Ponyboy is only 14, but after his parents' death, he tries to keep the family together. Ponyboy's loyalties are to his brothers and to his gang. In this novel, there are two kinds of people in the world - greasers and socs. A soc (short for social) has money and can get away with almost anything. A greaser always lives on the outside and needs to watch his back. One night after a fight, Johnny kills a soc. Ponyboy learns that pain feels the same whether you are a soc or a greaser.--Ministry of Education website.

English language arts grade 9 (2009). Note: S. E. Hinton wrote this novel in 1967 when she was 16 years old and it has stood the test of time.--Ministry of Education website.