Some critics of the novel have said that Hinton's portrayal of teenagers is not realistic because the young people in her book are tougher than any real people would be. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Recent statistics show that gang violence is a problem throughout the United States. Do some research to find out what makes young people more likely to join gangs. What does research tell us that young people are looking for when they join gangs?

The Motorcycle Boy is color-blind and sometimes deaf because of all his motorcycle accidents. Find out about color blindness. What is it, who has it, and how do they get it? Is it common for people to have color blindness as a result of accidents?

Hinton has admitted that her portrayal of girls in the book is somewhat out of date. Do...