Reviews

This is one of those life changing novels that you take away something different every time that you read it. The loss of innocence and serious life and death matters these kids are experiencing is a great way in a coming of age story to not simplify the matters of the young and bonds them together through the blood of friendship and family.

rachdonz's review against another edition

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5.0

I read this book when I was in elementary school and wanted to give it another read as an adult.

What a heartbreakingly beautiful story. “Stay golden Ponyboy” has wrecked me. I will never emotionally recover from this book

carlisajc's review against another edition

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5.0

So I’m taking a YA literature class right now. For college credit. So, basically, I get to do what I do all the time anyways…but get a grade for it. Which kind of makes it more stressful but also kind of makes it more awesome. But the first book we had to read was The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton, a book I had surprisingly never read before.

*Pause for audience’s gasps of shock and perhaps outrage*

Yes, I know. But it was never required for me in high school and, honestly, it’s not something I would just pick up off the shelf, tilt my head slightly, and sigh wistfully at the summary, knowing I must have it. It’s a book about a bunch of greasers, a bunch of tough guys who I wouldn’t think I’d relate to on a first glance. I’m gonna be honest, I’m pretty much a goody-two-shoes. I don’t swear, I don’t cheat, I don’t drink, I don’t do drugs. All by personal choice. I’m happier that way. So it would seem that I’m very opposite from these kids. From high school drop-outs and smokers and gangs and little punks and long, greasy hair, and lying, and criminals.

But that’s kind of the point of the book. Different isn’t synonymous with bad. I don’t often write in my books, but there’s a line around the middle that I couldn’t resist because it seemed to sum up all 180 pages with such simplicity: “It’s the individual.” The full quote goes like this:

Randy pulled out a cigarette and pressed in the car lighter. ‘I don’t know. I don’t know anything anymore. I would never have believed a greaser could pull something like that.’

‘”Greaser” didn’t have anything to do with it. My buddy over there wouldn’t have done it. Maybe you would have done the same thing, maybe a friend of yours wouldn’t have. It’s the individual.’

And I was struck by that. With the simplicity of a three-word sentence, it carries such power and meaning. Though there are the Greasers and the “Socs,” rivals and seemingly opposites, this book tries to take down that social barrier between them. Though everyone does this on a regular basis, Hinton is trying to tell us that we can’t judge groups as a whole. It’s the individual.

And I just loved that.

This is a powerful story and a fast read. A classic that has helped shape Young Adult literature into what it is today. It’s a story about friendship, about family, about social barriers and classes. And even though we’re coming up on it’s 50th anniversary, the power of this small novel remains as strong as ever.

So stay golden, Ponyboy, and read this book.

taralouise's review against another edition

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5.0

Hundreds of boys who maybe watched the sunsets and looked at the stars and ached for something better.

amcriah's review against another edition

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4.0

I really enjoyed the story — mainly because the characters are written so well. I wanna read everything this author has written.

rayofmcfreakinsunshine's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

emily_m_green's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

When I was in seventh grade, I read The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. I loved it so much I read every other book Hinton wrote. I was delighted to learn that Hinton was fifteen when she wrote The Outsiders--as an aspiring writer, I found it inspirational. Her writing felt fresh even though it had been written before I was born.

The Outsiders, as the title suggests, is about a group of teenagers who live on the outside of town, and operate on the outside of the social scene. Their group is called the Greasers for their slicked back hair. Most of them have rough home lives, very little money, and few prospects. The main character, Ponyboy, is the youngest member of a gang of Greasers. An orphan, he lives with his older brothers Darry and Sodapop, both of whom work to make ends meet. Still in high school, Ponyboy is different from the rest of the gang, because he is the dreamer, the kid who excels at school but might walk home by himself in the dark without considering that he is an easy target for a group of Socs. The Socs, shorts for Socials, are the in-town kids, whose parents buy them expensive cars, but cannot seem to give them the attention that they crave.

Though the Greasers and the Socs seem to live in two different worlds, Ponyboy meets Cherry, a Soc who does not seem snobby, but seems kind and understanding. Meeting Cherry sets of a series of events that changes Ponyboy’s and the lives of every other character, forever.

Would I teach this book? I am teaching The Outsiders to my seventh graders, and I am glad that I am. First, that I can remember reading The Outsiders in middle school and still remember it clearly shows what an impact it had on me. When I reread it this year in order to teach it, I noticed that while the book is emotional and hits many of the adolescent angst notes, the prose itself is quite simple. Simple prose can sometimes make class discussions about themes and characters easier, as students are not taking as much time untangling the prose. It is sad at times, but also has action and a lot of heart. It is a fun book to teach.

In fact, Hinton is considered to be one of the earliest authors to focus on the young adult age group, as opposed to the often sappy chapter books for kids or the adult books that often don’t hit the mark for adolescents. My brilliant colleague helped me do a project with the students in which they designed T-shirts to represent the different characters. It was a fabulous project that the students enjoyed and encouraged them to think symbolically.

So, yes, teach The Outsiders. There’s a good chance that your students will appreciate it. And if you haven’t read it yet, read it already.

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