Chapter 1

In Chapter 1, the main character, Ponyboy is going to see a movie on his own. On his way back from
the movies, a blue mustang pulls up beside Ponyboy, and some Socs (rich people, socialites) step out of it. They
start beating up Ponyboy, teasing him, and eventually, pull a blade on him. After Ponyboy gets back from the
movies, his brothers, and the gang, start taking care of him and cleaning him up. At this point,
Ponyboy introduces each member of the gang, and gives the reader a brief description of each character. He
also informs us that there are two types of people in his city, the Socs, and the Greasers. The Socs are rich and
seem to have not a problem in the world, which we find out later in Chapter 3, is not true. Ponyboy reveals his
feelings about Darry, and how he thinks that Darry hates him. Sodapop then tells him that he is loves by all of
his brothers and to never forget it. To which Ponyboy responds by telling him it's not true and, therefore, lying
to himself.
Chapter 2
In Chapter 2, Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dally are going to the drive-in (The Nightly Double) to see a movie
about Summer. Dally starts talking dirty behind these two girls, who we later find out are named Cherry and
Marcia. The girls ignore Dally at the beginning, but can't take it anymore, so they try to get Dally to stop. Dally
then gets mad and storms away. So, Johnny and Ponyboy continue watching the movie with the girls, where
they find out each others names, histories, and that the two girls are Socs. After that, Ponyboy tells Cherry
about the time Johnny got beat up by Socs.
Chapter 3
In Chapter 3, Ponyboy, Johnny, Two-Bit, Cherry, and Marcia start walking home from the movies, when
a blue mustang pulls up beside them. At first, they don't notice them, but a few seconds later, the mustang
comes back to pick up Cherry and Marcia. Inside the mustang, is Cherry and Marcia's boyfriends. Johnny gets
"white as a ghost" when he realizes that these were Socs that scarred him for life. Next, Johnny and Ponyboy
find their way to an empty and Ponyboy keeos reminding Johnny that he needs to be home by 12. Ponyboy
ends up falling asleep, and Johnny shakes him awake at a time past midnight. Ponyboy rushes home and
braces himself for what Darry is going to do. When he walks in, Darry immediately yells at him, and then slaps
him. Ponyboy runs away with angry tears running down his face. He runs to the lot to find Johnny and tells him
that they're running away. He then realizes that running away was a bad idea, so the two friends walk back to
their houses.
Chapter 4
In Chapter 4, a group of Socs (Bob, Randy, and some friends) attack Ponyboy and Johnny. They try to drown
Ponyboy in a fountain. In response to this, Johnny stabs Bob to death. All of the remaining Socs run away to
avoid getting caught by the police, which leaves a wet, shivering Ponyboy, a shocked, yet proud Johnny, and a
dead Bob. The two boys (Ponyboy and Johnny) brainstorm ideas to help them get out of this mess, when they
think about their friend, Dallas Winston (who has been in jail many, many times). The pair set out to find Dallas,
while witnessing an angry cowboy, and a couple of "Yee-haws" on the way. Eventually, they speak to Dallas,
who gives them some warm clothes, good advice, and a gun. They follow the directions that Dallas gave them,
and take a train to the destination (an old, abandoned church), while Ponyboy sleeps on the way. Johnny wakes
up Ponyboy as they approach their stop, and tells him that they need to jump. They do so, resulting in Johnny
almost falling over because his legs are asleep from Ponyboy napping on them. Lastly, while pretending to be
farmboys, they ask a man for directions to the hill that the church is on, and when they finally arrive to it, they
rest.
Chapter 5
In Chapter 5, Ponyboy wakes up in the church, not knowing where he is, but soon realizes that it was not a
dream, and him and Johnny are still on the run from the police. He finds a note from Johnny telling him that he
went out to the store, and he will be back soon. Soon after, Johnny returns and informs Ponyboy that they both
need to cut their hair as part of their disguises. Ponyboy protests, but there is nothing that he can do about it.
After cutting their hair, the two realize what they just did, and how much of a mess they got themselves into,
and they start crying. The next few days are uneventful, but then, Dally suddenly walks in, and they are happy
to see him. Dally gives Ponyboy a letter from his brother, Sodapop, which says that Soda and Darry miss
Ponyboy a lot and Darry is sorry for slapping Ponyboy. After this, the three go to Dairy Queen where they eat
like pigs, and Dally fills them in how things are back at home, and how Cherry Valance is a spy for the Greasers.
Chapter 6
In Chapter 6, while at Dairy Queen, Johnny says that he's thinking of turning himself in to the police. Dally
freaks out and tells him that he could never do that, and that they need to hide out longer. Johnny gets
offended and he is upset when he finds out that his parents didn't even care that he ran away. Next, Dally
drives them back to the church, where they find out that the church is in flames. Nobody knows how it started
but there are kids trapped inside. Ponyboy, doing the unthinkable, races into the church, with Johnny trailing
behind him. The two jump into the church through a window, and start to pull the children out, one by one. On
the way out, Dally runs in to save Johnny, who is no where to be found. Ponyboy can see for a split second that
Johnny and Dally are hurt, but then, everything turns black. Ponyboy wakes up in an ambulance, with one of the
teachers from the school that the burning children went to. The teacher tries to calm Ponyboy down by telling
him that everything is going to be okay. Once they get to the hospital, Ponyboy sees Sodapop and Darry walk
in, and immediately gives them giant hugs. Ponyboy realizes that Darry is crying, making this a very rare
occasion. Darry didn't even cry at their parents funeral. Ponyboy suddenly feels bad for running away and
begins apologizing to Darry. They find out that Dally will be okay after a few days, but Johnny is in critical
condition and may not make it through.
Chapter 7
At the start of Chapter 7, Ponyboy, Sodapop, and Darry are waiting in the hospital to find out how Johnny and
Dally are. The reporters and the police show up and start bombarding the boys with questions, which they are
in no condition to answer. Soda starts to mess around with the reporters and everyone is laughing and having a
good time. The nurse arrives and tells them that Dally will be okay after a few days, and Johnny is in critical
condition. Ponyboy is saddened by the thought of Johnny dying and he becomes very anxious. The three boys
head home and go to sleep that night. The next morning, Ponyboy is the first one up, so he makes everyone
breakfast. While making breakfast, Two-Bit and Steve show up at the house, and give Ponyboy a newspaper
with the headline, "JUVENILE DELINQUENTS TURN HEROES". Inside, there is an article all about Johnny and
Ponyboy saving the children. At the bottom of the article, it mentions that Ponyboy, Soda, and Darry might get
put into a boys' home, and this increases Ponyboy's anxiety. Darry and Sodapop wake up, and after chatting for
a while, the gang leaves the house and goes to a park. They see Randy, the Soc there, and he calls Ponyboy
over to talk to him. During their conversation, Randy tells Ponyboy about how good of a man Bob really was
and how Randy will not be fighting at the rumble.
Chapter 8
Chapter 8 begins with the gang at the hospital, waiting to see Johnny and Dally. The boys go to visit Johnny and
they can all tell that he is not very healthy. Two-Bit tries to avoid acknowledging this by steering the
conversation into a more humorous direction. Two-Bit then leaves to go to the store, to buy Johnny a new copy
of the book, Gone With The Wind. When Two-Bit comes back, the nurse tells Johnny that his mother is here to
see him. Johnny refuses to let her come inside, and his mother protests. On the way to Dally's room, Two-Bit
mutters "No wonder he hates your guts" to Mrs. Cade. When they go to visit Dally, he asks Two-Bit for his black
switchblade. Two-Bit willingly hands it over. The boys leave, and Ponyboy tells Two-bit that he has a fever. Of
course, Two-Bit tells him not to fight in the big rumble, but Ponyboy says he'll fight anyway, and to not tell
Darry that he's sick. Two-Bit reluctantly agrees, and they head home. On the way, they run into Cherry Valance,
and she tells them that she loved Bob and that he meant a lot to her. She also tells Ponyboy that she cannot go
visit Johnny in the hospital because she cannot bear to see the boy who killed her boyfriend. Ponyboy is
offended by this, but the two work it out in the end.
Chapter 9
In Chapter 9, Ponyboy arrives home at 6:30, giving him about half an hour to prepare for the rumble. Everyone
in the house is jumpy, excited, and pumped. Ponyboy then begins to ask each gang member why they like to
fight. Sodapop says he likes to fight for fun, Steve for hatred, Darry for pride, and Two-Bit for conformity.
Ponyboy struggles to find a reason for why he likes to fight, and then he realizes that he doesn't. The gang
leaves for the rumble and because they are so excited, they all start tumbling, and doing flips in the front yard.
When they arrive to the vacant lot, Tim Shepherd, and his gang of Greasers are already there, waiting, along
with the hoods of Brumly. They all shake each other's hands, signalling that for this fight, they are all on the
same team. Right at 7:00, the Socs show up, and the rumble begins. First, Darry takes on his high school
rival/friend, Paul Holden. Ponyboy started beating up the smallest Soc (who was still pretty big). Everyone,
including Ponyboy is getting beat up, but the Greasers seem to be winning. Eventually, the Socs run away, as a
sign of retreat. All of the Greasers are overjoyed, so Dally and Ponyboy go to visit Johnny in the hospital. When
they get there, the boys tell Johnny the good news, to which Johnny responds by saying it's useless. After a long
pause, Johnny says "Ponyboy. Stay Gold, Ponyboy. Stay Gold" and then he dies. Dally is in complete shock, and
races away, out of the hospital.
Chapter 10
In Chapter 10, Johnny had just died in the hospital. Ponyboy is walking down the street, after Dally took off with
the car, telling himself that Johnny is not dead, nor will he ever be. A man notices Pony walking, and offers him
a ride to his house. Ponyboy accepts the offer, and the man begins driving. On the way, the man asks Pony if he
is all right, seeing that he has a gash on the side of his head from the rumble. Ponyboy responds by saying he is
fine, and the two finish the drive home. When Ponyboy arrives at his house, all of the Greasers are there
waiting for him. Ponyboy informs them of Johnny's death, and Dally running away. Just as he says this, Dally
calls, saying that he has just robbed a store, the police are after him, and he needs a place to hide. The
Greasers arrive to the vacant lot at the same time as the police, and Dally. Dally takes his gun (unloaded) out
of his pocket as a threat to the cops. The police start shooting Dally, and he is "dead before he even hit the
ground". Everyone stands in awe, processing what just happened, and that two of their friends just died in the
same night. They all know that this is what Dally wanted, to die. Ponyboy starts feeling nauseated and his
vision turns fuzzy. He watches as "the ground comes at him quickly", and blacks out. He wakes up in his home,
and does not remember anything about the hospital, or being unconscious. The only things that he remembers
are that both Johnny and Dally are dead. Darry informs him that he is suffering from a minor concussion, shock,
and exhaustion. The concussion is from the rumble (the big gash on his head that the man was concerned
about). He sees the book, Gone with the Wind lying on the table. Darry tells him that Johnny told the nurse to
give it to Ponyboy. Pony says that he will never be able to finish the book, and Soda and Darry continue taking
care of him.
Chapter 11
In Chapter 11, Ponyboy is laying in his bed, trying to recover from the concussion and illnesses. He starts going
through Sodapop's old yearbook, when he comes across Robert Sheldon. He knows that boy looks familiar, but
he cannot pinpoint it, until he realizes that this is Bob, the Soc that Johnny had killed. Ponyboy starts to wonder
what Bob was like back in high school, and how his parents are dealing with the loss. Randy, the Soc, then
comes to visit Ponyboy after getting to know him at the convenience store. He tells Ponyboy that his name was
on the bulletin board at school, and that everyone that was involved with the death of Bob, is supposed to the
judge at the courthouse the following day. Then, Randy tells him that his dad said that he should just tell the
truth to the judge. Randy also says that he regrets being in the fight, because it upset his dad, and it will be
hard to earn further respect from him. Ponyboy and his siblings keep avoiding any talk about the courthouse,
because the outcome will be the decision of Soda and Pony going to live in a boys' home. Ponyboy informs
Randy of this fear, and Randy assures him that he will not get put in a boys' home, becasue he did not commit
the crime, and he is innocent. Pony denies all of this, saying that he was the one who had killed Bob. This
causes some confusion between the two of them, and Randy once again tries to tell Pony that it was not him.
Ponyboy cuts in by saying that "Johnny is not dead". This has crossed the line for Darry, so he pulls Randy out
of the room, and shows him to the door. He tells Randy that Ponyboy is still damaged, and to heal, he needs
some time.
Chapter 12
In Chapter 12, the hearing begins. Ponyboy had been anticipating being questioned by the judge about Bob's
death, but instead, the only thing that the judge had asked him about was his life at home, living with Darry
and Sodapop. The judge then closes the case of Bob's death, and they are free to go. When the boys get home,
unlike they had planned, things were not normal. Because Ponyboy was lacking at school, not doing his
homework, and being forgetful and clumsy, this causes some tension between him and Darry. Also, because of
all that, Ponyboy is having trouble making it through each day. One day during school, Ponyboy, Steve, and
Two-Bit had walked over to the gas station. A mustang pulls up, and three Socs step out of it, accusing Ponyboy
of killing Bob. Ponyboy finds a glass bottle and smashes the end off of it. With all of this newly found adrenaline,
he threatens to beat up the Socs if they don't get back into their car and drive away. The Socs leave, and Two-
Bit tells Ponyboy that he needs to "stay gold" like Johnny had told him, and that he can't become "tough" like all
of the other Greasers. Then, Ponyboy starts picking up all of the glass that had fallen when he smashed the
bottle, because he does not want anyone to step on or run over it. Two-Bit laughs, and the boys return to
school. Back at school, Ponyboy's English teacher, Mr Syme, confronts Ponyboy about his grades and lack of
effort. He tells Ponyboy that he has to write an essay and pick his own theme for it. If he does this, then his
grade will rise up to a C. Ponyboy accepts, and then has the most trouble on the first part, finding a theme to
write about, causing even more tension to build between himself and Darry. They two get in yet another fight,
and when Pony asks his brother, Soda, who's side he is on, Soda races out of the house, crying. The other boys
chase after him, and not long after, catch him. Soda reveals how he actually feels like they're playing tug of
war, and he is the rope. Ponyboy and Darry had never thought about the impact that their bickering actually
had on Soda. They all settle it out,and go home. At home, Ponyboy starts to read Gone with the Wind again. He
opens the book, only to discover a note from Johnny. The note says that Ponyboy needs to tell Dally that it was
definitely worth it, to save those kids from the church. Pony is saddened because he can't pass the news on to
Dally because Dally is dead. He realizes that there are lots of people on Earth that are just like Dally, and that
everyone should tell their own side of the story, from their own perspective, and then maybe others wouldn't be
so quick to judge them. He knows that this will be the theme for his essay, telling his own side of the story from
his own perspective. He ends up writing the book, The Outsiders for his assignment, and anyone that reads the
book is reading the essay that he wrote to Mr. Syme.