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therulerofallfrogs's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Most people read the Outsiders in middle school, but I was only introduced to the book in January of this year. (For context, I’m about to graduate my junior year in high school as of writing this). Since first reading it in two or so sittings, I’ve now read it four more times in five months (twice for personal enjoyment, twice aloud to two different siblings, and once for a style study). I have never connected so quickly with a set of characters, nor truly felt with them the way I did in this book.
The plot was definitely simple, but it was fast paced and I wasn’t bored for a second. The characters as well as their development and dynamics were truly the highlight of the book, however. The main character, Ponyboy, is an engaging narrator full of real life feelings and goals and anxieties. I find myself to be very picky with main characters, particularly in first person books, particularly YOUNG characters in first person books- but he had me interested since page one.
The rest of the gang are full of life as well. I was particularly fond of Sodapop and Dallas. Soda, a joyful boy with a spring in his step and a true excitement for life, added a well needed dose of optimism and warmth to such an emotional story. (Though, as we learn, he has his own major struggles lying underneath the surface.) Dallas is the opposite, he is a cold character with a hostility born from a horrid childhood and a lack of love and empathy from those who had raised him. Yet, even he held love in his heart. Spoilers ahead.
The whole way through The Outsiders, I was laughing and contemplating and tearing up. The fact that this book is assigned to middle schoolers and managed such a feat astounds me. (This is coming from someone who has to force their way through YA most of the time, I hate being talked down to). I felt as if the narration was a teenager speaking to himself, not an adult speaking to a teenager in a superior or condescending manner. Of course, some of this has to do with the author’s age.
You can expect my utter surprise upon finding out that while writing this story, S.E. Hinton was a girl around my age. (Much less that she was a girl at all!) As a young writer, I am thoroughly inspired, and can say with full certainty that this book has changed my life. It has empowered me to write with such new vigor and excitement.
I’m truly glad my mom recommended The Outsiders to me while we skimmed through a little library. It’s the first good book I’ve ever found in one, and it’s most certainly the first that has tampered with my worldview.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Violence, Classism, Child abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Child death, Addiction, Blood, Police brutality, Sexism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Bullying
Moderate: Death of parent, Confinement, and Racial slurs
Minor: Car accident and Abandonment
kiwichill's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Classism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical content, Violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicide, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Child death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Car accident, Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Body shaming, and Cursing
cadybooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Gun violence, Child death, Classism, Racial slurs, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, Violence, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Sexism, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
lawbooks600's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Score: Seven points out of ten.
I wanted to read this for a while after adding it to my list but I put it off for a while; a few months later I finally picked it up and read it. When I finished it I thought it was one of the few books that were less than 200 pages yet it could still tell a great story which I appreciated and I'll remember this one for a while. It starts with the main character Ponyboy (whose last name I don't know) living presumably somewhere in America with other characters part of a group called the greasers whose enemy are the Socs (I don't why those two gangs hate each other but oh well. It might be an incident in the past that the novel never mentioned. Or something else entirely.) Everything looks fine initially until an altercation happens forcing Ponyboy to flee somewhere else, and soon enough they find a church where they stay for a few pages of the narrative. Did I mention they smoke a lot? I've never seen a book where teenagers smoke until now (and they still read books, I know some teenagers still read books but most of them don't unless it's required reading.) A few pages later the church burns down nearly killing some characters and I soon discover Ponyboy recovering but nothing much happened save for a heartrending conversation (don't get me wrong, that is a flaw in the book but it didn't ruin my enjoyment in any way) which ends the book on a low note.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Bullying, Death, and Car accident
Full trigger warnings: Murder and attempted murder, bullying, fire, building collapse, near-death experiences, death of parents in a car crash in the pastitsjadenbaby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Alcohol, Death of parent, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Alcoholism, and Police brutality
Minor: Murder, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Bullying, and Car accident
good_names_dont_exist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
Minor: Death of parent and Car accident
smallish_bird's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Cannot fathom that this was written by a high school student; S. E. Hinton joins Mary Shelly in being a teenager when they wrote books that I now hold dear to my heart.
Moderate: Alcohol, Grief, Bullying, Child death, Police brutality, Addiction, Violence, Blood, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
Minor: Ableism, Gun violence, Child abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content
Complimentary/Similar Books: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (about an emotionally repressed/traumatized teenager and how he navigates the world) -- 1st person PoV, teenage boy MC, emphasis on familial love/self-love, living life while dealing with trauma, distinct voice/vernacular, healing, hopeful ending. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (about an emotionally reserved/isolated teenager's life and development) -- 1st person PoV, teenage boy MC, emphasis on platonic love/self-love, living life while dealing with trauma, escapism, healing, hopeful ending. All The Water I've Seen Is Running by Elias Rodriques (about a queer man returning to his conservative hometown to mourn/confront/grow from his past) -- 1st person PoV, distinct and nuanced characters, violence/displays of force as normalized method of communication, emphasis on found family/community/self-love, living life while dealing with trauma, distinct voice/vernacular, healing, hopeful ending.kenna13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Gun violence, Medical content, Mental illness, Violence, Cursing, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Car accident
ella_rose_07_31's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Car accident, Blood, Child abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Alcohol, and Fire/Fire injury
emmonsannae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Misogyny, Child abuse, Classism, Grief, Violence, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Car accident, and Racial slurs