The Outsiders Mass market paperbound - 1988
by S. E. Hinton
When it was first published in 1967, "The Outsiders" defied convention with its immediate, deeply sympathetic portrayal of Ponyboy and his struggle to find a place for himself in a difficult world.
About this book
"The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton is a poignant coming-of-age novel set in the 1960s. It revolves around the lives of two rival gangs, the working-class Greasers and the affluent Socs. The story is narrated by Ponyboy Curtis, a Greaser who grapples with issues of identity and belonging. Through Ponyboy's eyes, the novel delves into themes of social class, friendship, loyalty, and the devastating consequences of violence. When a tragic event occurs, Ponyboy and his fellow Greasers are forced to confront the harsh realities of their existence, challenging their perceptions of the world and their place in it. As the story unfolds, Hinton highlights the power of compassion, understanding, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.
Books I Loved Best Yearly (BILBY) Awards for Secondary (1991)
Summary
Ponyboy can count on his brothers and his friends, but not on much else besides trouble with the Socs, a vicious gang of rich kids who get away with everything, including beating up greasers like Ponyboy. At least he knows what to expect--until the night someone takes things too far.
Written forty-five years ago, S. E. Hinton's classic story of a boy who finds himself on the outskirts of regular society remains as powerful today as it was the day it was written.
Reader reviews for The Outsiders
Review summary
Readers largely regard S. E. Hinton’s The Outsiders as a formative young-adult classic: an accessible, fast-paced coming-of-age story whose plainspoken first-person voice, vivid characters, and themes of brotherhood and class conflict still resonate. Many highlight its emotional impact—especially the fates of Johnny and Dally—and the enduring power of lines like “Stay gold, Ponyboy,” while noting the book’s historical significance and the author’s strikingly young age. Supporters find it highly discussable and re-readable, with a film adaptation that many feel is faithful. Critics, however, describe the prose as simplistic or repetitive, the symbolism and themes as heavy-handed or didactic, and some scenes as sentimental or melodramatic. Overall, the consensus frames it as an emotionally charged, influential touchstone of YA literature, even if its craft and subtlety divide opinion.
Readers say this book is:
emotionally resonantcoming-of-agequick readcharacter-drivenclassicheartbreakingthought-provokingsentimentalmelodramaticuneven proseWrite a review for this book
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From the publisher
First line
First edition identification
The Viking Press published a First Edition, First Printing hardcover in 1967, New York.
Gollancz published a First UK Edition, First Printing hardcover in 1970, London.
Details
- Title The Outsiders
- Author S. E. Hinton
- Binding Mass Market Paperbound
- Edition [ Edition: Repri
- Pages 224
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher Puffin Books, New York, New York, U.S.A.
- Publication date 1988-09-01
- Features Bibliography
- ISBN 9780140385724 / 014038572X
- Weight 0.42 lbs (0.19 kg)
- Dimensions 7.5 x 4.2 x 0.7 in (19.05 x 10.67 x 1.78 cm)
- Age range 12 to UP years
- Grade levels 7 - UP
- Reading level 750
-
Themes
- Catalog Heading: Language Arts/Literature
- Curriculum Strand: Language Arts/Literature
- Topical: Family
- Category Young Adult Fiction
- Library of Congress subjects Identity, Identity (Psychology)
- Library of Congress Catalogue Number 67013606
- Dewey Decimal Code FIC
Media reviews
Citations
- Booklist, 07/01/1999, Page 1935
- Entertainment Weekly, 12/14/2007, Page 73
- People Weekly, 10/01/2007, Page 59
About the author
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