The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton

Bibliography

Hinton, S. E. (2021). The outsiders. Viking. ISBN 9780142407332

Plot Summary

Having family and friends you can count on is all anyone could ever wish for, and Ponyboy is no exception. Despite losing his parents in a car wreck, Ponyboy knows he can count on his brothers, Darry and Sodapop, and his best friend Johnny. An economic divide within his community has pitted two social groups against one another, the Greasers and the Socs. As things begin to heat up between the two groups, one night changes things forever…for everyone.

Critical Analysis

S.E. Hinton’s classic, The Outsiders, has been a hit among young adult readers since 1967. Having been in print for over 50 years, Hinton created a novel that has sustained appeal for generations. Hinton, influenced by the time period, successfully incorporated many aspects of the ’50s and ’60s, including clothing and lingo. Included in this novel, are relevant themes young adults can relate to today such as loyalty, love, social class status, and bullying. 

Review Excerpt(s)

• "The Outsiders transformed young-adult fiction from a genre mostly about prom queens, football players and high school crushes to one that portrayed a darker, truer world." - The New York Times

• "Taut with tension, filled with drama." - The Chicago Tribune

• "[A] classic coming-of-age book." - Philadelphia Daily News

Connections

For additional activities related to the book:

• Pre-Reading Web Scavenger Hunt: Get students interested prior to reading the book by providing them with some knowledge of the time period depicted in the book. Have students scour the internet for trends of the time, important figures from the 1960s, or even popular movies. While reading, students will see that characters in the novel are affected by the trends, norms, and even politics of the time.

• Poetry: In this activity, students will identify any words, phrases, or short lines from the text that they feel connect with who Ponyboy is. Students will then compose their poem however they see fit, but it should include at least 12 lines.

**Activities can be found at: 

https://ebacademics.com/2021/02/the-outsiders-3-engaging-activities.html

Other recommended books if you liked this one: 

• That Was Then, This Is Now by SE Hinton
• The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky