Hinton, S.E. The Outsiders. New York: Puffin, 1997.
Ponyboy Curtis, Sodapop and Darry, are members of a group of poor teenage boys called the Greasers. They are tough boys you have lived a hard life. These boys often get in fights with another group of boys called the Socs. One night, Ponyboy and Johnny get attacked by the Socs. When one of the Socs attempts to drown Ponyboy, Johnny comes to his assistance and stabs Bob, one of the Socs, with a knife. Scared and not knowing what to do, Ponyboy and Johnny leave the town and hide in a church. Dally comes to the church to tell them that a fight is scheduled for the next day. He also informs them that Bob's girlfriend, Cherry, is going to testify that Bob, because he was drunk, murdered himself as self-defense. They return to the church, and see it's on fire. Children are trapped inside, and Pony, Johnny, and Dally save them. Dally burns his arm and a large piece of wood fell on Johnny, breaking his back, and burning him badly. Johnny, Ponyboy, and Dally are declared heroes, but a juvenile trial is scheduled for Johnny and Ponyboy. Ponyboy is reunited with his brothers, Darry, and Soda. With the fight near, Ponyboy visits Dally, and dying Johnny in the hospital, and Dally declares that they will beat the Socs for Johnny. The Greasers and Socs fight each other, and the Socs lose. The Greasers go and see Johnny to tell him the news. Johnny tells Ponyboy to "stay strong," and then dies. Dally, unable to live with the fact that Johnny is dead, freaks out, and robs a store. He is chased to the vacant lot by the cops. Ponyboy and the guys arrive, only to see Dally get gunned down by the cops.
The novel suggests the struggle of finding identity given the clash of economics and socialism. The Greasers are characterized by their physical appearance where as the Socs use their wealth. The Greasers have long, greasy hair, and the Socs, have cars jewelry, and whatever else.When Johnny kills Bob, he’d rather run then turn himself in, knowing that his testimony would never stand in court because he is a Greaser. The boys in this novel form their identity given where they stand in social status. Also, the way they look, provides them with their identity.