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THE OUTSIDERS is about rivalry between the greasers and the Socs in 1960's Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ponyboy Curtis, a 14-year-old greaser, is one of the many kids caught up in this mess. Luckily, he has his fellow orphan brothers, Sodapop and Darrel, plus his gang of almost-brothers, to help him out. One night, though, Johnny Cade, another greaser, kills a Soc to save Ponyboy, which causes them to run to Dallas Winston for advice. Johnny and Ponyboy go to hide out, which turns into a chain of events leading to tragedy.
THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW is about two teenage boys, Bryon and Mark. Mark is an orphan, and he was adopted by Bryon's family after his parents died. The two boys were like brothers before that, though. But things are changing between them. They both feel it, but they don't know exactly what's going on. Bryon is trying to move on, and grow up, by becoming more serious about some things, like his girlfriend Cathy. Mark still just lives for the thrill of things, and seems to be trying not to grow up. Then one night, Bryon comes to a horrible realization about Mark, which throws at him a decision that could change their friendship forever.
THE OUTSIDERS is easily one of the best books I've ever read. If you don't buy this collection to read both, at LEAST read THE OUTSIDERS. You won't forget this vivid and amazing story.
THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW was not as good. The plot was less unique, and the characters were less developed. Still good, but it takes a backseat to THE OUTSIDERS.
This overall is an amazing collection by an amazing author, so if I had to describe, I'd say it was--amazing. This is a terrific buy.
EVAN BELLIS 11YRS OLD
Ponyboy Curtis and his equally weirdly named older brother, Sodapop live with their oldest brother, Darrell. The boys' parents are dead and Darrell scrapes by at a minimum wage job to make ends meet.
The brothers live in Oklahoma during the mid-1960s. Called "Greasers" because of their love for Elvis and hair grease, these boys are socially defined by their residence. They are considered "from the wrong side of the tracks."
The "Socs," short for "Socialites" are the more affluent kids who look down on the greasers. Ponyboy is friendly with a Soc girl, thus crossing social boundaries. He is equally friendly with other greasers, including Byron, a very bright and literate boy and his adopted brother, Mark. Mark ends up in jail and Byron graduates from the large high school he attends with Ponyboy.
Both boys share the love a quasi-soc girl. Her brother, called M&M is a brilliant boy who falls prey to drugs and hard street living.
The characters are sharp and well defined as is their neighborhood. The story is indeed compelling and many of these same characters are revisted in "The Outsiders."
S. E. Hinton's books make me think of "Romeo & Juliet" and "West Side Story" with attitude. I love her works.
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Nick is convinced his classmate is his own dad as a child. He is determined to crack this case. (spoiler)
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S.E. Hinton shows great talent while writing the book, particularly because she was only sixteen at the time she wrote it. I felt like the character as I read, as if I was walking in their shoes, and seeing what they saw. I was facing the problems they faced, and feeling what they felt. This truly amazing writer definitely got through to me, and touched me.
As you read the book, it takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotion. Sometimes I was astonished and glad, sometimes shocked and sad. No matter which way I was feeling, it held my attention and kept me turning the pages.
The story takes place in a city, with two very different sides of the town. There is the West Side and the East Side. The East Side is where the greasers live. They're hoods with no money, which are looked down on by people that are "better" than they are. Some wear hand-me-downs because they can't afford clothes. Most of them are dropouts that have a poor job and a pack of cigarettes handy. Almost everyone that isn't a greaser thinks that the greasers aren't well educated, and don't have any manners or are just plain rude. Ponyboy (Pony) Curtis, a greaser, is the main character. Darry Curtis, Sodapop (Soda) Curtis, Dally Winston, Johnny Cade, Two-Bit Matthews, and Steve, are also members of the greasers. Through the many difficult situations in the book, including deaths and murders, the greasers always stick together.
On the other side of town, the West Side, the Socs are rich, stuck-up snobs. They're smart and don't have any problems (well, that's what all the greasers think). The Socs have as many problems as the greasers do, and are normal people like them. However, you'll find in the story that the greasers think they don't have any problems at all. The Socs own rich, fancy cars, such as the Mustang. The greasers and socs don't like each other at all. For fun, the socs "jump" the greasers.
Pony, Soda and Darry live alone with out their parents who died in a car accident. They aren't forced to go to a boys' home, but if anything goes wrong, they will. Darry, the oldest, and Pony, the youngest, don't get along. Darry is responsible for Pony and Soda, though he takes out all his stress out on Pony. At one point in the book Darry gets furious and causes Pony's absence, creating a big scene that is central to the plot of the whole book.
This extraordinary book relates to today's world in so many ways. This book definitely says that "you can't judge a book by it's cover" meaning that it's not what you do physically that counts the most, it's what kind of person you are on the inside.
The Outsiders is an amazing, extraordinary, and fabulous book that I strongly recommend to other people.
When you think of Pony boy, a main character in the book, you'd probably think he's sensitive but brave. Also he has a pretty good personality for where he lives. Dally, on the other hand, is rough and mean. He's always into trouble and not many people get along with him. Soda Pop is in between. He's handsome and brave but fights a lot. Johnny is a scared, but can be brave boy who's lost in his dying world. Cherry Valance is a smart, pretty soc who decides to help the greasers in the war against the Socials because she hates the fighting and will do anything to stop it.
So when Pony Boy and Johnny get jumped and up roar occurs in their group. So as Johnny and Pony Boy run away things start occurring until they suddenly find themselves back in their home town but not the way they had intended returning. All the while there's a big rumble being planned between the Socials and the Greasers to end all battles. This motivates many of the characters to be ready and win this rumble so they can stop some of the violence. But the Socials believe that nothing will change even if they win.
This book is all about fighting for life and rights. Also about how some people trying to reach there dreams even if they're at the bottom of the pyramid. It's a great book to read and has a good meaning to help people in life. It teaches people that fighting is no answer for problems. Also that you shouldn't treat people like they're less than you. Cause no one's less because of where they live or if they're poor. It does deal with death and what consequences could happen when you do something drastic or something you knows not right. Consider reading this book.
This was a terrific book and easy to read. The characters were funny and sad and just like anybody else. I liked the fact that they were such good friends. They watched out for eachother. The Greasers were Ponyboy, Sodapop, Darry, Dallas, Two-bit, and Steve Randle. The good thing about them was they didn't go around looking for trouble like the soc did. I recommend this book to everyone.It is a good book to read and once youstart youwon't beableto put it down.
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Mark and Bryon are like brothers. They grow up together hustling pool and street fighting. A friend Charlie dies during a street fight, Bryon then turns his life around. Mark sells drugs and is turned in by Bryon. Mark then goes to prison. Mark and Bryon who onced loved each other hate each other in the end. The book That Was Then This Is Now is a realistic fiction story. I would recommend this book to anyone who has read The Outsiders. It's a spin off of this wonderful novel. This book however, is slow moving. It has excitement, but it is slow to reaching its climax. It is a story based off of choices. It relates to everyone; we all have a choice how we choose to live our lives. I enjoyed the book, but not as well as The Outsiders.
This book that S.E. Hinton wrote is a lot like many others he wrote, such as Taming the Star Runner, Tex, and Rumble Fish. It takes place in the mind of a young boy going through tough times by living on the streets. This book's time period is probably two years after The Outsiders, but in this book, unlike The Outsiders, the characters are different. There is still Ponyboy Curtis, but that is the only character from The Outsiders. S.E. Hinton has written many good books for young readers and this book is no exception. I really enjoyed reading this book and recommend this book for all young readers.
Toward the end of the book, I found myself in tears as the boy makes a necesary decision that SEEMS right, that appears to be the moral decision, but the outcome doesn't seem fitting and it made me wonder whether he made the right choice, whether that was the right decision.
This book is very life-like, very real. S.E. Hinton is my favorite author and she writes about what she knows; thus, the situations are easy to relate to. Infact, without even meaning to, I found myself relating to the story, comparing it to my life. The knowledge I received from this book will help me make decisions as I get older. If you are a young adult searching for who you are, or someone trying to make the right decisions in life, you need to read this book! It makes you think and ask yourself, "What is the right choice? What did this boy do wrong?" Apply it to your life and learn from the lesson, almost hidden, in this book
Growing up, had been hard for Rusty James, he didn't want to remember his middle school years. He had been abandoned by his mother when he was a toddler, his father was a drunk and Rusty James had been expelled from school. He was only as good as his last fight and it all came down, crashing in on him.
S.E Hinton takes us into the hard life of a teen age boy. The boy, Rusty James wants to be the strongest street fighter. Rusty James relies on his fists for friends and respect. We see the true emotions of this teenager his loneliness, sadness, fears and confusion.
Rusty James learns the hard way, he never gets a break. He makes mistakes and pays for them. He looses the one person he admires and respects and ends up in a reformatory.
I recommend this book to boys in middle school. The problems are so complex such as poverty and divorce that an adult would like it too