The Outsiders is written in a conversational tone. Hinton uses slang, conversation, and repetition to produce an informal style that is a genuine picture of how kids in 1960s Oklahoma, particularly greasers, spoke with one another. He also describes scenes vividly, using action, dialogue, and character analysis to bring his characters to life. The novel is told from two points of view: that of Ponyboy Curtis, who lives next door to the Spenders, and that of John Green, who lives with his family on a farm near the town of Southtown. Both boys are attracted to the same girl, Sandy Dolan, but she likes Ponyboy because he's in trouble with the police often due to his involvement in fights at school. However, when her father gets fired from his job, she starts dating John instead. Ponyboy and John both serve as eyes into which the reader can gaze; however, they also offer different perspectives on the events of their time. For example, while Ponyboy is looking out for number one, saying things like "I'm not scared of no cops", John is more concerned with what others think of him and his family. When discussing styles, many writers make a distinction between realistic fiction and other types of writing. Realistic fiction is based on actual events or people taken from history.