Taming the Star Runner (1988) is a young adult coming-of-age novel written by S. E. Hinton, author of The Outsiders.

The coolest, toughest kid in school, he is now an out-of-place loner, torn between his desire to fit in and his contempt for country living.

Travis continues work on his book while maintaining a correspondence with Joe, the only one of his friends to even occasionally write back.

In bad shape, he contacts his uncle to bring him home and reveals his book deal to Ken, which comes as a surprise as he was unaware that Travis was even fully literate.

Things soon get worse though, as Travis' stepfather refuses to allow the book to be published without his prior approval.

Hearing this, Travis has another fit of rage and throws the phone, nearly hitting Ken's wife, Teresa, and their son, Christopher.

Travis and Ken convince Joe that he must return to face trial as an accomplice, and take him to the local police for extradition.

Though Casey had previously spurned Travis' romantic overtures, they are now close friends who share a common bond.