Tex (novel)

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Tex is a novel by S. E. Hinton, published in 1979. It was adapted to film in 1982, and starred Matt Dillon. The book (like Rumble Fish and That Was Then, This Is Now) takes place in the same universe as Hinton's first book The Outsiders, but in a rural town called Garyville, Oklahoma, a fictional suburb of Tulsa, although some events take the characters into Tulsa.

[edit] Plot

The story is centered on the life of Tex who lives with his brother Mason in the suburbs of Tulsa. Despite being brothers, Tex and Mason both show different character traits and personalities; while Mason is much more hard working, practical, and serious, Tex is somewhat lazy about his school work, carefree, and fun loving. At the beginning of the novel, Tex rides his favorite horse Negrito and enjoys the outdoors, one morning just before school starts. Later that night, after coming home from school, Tex discovers that his horses have been sold by his brother Mason, due to their financial problems. Tex then goes into a rage, and in the subsequent fight, Mason beats him badly and gives him a scar. Later, Tex begins to get a crush on his best friend's sister Jamie, discovers that his brother's former best friend had been selling drugs in order to make a living. Later he and Mason are briefly held hostage by the now much older Mark, a central character form the book 'That was Then, This is Now'. Near the end of the novel, it is revealed that Tex is an illegitimate child, who was born while Pop was in prison. One thing leads to another, and Tex is injured. Tex and Mark do not realise they may very well be actual brothers, but it is implied that Mason realises the connection. At the end of the novel, Tex and his brother Mason don't go fishing (one of the few things they bond over)