Ponyboy Curtis is used to trouble. After all, it’s almost a fact of life when you’re a greaser. The only thing he can count on in his ever-changing life are his brothers, Sodapop and Darry, and his buddies. Like family, they protect and look out for one another, especially when it comes to the Socs, the affluent kids from the Westside of town who take great pleasure in battering the less wealthy kids from the Eastside. Despite this, at least Pony knows what to expect in his day to day life, that is, until the fateful night where a rivalry is taken too far. 

I loved this novel! This was the first read in a long time where I stayed up well into the night to finish it. Ms. Hinton skillfully created an engaging plot and it felt as if I were standing right beside Ponyboy observing the events as they occurred.

I thought the choice of narration (first person) for this story was wonderful. Ms. Hinton also used vocabulary, including slang, that was appropriate for the narrator and supporting characters given the setting. This strengthened the authenticity of the read.

Another aspect of this novel that I appreciated was Ms. Hinton’s use of various literary devices. What first seemed like a simple read had several themes interwoven in the plot as well as examples of symbolism and an allegory. Although this book is a great casual read, these literary devices greatly enhance the messages conveyed throughout the story if the time is taken to identify them.

No previous knowledge of the included content is required before reading it, though some additional research regarding the differences between Greasers and the Socials may further the reader’s understanding of the plot. 

Overall, I thought that this novel was very well written. It captured the value of friendship in a heart-warming, yet eye-opening, fashion. I would highly recommend this book to any teen or pre teen as it is an excellent coming of age story.

If you enjoyed this read, I would recommend checking out the novel That Was Then, This Is Now, also written by S. E. Hinton. Other similar novels include The Hate U Give, To Kill a Mockingbird and The Book Thief. I especially enjoyed the Book Thief as the writer’s craft was rather unique and exceptional in my opinion.