Asleep, he looked a lot younger than going-on-seventeen, but I had noticed that Johnny looked younger when he was asleep, too, so I figured everyone did. Maybe people are younger when they are asleep.
Ponyboy lives in a big town, where social order rules. There are the “Socs”, rich kids who get what they want, and lead what appear to be perfect lives. Then there are the Greasers, poorer kids, the ones who smoke, fight, and live in gangs. Ponyboy, his brothers, Soda and Darry, and his gang, are greasers. They may have problems, the threat of Ponyboy and Soda being taken to a boy’s house, away from Darry (their parents are dead) always looms, and they have to be careful of the Socs, but all in all everything is more or less bearable.
Then, one night, one of the Socs goes to far. He almost drowns Ponyboy, and Johnny, one of the gang members, kills the Soc, to save his friend.
Soon, Ponyboy and Johnny are on the run, helped by Dally, the tough gang member everyone is afraid of.
“Would you rather have me living in hide-outs for the rest of my life, always on the run?” Johnny asked seriously.
this book was recommended to me by a friend. I dragged my feet, and moaned and groaned about reading it, until I saw it on the shelf at the library. I took it home, reluctantly, and started reading. I was actually amazed by it. I loved this book, it had funny parts, was well written, and was over all, depressing. I would give it five stars (no sarcasm), and would definitely recommend it.