This document provides a summary of the plot of S.E. Hinton's novel "The Outsiders". It describes the main characters, including Rusty-James, a 14-year-old gang leader, his older brother Motorcycle Boy, and their friend Steve. It outlines some of the key events of the story, such as Rusty getting stabbed during a fight, Motorcycle Boy being shot and killed by police, and Rusty being injured after breaking a police car window. It concludes with Rusty and Steve meeting again years later as adults and reflects on the themes of the book.
4. Rusty-James or Rusty is a 14 year old gang leader. His
older brother’s name is Motorcycle Boy and he always
saves Rusty from danger. Rusty loves to fight, he can
take down someone even if they have a knife!
Rusty with his girlfriend.
5. Motorcycle Boy is Rusty-James older brother who is
color blind and half deaf. Motorcycle Boy is really
handsome and no girl can resist him. He is the best
pool player in the city and loves beer.
6. Steve is Rusty's good friend ever since grammar school.
His intelligence causes other kids to pick on him so he
trys to get the same bad reputation as Rusty and
Motorcycle Boy by hanging around with them. Later
he realizes that’s not what he really wants.
Rusty Steve
7. Rusty and Steve meet each other on a beach after
several years of not seeing each other. Then there’s a
flash back to when they were 14 and the story begins.
8. Rusty-James fights Biff Wilcox and hurts him bad but
then, Motorcycle Boy comes and distracts Rusty so Biff
gets up and stabs Rusty in the arm. Biff then runs
away.
9. Rusty-James is with Motorcycle Boy when Motorcycle
Boy decides to break into a pet store releasing all of
the animals. The police come and shoot Motorcycle
Boy as he is running with the beta fighting fish
towards the river to set them free.
10. After the pet store break-in, Rusty-James is caught by
the police, he breaks a window in the police car and
cuts himself on the glass causing him to go into shock.
He goes to the hospital to have his wounds treated.
11. Rusty-James and Steve are back in the present time
again. Neither of them went back to the horrible place
where Motorcycle Boy was shot. Steve learned that if
you want to get somewhere in life you have to make up
your mind and work hard until you make it. Rusty-
James still has not decided where he wants his life to
go.
12. S.E. Hinton has written four books. She wrote the first one
when she was just sixteen years old which was titled “The
Outsiders”. The other books are “Tex”, “Taming the Star
Runner” and “Rumble Fish”. She won the first Margaret A.
Edwards Award from the American Library Association.
This award is given to authors “whose books have provided
young adults with a window through which they can view
their world and which will help them to grow and to
understand themselves and their role in society.”
S.E. Hinton is married and has one son. They live in Tulsa,
Oklahoma.