The Outsiders

Growing up is difficult. The desire to fit in is pitted against the encouragement to be unique and different. A person’s actions as well as the influence of family, friends, and society helps to form a person’s identity. And, this isn’t all kids need to worry about: they will face and deal with bumps in the road and times where they’re down. Ponyboy in The Outsiders thinks his life is figured out, until one night his world is flipped upside down. S. E. Hinton thoughtfully crafted The Outsiders out of her own experiences. A story written in 1965 is still relevant today and captivates the reader with a youthful, slangy writing style which allows the reader to bond with the characters.The Outsiders, written in 1965 Oklahoma, displays the struggle between two gangs in a town. The narrator, Ponyboy Curtis, his brothers, and friends make up the Greasers. This rag tag group of impoverished guys stick by each other's sides no matter what. They are up against the rich, snooty, Socs. These guys drive around in their expensive cars and jump Greasers to appear cool and intimidate them. In a constant battle between the Socs and Greasers, Ponyboy Curtis discovers there is good and bad in everyone.The story displays a conflict between two gangs who think they are very different: “Greasers are almost like hoods; we steal things and drive old souped-up cars and hold up gas stations and have a gang fight once in a while” (3). On the other hand, “[Socs] jump greasers and wreck houses and throw beer blasts for kicks and get editorials in the paper for being a public disgrace one day and an asset to society the next” (3). It isn’t safe for a Greaser to walk around alone, for the Socs always pull up in their convertible, hop out, and jump them. The Greasers despise the Socs and the Socs despise the Greasers. This is the case for Ponyboy too until he meets Cherry, the toughest Soc’s girlfriend, he realizes that Socs aren’t all that different after all. Cherry and Ponyboy share many similarities, especially their love for sunsets. With the help of Cherry, Ponyboy realizes the greasers, including himself, misjudged the Socs. Yes, they do get drunk and beat up Greasers for no good reason, but they are human and they have lives outside of how well they can fight. Will Ponyboy get everyone else to see the Socs true colors? Can this ever get better? The conflict remains relevant to society fifty years after it was written because there always seems to be this in-group and out-group.Not only is the story relevant to society, but it also maintains a young, slangy tone that allows the reader to connect with the characters. S. E. Hinton commented that “these characters are really kind of universal without losing their individuality.” The story, written when the author was only fifteen years old, is told from Ponyboy’s perspective. Ponyboy is a fourteen year old kid living with his two older brothers, Darry and Sodapop. Sodapop is sixteen and Darry is twenty and has custody of Sodapop and Ponyboy since their parents died in a car crash. Ponyboy’s young and optimistic, so his narration draws the reader in. Initially, Ponyboy feels very self-conscious and vulnerable: “I was wishing I looked like Paul Newman- he looks tough and I don’t” (1) He’s the youngest of the gang and looks up to his older, tougher brothers and friends. Within the first few pages, Ponyboy walks home from the movie theater alone and is stopped by Socs. “Need a haircut, greaser?” they ask him, “How’d you like that haircut to begin just below the chin?”(5) His brothers find him, fight back and save him. In Darry and Sodapop’s eyes Ponyboy is still young and fragile. But, as the story advances Ponyboy fights hard to prove the gang wrong. He grows stronger as he learns to be courageous, defend himself, and later in the process meets death face to face. S.E Hinton said “When I write, an interesting transformation takes place. I go from thinking about my narrator to being him,” and this is also how I felt while reading this. Ponyboy is forced to grow up in order to fit in, and as this happens the reader gets to grow with him and see him both thrive and grieve.With help from family and friends, growing up can be much more manageable and even fun. When reading The Outsiders I could never put the book down. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone looking for an easy read with a timeless story and a powerful message.

Here’s a concise and helpful review you could use:⸻⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Timeless ClassicThe Outsiders is an unforgettable story about friendship, identity, and belonging. The characters feel real and relatable, and the themes of class, family, and finding your place in the world are just as powerful today as when it was first written. A must-read for teens and adults alike.

This has been one of my favorite stories since I first read it in English class when I was 13. I love the movie just as much. I'm really glad it's available now on e-book. When I first read it in 1983 I read the entire book in 4 hours and have since re-read the book over and over again throughout the years and it never gets old and I will continue to read it again in a few years like I always do.

Always a good read even the second time around. Literature is amazing that carries through generations and societal pressures. Bought for my son for school, but read it again myself.

Good price compared to instore. Awesome book, good read and emotional story. Only problem the cover of the book pilled but definitely recommend reading.

Classic book, now with a bunch of extras in the back. Bought this for my son's school class, and it has interesting discussion questions at the back of the book. This is just a great addition to the collection.

I bought this for my teenage son. I read it when I was his age. I think he will like it and get something out of it.It's about loyalty and friends that are like family. It's about teenagers and gang violence. It's about learning, growing,and going from child to man. It was also written by a 16-year-old kid, and I think he will like that, too.He just started reading it the other day, and he is still reading it. Good sign.It's a classic for a reason. It's timeless. Whether it be the 1960's or today.

The book was very interesting and informative. The main character, Ponyboy, was a good choice for the main character, because he fit the role well. I think others should read this, because it is action-packed, thrilling, and always keeps you second guessing about what happens next. The group of greasers are poor, and they hate the rich Socs on the West Side of town. They are poor, and the Socs regularly jump them for fun. This is one of many reasons why they hate the Socs. The book can be sad and heartbreaking, but will always lighten the mood eventually. Ponyboy is fourteen years old, and has two brothers: Sodapop, who is sixteen, and Darry, who is in his early twenties. All the group members, such as Two-Bit Mathew’s, Dallas Winston, Johnny, and more, bring exciting elements into the story. Johnny commits a bad crime, and him and Ponyboy have to run away. Of criminal records, Dallas Winston has the longest record. He has robbed stores, assaulted others, and more. The others are smoking underage, and most are around sixteen or seventeen years old. The Outsiders is a book of crime, mystery, and suspense, and will continue to excite.