The Outsiders / S. E. Hinton / 188 pages / October Challenge Banned Books

Pony Boy is a greaser, but he is not a hood.  The greasers are at war with the soc's (Socials).  Soc's are privileged, wealthy, spoiled, and, in some cases, mean.  They are always picking fights that sometimes result in rumbles.  In a scuffle, Pony Boy's friend Johnny, kills a soc.  They go on the run; hide out in a church; and save the lives of some kids visiting the church on a field trip when the church catches fire.  Pony Boy is afraid the state will separate him from his brothers, Darry and Soda Pop.  Set in 1965 Oklahoma, The Outsiders was challenged in south Milwaukee, Wisconsin because "drug and alcohol abuse was common and virtually all characters were from broken homes."  Ranked #43 on the ALA Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books List 1990-2000, it was banned from some schools and libraries because of its portrayal of gang violence, underage smoking and drinking, strong language, slang usage, and expose of family dysfunction.