Rumble Fish [Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

S. E. Hinton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1987

Rusty-James is the top tough guy among junior high kids, but what he wants most of all is to be just like his older brother, the Motorcycle Boy, the toughest, most respected streetfighter.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Stylistically superb... this packs a punch that will leave readers of any age reeling."--School Library Journal.

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults, A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, A Kirkus Choice. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

Rusty-James is the top tough guy among junior high kids, but what he wants most of all is to be just like his older brother, the Motorcycle Boy, the toughest, most respected streetfighter.

"Stylistically superb... this packs a punch that will leave readers of any age reeling."--School Library Journal.

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults, A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, A Kirkus Choice. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Dh Audio (December 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088646224X
• ISBN-13: 978-0886462246
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (119 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,729,396 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Choose your heroes carefully., September 26, 2005

By 

Daiku "We do not stop playing because we grow... (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rumble Fish (Mass Market Paperback)

I read this and the other S.E. Hinton staple books ("The Outsiders," "Tex," and "That Was Then, This is Now") repeatably as a teenager. Even then they were dated in literal context (i.e. gangs are between caucasian upper and lower class in this book), but they still captured the angsty spirit of being a teen and the changes that result from growing up. It also captured the brutility of living life in a gang. As usual, the author has parentless boys raising themselves, creating their own sense of 'family' plot-point. In this instance, there is a mother not seen through the protagonists eyes, but that of his brother who actually sought her out. Their father is an alcoholic, gambling non-entity.

Rusty is the perfect example of a self-fulfilling prophecy. He, as well as not only his gang but rival gangs, look upon Motercycle Boy with awe. Motercycle Boy lives in another world that gives him a beyond 'cool' exterior. In a normal family life, he'd likely have grown into a professor of philosophy, but within the paradigm he exists, he is a suppressed ticking time bomb, but a remarkably passive one. He has fully accepted his lot in life, as well as his likely demise, and observes it from a distance that lacks sound and color.



:WARNING, SPOILERS!:

:WARNING, SPOILERS!:

:WARNING, SPOILERS!:



Rusty is insistent that he will be just like his brother when he grows up, though others around him scoff at the idea. He repeatedly point out that they look just alike and that once he finishing growing up, he will not only look identical but assume the 'coolness' of Motercycle Boy. He is correct, though not precisely the way he expected. After a bitter gang fight that causes the retreat of the only real stable point in his life, Steve, and then the police shooting death of his brother, Rusty suddenly experiences the lack of sound and color that was his brother's legacy of mild madness. The epilogue has a grown Steve running into Rusty as though he were seeing the ghost of Motercycle Boy. By this point, though, Rusty, as had his brother, had so thoroughly distanced himself from the world at large, that he was hard pressed to even remember his old friend.

I intend to give this to my son soon, for its lessons of violence and crime, as well as the poignancy of 'be careful what you wish for.'

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Moving Story That Tugs At Your Heart; A Must-Read, July 29, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Rumble Fish (Hardcover)

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

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rumble Fish, December 14, 1999

By 

John Adam Wise (Georiga) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rumble Fish (Mass Market Paperback)

Rumble Fish was a vey exciting book. This book my be written for young people, but the older people can really read it and put the words in your head and really think about what they mean. The book is written so that young minds can enjoy the book, but also written for older teenagers to put them to use. In Rumble Fish, Rusty, the main character, tries to be just like his older brother. Rudty's brother name is "Motorcycle Boy." He is known to be the toughest boy in the town. Rusty-James has a side kick named Steve. Steve and Rusty are one. He thinks the only way to resolve a problem is to fight about it. Rusty gets expelled from school and breaks up with his girlfriend all in the same day. Then one night Rusty goes out with his brother and he does'nt know where they are going. They get to the pet shop and? One night when Rusty-James and Steve need some help somone is not there? Rumble Fish is worth your time to read. You really can relate this to your life if you have a problem with fighting because you can take some notes out of this book, and maybe turn your life around. In some people's eyes the only way to reso,ve something is to fight it out. Grow up because there are other and better ways to solve problems other than fighting. Maybe when these people lean the better ways this world will be a better place.