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.

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.

I was assigned to read a fictional book about a teenager for my latest English class project. I had no idea what to read. My dad said “You have to read The Outsiders, it was one of my favorite books I read when I was your age.” I will be honest, I thought there is no way I would be interested in such an old book, I mean it is over 50 years old. I am so happy I decided to try the book because boy was I wrong! The book may take place decades ago but the topics addressed by the characters hit all of the issues teenagers continue to face today, such as: bullying, social classes, stereotyping, loyalty, brotherhood, friendship, and loss. The book tells a story about two rival groups of boys from different sides of the track, the “Greasers,” from the hood and the “Socs”, the rich entitled kids. The book is primarily told through the eyes of 14 year old Ponyboy, one of the younger members of the “Greasers”, who lost his parents in a car crash and is being raised by his older brothers. You follow him as he struggles with where he fits in, gang brawls, running from the law, tragic deaths, and more. I consider myself more of a read a book because I have to for school then a read a book because I love to read type of kid. At the start of the book it was all about completing the assignment but as I read it was no longer about that. I was pulled in by the characters, especially the impenetrable bond of true friendship and loyalty of the "Greasers". I was rooting for them and with each page I wanted to know what happens with each of them, hoping for the best. This is a book that will stick with me. When a friend is looking for a book to read it will absolutely be my first recommendation!

The Outsiders is one of those books that stays with you long after you finish. Even though it’s a quick read, it packs in so much emotion—friendship, loyalty, class differences, and what it feels like to be young and trying to figure out where you belong. The characters feel real, and it’s impossible not to get attached to the Greasers. The story is easy to follow, but it’s still powerful and heartbreaking in places. It’s the kind of book that can get even reluctant readers hooked because it moves fast and keeps you invested. Whether you’re buying it for school, for a teen reader, or for yourself as a reread, it’s absolutely worth it. Stay gold.

I got the book for a great deal! One of the edges was a bit messed up upon arrival. It’s for my middle school age daughter anyways. She’s excited to start reading this book! Oh, we also got the paperback cover and my middle schooler took great care of it. Also, great book for a teenager. She read this with her class, a bit of violence in the book but this book has my daughter in tears at times. She says she would definitely recommend! Best book she has read during ELA class.

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.

A classic read for all ages

This review is about the delivery and book. Not about the writing. This is a great book. It came just as it said and the book was in perfect condition. It is a book and held up like a paper back book does.