Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus hit me hard because I am a woman majoring in a science degree. I have been told by teachers to be sure about wanting to pursue science in the future, as I will have a hard time getting ahead as a woman. Elizabeth, the main character, faces similar challenges of being undermined or underappreciated because of being a woman. She starts off at a science firm, but after the death of her boyfriend, she is fired for being pregnant and unwed.
The Outsiders is a book from 1967 about tragedy, conflict and adolescence. The story takes place in Tulsa where two rival groups exist, the poor Greasers, and the rich Socs. The story is told from the perspective of Ponyboy Curtis, a 14-year-old Greaser. He lives with his two brothers, and he witnesses all of the rivalry, tragedy and conflict between the Greasers and the Socs.
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton will forever remain as one of my favorite novels. Hinton’s exploration of tough themes, including social hierarchies and the emotions involved with growing up and friendship, made the book an emotional, yet important read. The book takes the reader back to the 1960s, and Hinton did a wonderful job displaying that era in contrast to today’s world. Also, it was such an experience learning about each of the Greasers and how unique their personalities were.
14-year-old Ponyboy Curtis, and his brothers Sodapop and Darry, struggle to make ends meet after the death of their parents. Ponyboy and his friends are part of a lower-class gang called the Greasers. The Greasers are opposed to a wealthier gang called the Socs. Ponyboy and one of his friends, Johnny, are jumped by the Socs late at night with no one around. In an act of self-defense, Johnny ends up killing one of the Socs. As a result, Ponyboy and Johnny are forced to go into hiding.
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a coming-of-age novel set in the 1960s in a small American town divided between the affluent "Socs" and the working-class "Greasers." The story is narrated by Ponyboy Curtis, a Greaser, who grapples with societal expectations and prejudice.
