Tex

Tex McCormick is a 15-year-old living in rural Oklahoma with his older brother Mason. Their father travels the rodeo circuit for months at a time, leaving Mason to manage their household and care for Tex while trying to finish high school. The story centers on the relationship between the two brothers as they face financial hardship, family tensions, and growing up without parents. Their dynamic shifts when Mason makes decisions that affect them both, particularly regarding their beloved horses. Life gets more complex as Tex navigates friendships with the Collins family next door, especially Jamie Collins, and deals with the realities of his absent father. His carefree nature is tested as circumstances force him to confront difficult truths about family and responsibility. The novel explores themes of brotherhood, coming-of-age, and the impact of parental absence on children. Through Tex's experiences, the story examines how young people cope with adult responsibilities and maintain hope in challenging circumstances.

Readers describe Tex as a quieter, more intimate story compared to Hinton's other works. The book maintains a 4.1/5 rating on Goodreads from over 8,000 ratings and 4.6/5 on Amazon. Readers appreciate: - Natural dialogue and authentic teen voices - Complex sibling relationships - Treatment of class and economic hardship - Character growth without melodrama Common criticisms: - Slower pacing than The Outsiders - Less dramatic plot development - Some find the ending unsatisfying Many reviewers note the book resonates more with horse lovers and rural readers. One Goodreads reviewer said "The characters feel like real people you might know rather than dramatic archetypes." Another mentioned "It captures the small everyday moments of teenage life perfectly." Some teachers report it works well as a middle school text, though students sometimes find it less engaging than Hinton's more action-driven novels.

That Was Then, This Is Now by S.E. Hinton A tale of two brothers-by-choice in a working-class neighborhood wrestle with growing apart as they face drugs, violence, and the realities of becoming young men.

Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger A teenage boy wanders through New York City over three days while grappling with loss, identity, and his place in the world.

Rule of the Bone by Russell Banks A fourteen-year-old runaway navigates life on society's margins while searching for his father and a sense of belonging.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie A Native American teenager leaves his reservation to attend an all-white school while straddling two worlds and dealing with family obligations.

Monster by Walter Dean Myers A sixteen-year-old boy on trial for murder documents his experience through a screenplay format while examining truth, justice, and identity.

★ S.E. Hinton wrote "Tex" when she was 31 years old, making it her fourth published novel after her iconic debut "The Outsiders," which she wrote at just 16. ★ The book was adapted into a 1982 film starring Matt Dillon as Tex, marking one of Dillon's earliest leading roles. ★ Oklahoma, where the story is set, has a rich rodeo history dating back to the 1880s, and the sport remains deeply ingrained in the state's culture today. ★ The novel tackles themes that were groundbreaking for young adult literature in 1979, including drug use, violence, and complex family dynamics. ★ Despite being known for writing about teenage boys, S.E. Hinton (Susan Eloise) chose to use her initials on her books because her publisher worried readers wouldn't take a female author seriously for this genre.