Hello Paupack Press! Today’s issue is held very near and dear to my heart because it is not only my favorite book, but also my favorite movie, The Outsiders.
The story takes place in rural Oklahoma and follows a teen gang of “greasers”, as well as their rival group of more wealthy teens living on the south side of town. The group of greasers includes Ponyboy, Darry, Sodapop, Two-Bit, Steve, Dallas, and Johnny. The gang gets themselves into some hot water after a brawl between Johnny and Ponyboy breaks out between themselves in a couple of members from the rival group. The members from the rival group tried to drown Ponyboy in a well at the park that him and Johnny went to stay at to avoid Johnny’s abusive family. In his efforts to save his friend, Johnny killed the man holding Ponyboy under the water.
Johnny and Ponyboy are terrified of their reputations getting ruined after word gets out of what had occurred, so they run away to stay at an empty church. A member of their gang, Dallas goes out of his way to help his friends. Dallas has always had a special bond with Johnny. After something terrible happens to Johnny, Dallas travels down a very self-destructive path. The story teaches overall themes of friendship, society, class, locality, and violence. A theme of love is also displayed. It shows love for one’s platonic relationships as well as also romantic.
The romance element involves a member of the rival group who goes by the name “Cherry.” Cherry is a character who faces a lot of inner conflict and reading about it is fascinating! Cherry was romantically involved with the aformentioned man who died. Cherry also finds herself involved with the greasers.
I highly recommend, and hope I inspired somebody to become just as obsessed with this plot as much as I am!
