The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton [book]

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton [book]

Publisher: Speak; Reprint edition, 1997 c. 1967
Language: English
Mass Market Paperback: 192 pages
ISBN: 014038572X

Plot Summary:
Ponyboy Curtis is 14 years old and is part of group that is called the greasers. He feels like an outsider, and is an orphan with his brothers (Darry, 20 and Sodapop, 16) after his parents died; Darry is old enough to take over guardianship of Sodapop and Ponyboy, but they are under very strict rules. There is a rival gang who are called socials (soc) that are rich, popular, and priveledged. The book takes place over 2 weeks in which Ponyboy encounters the rival gang at first and they threaten him, then the greasers go to a movie with girls that hang out with the socs and after have another run in with the soc gang. Ponyboy then gets home later than his curfew and Darry hits him in the heat of the moment which causes Ponyboy to run away and have another encounter with 2 soc boys with his friend Johnny. In the threat of Ponyboy dying, Johnny stabs and kills one of the socs and the boys run away to hide out.
It comes to light that the soc was drunk and it was self defense for Johnny and Ponyboy and they return to town and in a twist of fate become heroes, but in that instance Johnny dies and Dally (another boy in the gang) commits a crime in which he also pays for his life in the end. Ponyboy is constantly faced with the morals of life and grief throughout the novel, and how to do the right thing in life.

Critical Evaluation:
This book is well written and rife with themes that are pertinent to young adults. Ponyboy's life is in constant upheaval and he has a strong family and friend life that has a large influence on how he thinks and behaves. The language is easy and reflects the time period that the book was written in (Ponyboy being a name for example) and the book's length helps to keep the main audience involved. I would think that the only reason that teens would not read this book of their own volition would be because it is required reading for many classes in high school and middle school.

Reader's Annotation:
You're either a soc, rich popular kid, or a greaser, an outsider. Ponyboy is greaser that deals with the moral complications of witnessing a soc death by one of his own.

Websites to Look Into:
http://www.sehinton.com/

The Author:
Susan Eloise Hinton wrote this book while she was still in her teens, and after it came out she became a household name. The reason that she goes by her pen name S.E. is because her publisher suggested she use her initials instead of her name so that the male reviewers would not dismiss the novel because of her gender.

Awards:
New York Herald Tribune, 1967: Best Teenage Books List
Chicago Tribune, 1967: Book World Spring Book Festival Honor Book
Media and Methods Maxi Award, 1975
American Library Association, 1975: Best Young Adults Books
Massachusetts Children's Book Award, 1979

Similar Books:
"That Was Then, This Is Now" by S.E. Hinton
"The Giver" by Lois Lowry

Booktalking Ideas:
How to combat gang violence and peer pressure
Classic novels that are still relevant today
Creating a bookmark of fun required reading lists

Genre:
Classics

Interest Age:
12+

Challenge Issues:
Violence & Gangs
I would combat this with the fact that young adults deal with sub groups of friends and have to see violence in society. This book speaks on moral values and how to deal with situations like these and when they come up with your friends.

Why this Book?
This book is a classic book that is typically recommended in middle and high school. It is a prominent book that is still relevant for young adults attempting to make good choices in life.