) Sheldon, Randy Adderson, and David.
I feel like this book is more for 8th grade in my opinion because of the violence. This book is also a movie and a old TV show!
-Kate B., 7th grade
Mission Viejo Library Teen Voice 
I remember reading this ages ago in 7th grade as well and not liking the story very much until the end when it tragically came together and the reader was left with an overall catharsis and realization. Thank you for reminding me of this story-it serves as a staple in 7th grade English class literature for a reason. It holds a really strong message that teens today can relate to despite the difference in times.