synopsis:

Rusty James has a problem fitting into society. His problems are solved with his fists since he is dim witted and he looks to his older brother Motorcycle Boy for guidance. Rusty isn't a great kid. He has a police record and has been suspended for possession of a knife. When his brother flees his own criminal charges Rusty James is left to fend for himself in the world. He has to make the choice to survive in the world without resorting to violence. He has to succeed and stop being a petty criminal which proves to be his inevitable downfall and undoing.

The main conflict in the story is Rusty James, and his fighting all of the time. It isn't good for him or his reputation. The conflict is 'resolved' when Rusty James is in a fight against another greaser and the Motorcycle Boy isn't there to save Rusty.

on this book:

S.

E. Hinton's third novel, 'Rumble Fish' is similar to her first two novels, The Outsiders and 'That Was Then, This Is Now', in that it stars a troubled teenager from a precarious background and is told from a young man's point of view. However, it's different from the two previous books because they both featured teenagers who were more intelligent and sensitive than their peers and who were wiser by the end of the book. In contrast, in 'Rumble Fish' Rusty James is a victim of circumstance in a story that does not provide much hope for his future.

Like Hinton's other books, this novel helped to shape the young adult genre, moving it toward realism and away from wholesome, overly nice story lines.in 1983 a film based on this novel came out, directed by francis ford coppola.