The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Young Adult Realistic Fiction
ISBN:
192 pp.
Suitable 13+

Readers Annotation: Ponyboy Curtis tells the story of the rivalry between the greasers, which he is a part of, and the socs.

Plot Summary: Ponyboy Curtis, 14, is the youngest brother of three in which his older brother, Darrel, is responsible for since his parents died just recently. He belongs to the Greasers, an outlaw group full of misfits with dysfunctional families and live on the bad side of town who are known for their long-greasy hair. When his best friend, the loveable Johnny, kills one of the socs, their rival gang who are at an socioeconomic advantage, in a mini-turf fight, Ponyboy and Johnny become fugitives on the run, living in an abamdoned church for a few days thanks to Dally, the toughest of the greasers. When they leave, the church has caught on fire and Johnny, Dally, and Ponyboy save the children trapped inside. They become heroes but Johnny becomes badly injured. Meanwhile, a major fight is to occur between the greasers and socs. Will good overcome evil and do people really change?

Critical Evaluation: This story contains many pieces of symbolism. You can not judge a book by its cover and this applies to the Greasers, who look filthy, but actually have a comraderie, a dedication to one another where no one is selfish. Compare that to the socs, who look intelligent and well-doing, but are cold and started the whole fiasco. Ponyboy may be the first to admit that he may not speak well, but he writes well. The language in the book is simple, but his ideas are definitely thoughtful and creative; he doesn't think like a simple minded greaser. He wants to further himself but he's loyal to being a greaser. But it's also that loyalty that gives him a sense of belonging. It's these sacrifices that one must do that is the major theme of this novel. There is injustice in many characters: big brother Darrel must be the father at age 20, Johnny, who has a heart of gold, has a tough upbringing and a chain of events that make you cringe. In order to improve, one must be like Ponyboy, thinking of the clouds and the sky, and searching for the big "what-if." With all characters well developed, each with their tough upbringing, and a steady pacing, this novel accomplishes that task and then some.

Author: S.E. Hinton was only in her teens when she wrote The Outsiders. It was inspired by the rival gangs at her school, the greasers and the socs, and she wanted to show the point of view of the greasers. Her book was a best-seller and sold 14 million copies. She also decided to keep her initials when publishing and writing while keeping her full name for privacy purposes.

After The Outsiders, the publicity and pressure led to three years of writers block. She completed That Was Then, This Is Now in 1970, Rumble Fish in 1975, and another big hit, Tex, in 1979. Rumble Fish and Tex were made into film-adaptations. She is a very private person who resides in Oklahoma with her husband and son.

Booktalking Ideas:
1) Greasers
2) Socs
3) Death
4) Fights
5) Suicide
6) Dysfunctional Families

Challenge Issues:
Due to the realistic depictions of death, dysfunctional families, and fights, this movie has some challenge issues.

A librarian should state that the ALA mission is "to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all," which is embodied in the Library Bill of Rights, the Association's basic policy on free access to libraries and library materials. Librarians must act as an extension, making sure that they educate the general public, and themselves, about the nature and importance of intellectual freedom in libraries.

Why Included:
This is considered the first young adult novel so I had to re-read it once again. A must read for all high schools.