The Outsiders

"The Outsiders," written by S.E. Hinton, is a compelling and heartwarming story between two friends, who are both in trouble for murdering a member of their rivals, The Socs. These two boys are both Greasers, a group of boys who are thought to be a group of bad boys, but they are all about friendship, unity, and bonds. During the time they ran away from the situation, they stay at an abandoned church and form that bond, that friendship, and unity. I recommend you read this book because the things these boys go through and how S.E. Hinton wrote the story will touch your heart. It's a book you will never want to put down, trust me I know.

This book, which was written in the 1960's, may have well been written today. It describes the many conflicts between gangs, social groups, family violence, and friends. I was made to read this book twice when I was in middle-school, but even so I enjoyed it. Many emotions and thoughts surround the patrogonist, Ponyboy, who describes ganglife in the city. The book goes into many depths to develop the personality and emotions of every single character, and even from the view of the main character, you know the intellects of every little character. Every emotion is very sicere and well portrayed and not a detail is left out. You get a good view of human nature, feelings, and life. The story has a very moving plot that deals with family conflicts, murder, robbery, gang fights, friendship, social status, and loss. It does well at alerting the reader of the seriousness of gang warfare. Even though it expresses the many sad parts of life in the city, it gives a message that there can be hope and there is hope for those who have not lost the fight yet. This is an incredible book and definately worth getting. A must read!

I read The Outsiders written by S.E. Hinton. I enjoyed this book a lot. This is my favorite book. I've read it 6 times and I still want to read it again and again and again because it has adventure and excitement, and you really learn to like the characters. It has so much anticipation. For instance, when Ponyboy is walking home from the movies, he notices a car following him. Socs get out of the car and jump Ponyboy.

The Outsiders is about a boy named PonyBoy Curtis who grew up on the wrong side of town and is part of a gang, which one of the members is Johnny Cade, Ponyboy's best friend. One night, they were walking in the park around 2 in the morning and some "socs" try to jump them (socs is a short name for the socials) and try to drown Ponyboy. Johnny gets up and stabs one the socs, Bob, who dies. So they decide that they need a hide out so they hear about this place from Dallas Winston, another member of the gang. There's a hideout in a abandoned church where Ponyboy and Johnny end up hiding for 5 days. Dallas comes to visit and takes them to a place for some food. While they're eating, Johnny explains to Dallas that he wants to go back home and turn themselves in. On their way back, they realize that some kids were playing around in the church which is on fire. Ponyboy and Johnny run in to save the kids. When all the kids are out, they try to escape but when Ponyboy is out, Johnny trys to get out but the ceiling starts to collapse. It falls on Johnny. Will Johnny die? Will Ponyboy and Johnny get jailed for killing that soc? Read this book and you will soon find out.

I would recommend this book to some one who likes adventure, tragedy and some one who likes to read about gangs and rumbles.

Even though S.E. Hinton's young adult novel, The Outsiders, was first published 35 years ago, it is timeless. Just like Romeo and Juliet, or West Side Story, it is a story of rivaling groups and the emotional and physical scars that the rivalry plays on the individuals of both sides. There is no love story, but the relationships among three recently orphaned brothers and their gang of greaser friends tells of deep attachments, love and hate.

The story is told by fourteen year old Ponyboy who is the youngest of the Curtis boys. He reveals his opinions, insights and feelings towards the people and events going on around him. Throughout the story Ponyboy's sensitivity to the complexities of peoples thoughts, motivations, and actions, including his own, increases dramatically. As Ponyboy develops an understanding of his world, so does the reader develop an understanding of how a teenage mind works and grows.

Hinton's greasers and socs (socialites) represent the cliques that forever seem to reign in middle and high schools. For this reason most readers will find it easy to relate to one or more of the characters. If the reader is an adult, like me, Ponyboy's revelations will shed some light on who some of those other kids in school were, and why they did what they did. For the teen reading the book for the first time,Ponyboy offers insights that might make the road they're travelling easier to understand now.

If you have a teen in your home, don't show them the movie. Give them this book to read. They are sure to appreciate the gift.

This was a book I had to read in High School. Though I wan't an avid reader, I loved it! Probably because it reminded me of the rivalry between the "jocks" and the "freaks" in my own High School.

The narrator is Ponyboy, sensitive with a tough exterior. Since his parents are deceased, he and his laid-back older brother Soda are taken care of Darrel the eldest, who's a bossy perfectionist (really only worried that he might lose his baby brothers). There's Johnny Cade, whose family life is insufferable. There's Dallas Winston, mean and gruff (but has a soft spot for Johnny). And then there are the Soc's, the spoiled kids who like to pick on the greasers for fun (the "fun" runs out when their buddy is killed). And let's not forget Cherry Valence, who though dating a Soc has a heart and a mind all her own.

While Pony and Johnny hide out after the murder, with Dallas coming to their aid and rescue, the 3 "greasers" temporarily clean the slate of all stereotypes and somehow wind up as heroes! If you're wondering how these events occur, go read the story! You won't be disappointed!