The Outsiders Book Report

Throughout the book The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton allows us to experience the struggles and sacrifices that the three brothers, Ponyboy, Sodapop, and Darry, encounter so that they can stay together as a family. After a devastating car accident, that killed their parents, the three brothers must stick together in order to sustain a happy and healthy family. Ponyboy and his best friend, Johnny, run away from home for a week. In that short period of time, Ponyboy experiences a lot both physically and emotionally. These experiences have helped Ponyboy to see how fortunate he is to have such a loving family. This quote from S.E. Hinton, “‘Darry and Sodapop were my brothers and I loved both of them, even if Darry did scare me; but not even Soda could

One night, Ponyboy and Johnny go out to see a movie. After the movie, they take a walk and end up falling asleep in a lot. When Ponyboy finally returns home Darry is outraged because he was out two hours after the curfew Darry set for him. Darry and Soda stayed up waiting for him to come home both worried sick. Ponyboy explains that he didn’t mean to and lost track of time while Darry replies with, “‘I reckon it never occurred to you that your brothers might me worrying their heads off and afraid to call the police because something like that could get you put into a boys’ so quick it’d make your head spin. And you were asleep in the lot? Ponyboy what on earth is the matter with you? Can’t you use your head? You haven’t even got a coat on.’” (Page 50) Darry and Sodapop didn’t want to call the police and risk having their family split up. Instead they decided to wait and worry. In a way, they didn’t give hope that Ponyboy was gone and instead trusted that he would come home. Darry had the right to be angry when Ponyboy came home because he had had broken the rule of not staying out past 12:00, Darry had been tired was tired from anxiously waiting for Ponyboy to return, Ponyboy had just fallen asleep in a lot, he didn’t use his head which is a common mistake that he makes often, and Darry had just been so concerned that something might have happened to Ponyboy.

Ponyboy and Johnny had ran away to Jay Mountain. There they found an old abandoned church to hide out in. The boys eat nothing but baloney and some bread for a whole week. Johnny and Ponyboy also have to cut their hair to disguise themselves. this was a very hard decision to make because their hair was their pride and joy but also their trademark as a greaser. To pass time they play game after game of poker and Ponyboy reads Gone With the Wind aloud to Johnny. Dally comes to visit and he brings Ponyboy a letter from Sodapop. The letter explains that he and Darry went crazy when Ponyboy just ran out of the house. He also says that Darry is extremely sorry for hitting Ponyboy. and that Darry does not have a clue where they are and it’s making him very upset. Soon after, Johnny and Ponyboy return home and the three brothers are once reunited. While hugging Darry Ponyboy thinks to himself, “I had taken the long way around, but I was finally home to stay.” Here Ponyboy says that after all that he’s been through he finally feels like a real member of the family. Before, he thought the only person who loved him in the family was Soda and that Darry doesn’t want him around because of his constant scolding. Now, Ponyboy has realized how much Darry loves him, and how much he has come to love Darry. He also realizes that Darry