“The Outsiders” is a standalone young adult novel written by S.E. Hinton. It was published in 1967, and its film adaptation was released in 1983 starring C. Thomas Howell, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Ralph Macchio, and Tom Cruise. The book is written in first person perspective and is narrated by fourteen-year-old Ponyboy Curtis, who lives with his two older brothers, Soda and Darry, since their parents died in a car crash. The novel explores the struggles of growing up, which is made even more complicated by the conflict between two different groups: the “Greasers” and the “Socs”. Through the eyes of Ponyboy, we get to experience the emotions, challenges, and friendships that result from the harsh realities of living in a society where gangs, violence, and judgement are a part of everyday life. Overall, I would rate this novel a 4/5 stars.
One of my favourite things about “The Outsiders” is how well developed and relatable that the characters are. S.E. Hinton does a great job at bringing the characters to life and making you feel empathy for the struggles that they go through. Each character has a distinct personality – Ponyboy as the young and naive narrator, Soda as the popular outgoing friend, Darry as the protective older brother and respected leader of the group, Dally as the tough rebel, and Johnny as the quiet and timid friend. Together, their friendship makes the storyline very interesting and powerful.
I would recommend that any young adults or adults who enjoy reading should check out this book. It is not too long so it will not take very long to read, but the story will definitely stick with you. You will especially enjoy reading “The Outsiders” if you like full circle story lines. S.E. Hinton creates a satisfying full circle moment at the end of the novel through Ponyboy’s narration, which I think was a really nice touch.