The Outsiders by SE Hinton
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Book Reviews of The Outsiders
Book Review: Angieville: THE OUTSIDERS
Summary: 5 Stars
I read THE OUTSIDERS for the first time when I was a teen myself, just a little bit younger than Ponyboy and Johnny. This book had a huge impact on me at that age. I fell so deeply in love with Hinton's simple, vivid writing style. Never had teenagers like me felt so real and present on the page. I couldn't stop telling my mom about it and how good it was and why. I'm sure she still remembers those nights. It is an oft-challenged book, unfortunately, and thinking about it now, I would have been devastated if someone had told me I couldn't read it or had come and taken it out of my library. I can't imagine not having read it then and I have read it so many times since. It's truly a classic and deserves the praise it's gotten over the years.
Ponyboy Curtis is a Greaser. He lives on the wrong side of town. He acts tough, dresses tough, and lets his hair grow long to look tough. He lives with his two older brothers, Darry and Sodapop, and they barely make ends meet. Darry and Soda work hard to support themselves and let Ponyboy stay in school so that at least one person in the family can graduate high school. Pony's best friend is a sad boy named Johnny Cade who's been beaten around one too many times and spends a lot of time looking over his shoulder, anticipating the next blow. The only family these boys have are each other. Pony, his brothers, and their motley group of Greaser friends watch each other's backs and defend each other when necessary. Particularly when the Socs (rich kids from the other side of town) come looking for trouble. Dangerous Dally, funny Two-bit, somber Steve. Through Ponyboy's eyes we catch a brief, eloquent glimpse into the life of a group of teenagers the world seems to have forgotten, who take life's knocks on the chin and somehow keep going.
I picked a small, worn copy of THE OUTSIDERS up off the shelf of a tiny used bookstore in Texas and took it home with me because I felt like the kids on the cover might be worth knowing. How right I was. This story of small-town prejudice and class warfare set in the 1960s has never really aged. The first time I cracked it open I was immediately enchanted by the magical language these kids seemed to speak, a language full of "greasers" and "Socs," "savvys" and "tuffs." I couldn't tear my eyes away. It is a coming of age story and a commentary on the dangers of going through life with blinders on, of judging people who are different from you before you know them. Of not wanting or caring to know them. Every character in this story is backed up against the wall, struggling to survive, and I cried more than once at the injustice of it all. And yet, when you come to the end, you feel the indomitableness of hope, the possibility of change, and the beauty of the human spirit. THE OUTSIDERS has been challenged several times on the grounds that it includes rough language, violence, references to cigarettes, alcohol, and for depicting broken families. And we would never want young adults to know that such things exist or, heaven forbid, that they may encounter them in their own lives. *eye roll* I get so angry when I hear hogwash like that. Never mind that it's beautiful, and real, and good. That it will teach its readers about how to treat their fellow human beings, how hatred and fear do nothing but destroy, and how the sunset looks the same no matter which side of the tracks you're from. That's the kind of book I want to read. That's the kind of book I want my children to read. And no one is allowed to tell me no.
Book Review: The Outsider's - A Review
Summary: 5 Stars
In the novel The Outsiders, S.E. Hinton provides the reader with a warm, realistic and captivating view into the world of a young adolescent boy named Ponyboy Curtis. Ponyboy is forced to meet the normal struggles of a fourteen year old young man while in a disadvantaged situation. Ponyboy's parents' recent death in a car accident leaves him to be raised by his two older brothers, twenty year old Darry and sixteen year old Soda Pop. The older brothers work and maintain a home while Ponyboy attends high school. All of the brothers belong to a gang of friends nicknamed the "Greasers". The Greasers are considered the lower class members of their community. United with four other close "Greaser" friends, the brothers must navigate the ups and downs of everyday life while also encountering opposition from their rivals, the Socialites or "Socs". The continual tension between the Greasers and the Socs culminates in a violent situation that changes the lives of the boys drastically.
S.E. Hinton skillfully guides the reader through the story from the perspective of Pony Boy. Hinton's use of a conversational tone and casual language makes one feel as if they are walking with Ponyboy through each and every encounter. His experiences include everything from a temporal trip to the drive - in movie, to the intensity of a street fight or "rumble" in the park with the opposing street gang. Hinton's descriptive narrative enables the reader to not only picture the story as it unfolds, but it also allows the reader to endure the emotion of the characters. Ponyboy reveals his innermost thoughts regarding his feelings about his friends, his brothers and his status in society. He also divulges his thoughts about girls, revealing his affection for the beautiful Socialite Cherry Valance. Cherry is a young lady with whom Ponyboy has a chance encounter. This situation gives Ponyboy the opportunity to see the Soc's in a different light, thus allowing him to gaze upon the reality that everyone shares the same basic joys and struggles despite their socioeconomic background.
While S. E. Hinton's , The Outsider's is an excellent engaging novel a few negative aspects of the book need mention. The story includes description of the young men drinking alcohol, smoking and committing acts of violence and other crimes. Hinton's descriptions of these activities are necessary to the storyline. However, it would need to be reinforced with the young reader that while the illegal and otherwise negative activities described appear intriguing, they are still inappropriate ways to cope with the struggles of day to day life at any age. In addition, Hinton's use of slang, while skillful, may prove confusing for today's reader. The reader would best approach this book with some knowledge of the slang and colloquialisms of the era described (1950's). Overall, The Outsider's is an excellent read and is highly recommended.
Book Review: The Outsiders
Summary: 5 Stars
Nick Wright
The Outsiders
The outsiders is a book about two groups of who don't get along. One of the Groups is the Socs, who are the rich kids. Then the Greasers, who are the poor kids with a tough life.
My favorite part in The Outsiders was when Johnny and Ponyboy saw the church that they were living at was on fire. There was school kids around and one of the teachers told everyone there were kids still in the house. Ponyboy and Johnny jumped in a brokenwindow. They saved the kids that were in the burning house. Johnny and Dallas were hurt while doing this. This showed that greasers aren't uncaring people who wouldn't help someone. This was my favorite part because I think it made a lot of Socs change there perspectives about greasers.
I think that this is a great book for everyone who can understand it. This book shows a lot of different things. I think this book shows that even though you're different people you can still be friends and have stuff in common. It shows that everyone needs friends and that people have to work out there differences. Also it teaches the lesson that you don't pick where you come from but you can be friends with anybody. I think The Outsiders was a great book.
Book Review: A great adventure that will scar you forever! By: Emily Cadaver
Summary: 5 Stars
The Outsiders
By: S.E. Hinton
The Outsiders is about a boy named Ponyboy who lives in a town filled with troublesome gangs and parents who do not care for their children. In this wonderful adventure Ponyboy and his good friend Johnny, have to go through in order to stay out of Juvy. In this book there are many characters that often interact with Ponyboy such as, his two brothers, Dally, Johnny (of course) and many others. This type gang that Ponyboy is part of is called: The Greasers. They grease up their nice and greasy so much that it comes out shiny. The Socs, on the other hand, are another type of gang, the rich and spoiled kind of teenagers. They have short hair and wash their hair every day. They think that they are better then everyone and the only way to show their awesomeness is by killing and showing them that they are capable of anything they want to do. So overall this book is extremely outstanding and I am recommending it to all of the good readers out there because I know it will also be one of your favorite books in the world. This book is probably best for children 10 and older and other wise it's probably the best book you will ever read, EVER! It is a FANTASTIC book that you will probably never forget and it is elated but then again a devastating story!
The Outsiders
By: S.E. Hinton
Review by: Emily Cadaver
Book Review: my inspiration...
Summary: 5 Stars
When I had to read THE OUTSIDERS in seventh grade, at first I was just like whatever because I thought it was going to be another boring book we had to read and why can't we ever get good books to read? But from the first chapter, that was it. I fell so hard I still haven't gotten up.
This book was my inspiration for writing my own teen novels. It's one of those books that has characters you're so into you wish they were your friends. Well, first you wish they were real. And then you wish they were your friends and you could call them any time you wanted and be like, "Hey, Ponyboy, what's good? Can you meet up at Chat 'n Chew for some grilled cheese and backgammon?" That's what hooks you in from the beginning...the way this story feels so real. The intense energy of the dialogue and the fast pacing of the plot make it impossible to put this book down. And when you do put it down because you have to go to school or sleep or whatnot, you can't stop thinking about it, you can't stop wondering what's going to happen next. It's like you don't even know how you can get through the day without finding out.
So I want you to be as hooked as I was and read this so many times that page 73 is falling out. Because this book makes you feel alive. And that's an amazing feeling.