The Outsiders (Hinton, S.E., 1967, 192 pages, ISBN 9780140385724)
Though it was written more than 40 years ago, The Outsiders remains a relevant and compelling novel for young readers today. The author, S.E. Hinton, knew a few things about teens and tweens, as she was only 15 when she began writing the novel. The Outsiders is about two rival groups of teenage boys, the Greasers, poor boys from the wrong side of the tracks, and the Socs, society boys with money and privilege. Certainly the tension between those two classes has not dissipated since the time of this book.
The protagonist, Ponyboy, is a Greaser living with his two older brothers after their parents have died. Though he is not terribly violent, Ponyboy finds himself involved in a knife fight that goes awry when Greaser Johnny kills a Soc. Johnny is on the run but about to turn himself in when he and Ponyboy come upon a church on fire with children trapped inside. Their heroism ultimately costs Johnny his life, and Ponyboy must face the aftermath of the tragedy and destruction in which he has been involved.
A subplot to the story is Ponyboy’s friendship with Cherry, a Soc. The two develop a sweet though forbidden friendship that helps Ponyboy realize not all Soces are alike. Through this storyline, Hinton interjects poetry by Robert Frost. Readers would not expect a Greaser to be fond of poetry, and readers who are not already familiar with Frost benefit by their exposure to the beauty of his words. The Outsiders will evoke a range of emotions, and the timeless story of a hero who does not know his place in the world is sure to continue to be relevant and universal.
The protagonist, Ponyboy, is a Greaser living with his two older brothers after their parents have died. Though he is not terribly violent, Ponyboy finds himself involved in a knife fight that goes awry when Greaser Johnny kills a Soc. Johnny is on the run but about to turn himself in when he and Ponyboy come upon a church on fire with children trapped inside. Their heroism ultimately costs Johnny his life, and Ponyboy must face the aftermath of the tragedy and destruction in which he has been involved.
A subplot to the story is Ponyboy’s friendship with Cherry, a Soc. The two develop a sweet though forbidden friendship that helps Ponyboy realize not all Soces are alike. Through this storyline, Hinton interjects poetry by Robert Frost. Readers would not expect a Greaser to be fond of poetry, and readers who are not already familiar with Frost benefit by their exposure to the beauty of his words. The Outsiders will evoke a range of emotions, and the timeless story of a hero who does not know his place in the world is sure to continue to be relevant and universal.
