Yet another classic coming-of-age YA novel, which holds the special distinction of being written not only by a teen, but by a female. That alone was an enormous source of inspiration and encouragement for me over the years. At the time that I read it, I recall appreciating the author's knack for conveying action -and- emotion, without one weakening the other. 
 What always amazed me about this book was that it was vivid and believable, in spite of the fact that the author had no personal experience with 'gangs' of the era. She paints a lively portrait of the dynamics between social strata, and the complexities of relationships and loyalties between close male friends. If I hadn't known better, I would have assumed this stemmed from direct knowledge. 
 It's a quick, easy read with character names so memorable they've become iconic. When I first read the book, I thought the author's eccentricity in picking out names was a bit of a barrier toward realism. (Ponyboy? Sodapop?) Now I can generally appreciate it as good marketing ahead of its time.