Read this excerpt from the outsiders. or i could have gotten one of the gang to come along, one of the four boys darry and soda and i have grown up with and consider family. we’re almost as close as brothers; when you grow up in a tight-knit neighborhood like ours you get to know each other real well. which universal theme can be found within this excerpt? adults do not understand teenagers. the people we love can hurt us most. belonging to a group provides security. growing up means doing hard things.