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Hinton, S. E. The Outsiders. New York: Laurel Leaf, 1967. Print. ISBN: 0-440-96769-4. Paperback. $2.25.
Annotation: Ponyboy Curtis has never had it easy, growing up as a greaser on the wrong side of the tracks. But his world is about to twist into something he never could have imagined when his good friend fights back on his behalf - and someone winds up dead.
Review: Fourteen-year-old Ponyboy Curtis is a greaser, meaning he and his brothers have grown up with the tough life on the wrong side of town. The Socs, or the other, more elite half, drive fancy cars and have enough money for anything they want. Usually, the glaring gap between the two social classes keeps them separated, aside from the occasional rumble. But one night, a fight gets out of hand and Ponyboy's friend Johnny accidentally kills a Soc. The two of them run out of town, but soon realize it's not so easy to escape murder, which has turned the whole town inside out behind them. Unfortunately, sometimes the world has to come crashing down to learn that regardless of social status or money, when we hit the bottom, it hurts us all the same.
This book may have been written in 1967, but the issues it raises are ones we still struggle with today. While the writing is pretty straightforward and not exactly artful as far as language goes, the method works, because Hinton creates a completely convincing, relatable and honest narrator in Ponyboy. In spite of some dated phrasing, the book is - pardon the expression - pure gold. It has something for everyone: action and violence when the two classes collide, tension and drama in several awkward encounters, some sweet and awesomely corny 'can't help but smile' moments, and the capacity to just about tear a heart out toward the end. Ultimately, The Outsiders is a great choice for anyone who has ever felt like they don't belong.
Literary Awards:
- New York Herald Tribune Best Teenage Books List, 1967
- Chicago Tribune Book World Spring Book Festival Honor Book, 1967
- Media and Methods Maxi Award, 1975
- ALA Best Young Adult Books, 1975
- Massachusetts Children’s Book Award, 1979
Watch The Outsiders Book Trailer with Commentary by author S. E. Hinton
