Rumble Fish — S.E. Hinton

Rusty-James is the number one tough guy among the junior high kids who hang out and shoot pool at Benny's, and he enjoys keeping up his reputation. What he wants most of all is to be just like his older brother, the Motorcycle Boy. He wants to stay calm and laughing when things get dangerous, to be the toughest street-fighter and the most respected hood on their side of the river. But by his own admission, Rusty-James isn't a particularly smart person, and he relies more on his fists than his brains. Up until now he's gotten along all right because whenever he gets into something he can't handle, the Motorcycle Boy bails him out. But Rusty-James' lack of direction, his longing for the days of the street gangs and his blind drive to be like his brother eat away at his world until it all comes apart in an explosive chain of events. And this time the Motorcycle Boy isn't around to pick up the pieces.