Hinton's "The Outsiders" (1967) narrates the conflict between two rival gangs.

In "That Was Then, This Is Now" (1971), Hinton portrays two foster brothers who grow apart as one gets entangled in drugs and crime while the other focuses on academics.

Hinton's "Tex" (1979) tells the story of two boys who can't depend on their unstable father and instead rely on each other for support.

Robert Cormier's "The Chocolate War" (1974) follows a boy who defies both a gang and the authority figures at his school.

Paul Zindel's "The Pigman" (1975) explores the lives of two young individuals, estranged from their families, who seek solace in an old man, leading to a tragic outcome.