When I was in my eighth grade year, I first picked up "The Outsiders," by S. E. Hinton. It slowly took over my entire life. I had read it and reread it more than any "Harry Potter," "Divergent," or even "Saint Anything." When I was younger, it was because I loved the characters - specifically Darry. As I get older, it was because of the story. It became less about a story of brothers but instead a looking glass into American society in the 1960s. As much as we'd like to ignore it, it also became a screenshot of a lot of societies in 21st century America.

This book - this creation by Hinton delves into the meaning of family. It inspects the social class system that even if we try to ignore - is still very much prominent. It talks about violence. It talks about assumptions. It talks about friendship. Hinton might not know it, but I think she created one of the most important pieces of work in the last 80 years.

Most of this article will be focused on the book. However, we can't ignore the film and its star studded cast. It was filmed in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Let me toss some names at you and see if you recognize any of them.

- Patrick Swayze (Dirty Dancing | Ghost | Road House | Donnie Darko | Red Dawn)

- Emilio Esteves (The Breakfast Club | St. Elmo's Fire | Stakeout | Mighty Ducks | The Way)

- C. Thomas Howell (Red Dawn | Gettysburg | 24 | Southland)

- Matt Dillon (There's Something About Mary | You, Me and Dupree | Hurbee Fully Loaded)

- Ralph Macchio (The Karate Kid | My Cousin Vinny | A Good Night To Die | Hitchcock)

- Rob Lowe (St. Elmo's Fire | Youngblood | Wayne's World | Contact | Salem's Lot | Killing Kennedy | Parks & Rec | Grindr)

and let's not forget... one more person... small scale, really...

- Tom Cruise (Risky Business | Top Gun | Born on the Fourth of July | A Few Good Men | Interview With The Vampire | Jerry Maguire | War of the Worlds | Rock of Ages | Mission Impossible 1 - 6 | Jack Reacher)

SOCS vs GREASERS

When I talk about these two groups of people in today's society, I am dismissed pretty quickly. People don't realize that even though we might not be referring to socialites and greasers but there is still that big gap in our society today - no matter where in America you are. You don't just have to be from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The socs (or socialites) were typically wealthy, well-educated elitists. Meanwhile, greasers were known as the bottom of the barrel. Often, they were drop-outs and financially struggling. In "The Outsiders," Ponyboy mentions that the greasers were picked on because they were the ones who had to work for it.

"That's why people don't ever think to blame the Socs and are always ready to jump on us. We look hoody and they look decent. It could be just the other way around - half of the hoods I know are pretty decent guys underneath all that grease, and from what I've heard, a lot of Socs are just cold-blooded mean - but people usually go by looks."

"People get hurt in rumbles, maybe killed. I'm sick of it because it doesn't do any good. You can't win... even if you whip us. You'll still be where you were before - at the bottom. And we'll still be the lucky ones with all the breaks. So it doesn't do any good, the fighting and the killing. It doesn't prove a thing."

FAMILY

There is no denying that one of the themes in this film and novel is family. The oldest Curtis brother, Darrell, takes over raising his two younger brothers after their parents pass away in a car accident. In the beginning of the novel, Darry and Ponyboy fight ... like siblings do. Darrell is just looking after his younger brother but it might be taken too far. Meanwhile, Sodapop and Ponyboy's relationship is much stronger than the previous one. Being the two younger brothers, Soda and Pony relate much stronger to each other. Also, Soda is more of an artistic and understand character as opposed to the oldest Curtis. However, towards the climax of the novel, we see that the brothers' relationship is here for the long-haul.

"I listened to his heart pounding through his T-shirt and knew everything was going to be okay now. I had taken the long way around but I was finally home. To stay."

However, as in the case of Johnny Cade and Dallas Winston, sometimes the family you choose is much more important the the one you were born into. There are some petitions sending around the country that is trying to ban "The Outsiders," from schools. They say that it promotes gang violence. I tend to disagree. It doesn't promote gang violence. It promotes the outcasts and it promotes friendship - like the friendship between Johnny and Dally.

"They grew up on the outside of society. They weren't looking for a fight. They were looking to belong."

"Us greasers usually stick together, but when we do fight among ourselves" "Our one rule, besides Stick together, is Don't get caught. He might get beat up, he might not. Either way there's not going to be any blood feud between our outfit and Shepard's, If we needed them tomorrow they'd show."

INDIVIDUALISM

Ponyboy Curtis and Johnny Cade are two "outliers," in this novel. You can argue the point that the whole gang is full of outsiders (excuse the pun) but there is just something different about these two. They feel more. It isn't a "Punch now. Ask questions later," mindset. They know how to be their own people and it is something that Ponyboy references throughout the entire novel.

Half of the story is about the youngest Curtis trying to find himself. It is about his struggle with finding his place in society, a place within his face and a place within his gang. As time goes on, he quickly realizes that there is more to life than your social status.

"I lie to myself all the time. But I never believe me."

"It seemed funny to me that the sunset she saw from her patio and the one I saw from the back steps was the same one. Maybe the two different worlds we lived in weren't so different. We saw the same sunset."

"You still have a lot of time to make yourself be what you want. There's still lots of good in the world."

"'Greaser' didn't have anything to do with it. My buddy over there wouldn't have done it. Maybe you would have done the same thing, maybe a friend of yours wouldn't have. It's the individual."

There's still a lot of good in the world.Tell Dally. I don't think he knows.

Your Buddy,

Johnny