Ponyboy Curtis is a likable character and one of the reasons the text has endured for so long, I believe. He is smart but full of angst. His family is more that his two brothers; it consists of the members of his gang of Greasers. But when one of his "brothers" kills a member of a rival gang, the socially elite, the two of them have to hide out for a while. When the dust clears, the two of them return to an all out war between the two gangs. The groups plan a brawl to determine a winner.
Although the text takes place over 40 years ago, the lessons and questions remain relevant. Who is a family? Who or what determines social classes? Are social classes set or can they be traversed?
If you have not read The Outsiders before, it's worth the time. If you haven't read it for a while, pick it up again!
