But when he's sent to stay with his uncle on a ranch in the country, he finds that his schoolmates don't like his tough city ways. He does find friendship of a sort with Casey, who runs a riding school at the ranch. She's the bravest person Travis has ever met, and crazy enough to try to tame the Star Runner, her beautiful, dangerous horse who's always on edge, about to explode. Tex Easygoing, thoughtless, and direct, Tex at fifteen likes everyone and everything, especially his horse, Negrito, and Johnny Collins' blue-eyed sister, Jamie. Pop hasn't been home in five months.
Mace wants to get out of Oklahoma.
In the Classroom Using the Young Adult Novels of S. E. Hinton in the Classroom Pre-Reading Activity Encourage students to interview a parent or adult who grew up during the 1960s and 70s. Suggest they ask about music, current events, fashions, pastimes, popular books, magazines, TV shows, movie stars, etc., during those decades. Instruct students to web their information with the central topic being the decade and the branches being the various elements they discussed with the adult. Students may illustrate their webs with symbols, pictures, or words. Have students share their webs with the class.