https://padlet.com/lborschell/tsiikpln488e A review by Lucas Borschell en-us 2016-11-03 15:07:08 UTC 2025-09-28 09:58:25 UTC hello@padlet.com lborschell https://padlet.com/lborschell/tsiikpln488e/wish/135113134 Ponyboy Curtis is a young boy who lives in the "hood" of a big city. He lives with his brothers Sodapop and Darry, who look after him in the absence of their parents. In this part of the city, "gangs" are your family, and Ponyboy belongs to the "Greasers". His Greaser friends include Johnny, Dally, Two-Bit, and Steve. They are constantly attacked by the "Socs" - a group of kids who like to jump, beat, and otherwise torment Greasers. The book makes a clear distinction that these two groups are not separated by ideal or morals, but rather they are two social classes which live on opposite sides of the city. 

This book is centered around Ponyboy and his attempts to make his way as a sensitive dreamer in the dangerous hood of a city. He and Johnny have problems at home, so when another fight breaks out and he can't handle it, they decide to run away. Before they can do that though, Ponyboy is almost drowned in a fountain. He is saved by Johnny, who kills the Soc who was responsible for it. The two then realize the gravity of the situation all to late and decide to go on the run, and thus the spiral of events that makes up this story begins. ]]> 2016-11-03 15:11:28 UTC https://padlet.com/lborschell/tsiikpln488e/wish/135113134 lborschell https://padlet.com/lborschell/tsiikpln488e/wish/135117860 I, along with so many others, thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had many dynamic characters, and some surprising themes which were present in each section of the book. It was very relatable, dealing with things such as friendship and family and even death or conflict. It's concise, and gives depth and meaning to scenes early on. I think the characters were very interesting because they are what we are told "hoods", but the first person perspective allows us to see these characters, which we would normally dismiss in real life, as actual people with feelings and motivations who are just trying to get by. The setting makes a very important addition to the plot because it allows the disparities identified in the plot to take place without break suspension of disbelief in the reader. ]]> 2016-11-03 15:22:14 UTC https://padlet.com/lborschell/tsiikpln488e/wish/135117860 lborschell https://padlet.com/lborschell/tsiikpln488e/wish/135122923 This cover is meaningful to the story because it embodies what it is all about, while at the same time being intensely symbolic. The switchblade and the blood represents the turning point of the story as well as a consistent theme. ]]> 2016-11-03 15:32:58 UTC https://padlet.com/lborschell/tsiikpln488e/wish/135122923 lborschell https://padlet.com/lborschell/tsiikpln488e/wish/135124558 1. "Maybe the two worlds we lived in weren't so different. We saw the same sunset." - Page 38 

This quote is important because it connects to an overarching theme in the book - that two sides to the same story aren't as different as we might think. 

2. "I jerked loose and ran on. All I could think was: We started it, We started it, We started it!" - Page 81

I like this quote because it is the moment the Ponyboy realizes what has happened fully, and decides to take action in order to uphold responsibility. 

3. "Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold..." - Page 130

This quote is important because it's Johnny's dying words, spoken to Ponyboy. It is also a very nuanced quote with depth, as it also relates to several other parts of the story, and references a Robert Frost poem quotes early on. ]]> 2016-11-03 15:36:14 UTC https://padlet.com/lborschell/tsiikpln488e/wish/135124558 lborschell https://padlet.com/lborschell/tsiikpln488e/wish/135172627 I would recommend this book to anyone who's willing to read it. The book may connect with middle to high school kids the most, but nevertheless is a book suit for all ages. It's filled with dynamic characters, plot twists, meaning, themes, and holds the reader's attention. Anybody could pick up the book and learn something - even something small. Regardless, it is a masterfully done story with a surprisingly satisfying ending you don't wanna miss. ]]> 2016-11-03 17:28:30 UTC https://padlet.com/lborschell/tsiikpln488e/wish/135172627 lborschell https://padlet.com/lborschell/tsiikpln488e/wish/135174427 "Heathens" by Twenty One Pilots

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UprcpdwuwCg 

This relates to the book because it shows the conflicting sides that it tries to tell throughout the book. The good side of who you might write off in real life, as well as bad people doing bad things for human reasons. ]]> 2016-11-03 17:32:44 UTC https://padlet.com/lborschell/tsiikpln488e/wish/135174427