Rumble Fish

by S.E. Hinton

Book Overview

From the author of the international bestseller The Outsiders comes a "stylistically superb" novel that "packs a punch that will leave readers of any age reeling" (SLJ, starred review). Rusty-James is... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0440975344
• ISBN13: 9780440975342
• Release Date: October 1989
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf Library
• Length: 135 Pages
• Weight: 0.91 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 4.2" x 6.9"
• Age Range: 12 to 17 years
• Grade Range: Grades 7 to 12

Customer Reviews

My favorite book!!!!

Rumble fish tells the tale of Rusty-james, a 14 year old tough kid who enjoys keeping up his bad rep and wants more than anything in the world to be like his brother, The Mortercycle Boy. The Motercycle Boy is the coolest guy in town, the leader of the gangs, and a mystery to all. Smart, eye catching, and tough; the Motercyle Boy is everything Rusty-James has ever dreamt of being. The only problem is, Rusty-james isn't quite as bright as his brother. He is more bronze than brains and rather reckless. Also he is incapable of understanding The Motercycle Boy and u can't help wondering... is being The Motercycle Boy really as great as Rusty-James thinks it is? S.E. Hinton is a master of her trade. The charecters in this novel are extremely well developed and unique. Unforgetable, moveing, and true this is definatly one of my favorite books. A good building block to heavier novels such as Catcher in the Rye and Drugstore Cowboy.

The Best novel by SE Hinton

Rumble fish is a dark look at life in the late sixties/early seventies . The main character is a tough guy named Rusty-James, who uses his strength and fighting abilities instead of his mind . The story is told as a flashback with Rusty-James meeting his old geeky friend Steve when he is in his early twenties . Throughout the story we see Rusty-James idolize his older brother who looks like a "prince," and whose view of the world differentiates from everybody else in the washed up neighbourhood . Rusty-James talks about one day looking like his older brother and his respect and reputation is gained partially from being related to the myth known as the Motorcycle Boy , his brother . The books charm is possibly because of how vague it is , the Motorcycle Boy is never named , neither is the time period , the location is'nt named and women are considered secondary characters , two dimensional and unimportant . Rusty-James has his crew of pals ; Smokey (the intellegent tough guy who has a silent tension with Rusty throughout the novel) , BJ , (the fat tough kid) , Midget , (the tall lanky kid who informs Rusty-James about his fight with Biff Wilcox) and last but definatly not least Steve Hays, Rusty's best friend , a nerdy blonde haired cautious guy , who looked twelve and acted forty . Rusty-James dad is an alcoholic who at one point in his life attended law school . The father never tells Rusty how to live his life and it seems as if Rusty-James and the Motorcycle Boy are free to do what they want . Rusty-James must worry if his dad will drink up the welare check before he can get his hands on some of the money . Rusty-James also has a girlfriend , Patty , a two dimensional girl who sways any way the wind blows , we find out that shes a hellcat and not a natural blonde , but thats about it . Rusty-James misses the days of the white gangs and rumbles , instead he lives in a washed up town infested with what killed the gangs -dope. Rusty-James looses the most important thing he had in his life and the novel basically ends there with a very depressing last paragraph . The novel is an example of how a simply written novel about a 14 year old wine haired punk who fights , drinks , smokes and gets expelled from his school can be a deep novel drentched in symbolism and interesting characters can be one of the best books I've ever read . And to think its only 135 pages ! The book is great and it prevokes so many emmotions in me , I can relate to everything in the book , the setting ,the characters , its people I've known and places I have been . This novel is amazing and I recomend it to anyone who wants to hear a good yarn ."I'D FIGURE IF I DIDN'T SEE HIM I'D START FORGETTING AGAIN , BUT ITS BEEN TAKING ME LONGER THEN I THOUGHT IT WOULD ."

The Easiest Book to Read, The Hardest to Understand

Rumble Fish is an elusive, dark novel that gets deeper with meaning each time you read it. This book is NOT something to be read while watching TV. If you do, then I can garantee that you won't like it, let alone understand it. Being extremely vague of exactly where Rusty-James'story takes place, S.E Hinton has created a world where extreme violence is being thrown to the limits, and drugs are taking control of the streets. The Motorcycle Boy is definitely one the most complex characters in young adult literature today; he plays a huge part of the story, yet the reader can only imagine what he is really like. Reading from a phsycological point of view, Rumble Fish delves deeply into the heart of a dangerous fighter; the extreme physical and emotional pain of crying for the first time, what it's like to not be loved; a concept that was never touched on in any other of Hinton's novels. Overall, an INCREDIBLE read that will leave you breathless. Read it again when your twenty-five.

Couldn't Put It Down

I'm a junior in H.S. and I hate to read with a passion. But when my teacher gave me this book to read for a report I was alittle anoyed he gave what looked to be a kids book because it was so small. But when I started reading it I couldn't stop. So now I always thank him and I've gotten other people to read it and they love it, too. My parents might even read it because I liked it so much.

A Moving Story That Tugs At Your Heart; A Must-Read

Rumble Fish is an excellent book about a boy growing up in a tough neighborhood in a rough family. The boy idolizes his older brother and emulates him in any way that he can; he wants to be just like his brother. The problem is that he's not like his brother--he's an individual, but he doesn't realize it. This book took me on a rollercoaster ride, where I would be laughing aloud one minute, and have tears on my cheeks the next minute. The end of RUMBLE FISH had such a tremendous effect on me-- it blew me away. The story stirred many emotions inside me and I know that it is forever encased in my heart and I will remember it always. I've read several books by S.E. Hinton and she is, by far, the best author I have ever read. On my third read of her book, THE OUTSIDERS, I still had tears twinkling in the corners of my eyes. RUMBLE FISH should be a must-read for young adults, especially those that are searching for themselves right now, or those that have become followers, and are not their own person. This book teaches a valuable lesson; you have to search a little to find it, but it's there