The Outsiders

Growing up is difficult. The desire to fit in is pitted against the encouragement to be unique and different. A person’s actions as well as the influence of family, friends, and society helps to form a person’s identity. And, this isn’t all kids need to worry about: they will face and deal with bumps in the road and times where they’re down. Ponyboy in The Outsiders thinks his life is figured out, until one night his world is flipped upside down. S. E. Hinton thoughtfully crafted The Outsiders out of her own experiences. A story written in 1965 is still relevant today and captivates the reader with a youthful, slangy writing style which allows the reader to bond with the characters.

The Outsiders, written in 1965 Oklahoma, displays the struggle between two gangs in a town. The narrator, Ponyboy Curtis, his brothers, and friends make up the Greasers. This rag tag group of impoverished guys stick by each other’s sides no matter what. They are up against the rich, snooty, Socs. These guys drive around in their expensive cars and jump Greasers to appear cool and intimidate them. In a constant battle between the Socs and Greasers, Ponyboy Curtis discovers there is good and bad in everyone.

The story displays a conflict between two gangs who think they are very different: “Greasers are almost like hoods; we steal things and drive old souped-up cars and hold up gas stations and have a gang fight once in a while” (3). On the other hand, “[Socs] jump greasers and wreck houses and throw beer blasts for kicks and get editorials in the paper for being a public disgrace one day and an asset to society the next” (3). It isn’t safe for a Greaser to walk around alone, for the Socs always pull up in their convertible, hop out, and jump them. The Greasers despise the Socs and the Socs despise the Greasers. This is the case for Ponyboy too until he meets Cherry, the toughest Soc’s girlfriend, he realizes that Socs aren’t all that different after all. Cherry and Ponyboy share many similarities, especially their love for sunsets. With the help of Cherry, Ponyboy realizes the greasers, including himself, misjudged the Socs. Yes, they do get drunk and beat up Greasers for no good reason, but they are human and they have lives outside of how well they can fight. Will Ponyboy get everyone else to see the Socs true colors? Can this ever get better? The conflict remains relevant to society fifty years after it was written because there always seems to be this in-group and out-group.

Not only is the story relevant to society, but it also maintains a young, slangy tone that allows the reader to connect with the characters. S. E. Hinton commented that “these characters are really kind of universal without losing their individuality.” The story, written when the author was only fifteen years old, is told from Ponyboy’s perspective. Ponyboy is a fourteen year old kid living with his two older brothers, Darry and Sodapop. Sodapop is sixteen and Darry is twenty and has custody of Sodapop and Ponyboy since their parents died in a car crash. Ponyboy’s young and optimistic, so his narration draws the reader in. Initially, Ponyboy feels very self-conscious and vulnerable: “I was wishing I looked like Paul Newman- he looks tough and I don’t” (1) He’s the youngest of the gang and looks up to his older, tougher brothers and friends. Within the first few pages, Ponyboy walks home from the movie theater alone and is stopped by Socs. “Need a haircut, greaser?” they ask him, “How’d you like that haircut to begin just below the chin?”(5) His brothers find him, fight back and save him. In Darry and Sodapop’s eyes Ponyboy is still young and fragile. But, as the story advances Ponyboy fights hard to prove the gang wrong. He grows stronger as he learns to be courageous, defend himself, and later in the process meets death face to face. S.E Hinton said “When I write, an interesting transformation takes place. I go from thinking about my narrator to being him,” and this is also how I felt while reading this. Ponyboy is forced to grow up in order to fit in, and as this happens the reader gets to grow with him and see him both thrive and grieve.

With help from family and friends, growing up can be much more manageable and even fun. When reading The Outsiders I could never put the book down. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone looking for an easy read with a timeless story and a powerful message.

Like millions of students in North American schools, I discovered S.E. Hinton’s classic The Outsiders during my English classes. As a semester reading, her debut novel has always been included in many classes’ curriculums. And among the books I read at school, it was one of the best novels to study.

Set over two weeks, The Outsiders recounts the trials of Ponyboy, a greaser who lives with his brothers Daryl and Sodapop after their parents passed away from a car accident eight months ago. Struggling in poverty and difficult conditions, that family nevertheless survives daily hardships thanks to Daryl and Soda’s friends; a group of greasers involving comrades like Two-Bit, Johnny, and Dally. Together, they help each other and also confront the Socs; upper-class dandies who live in luxurious conditions and who fight with the Greasers as the latter represents the poorer middle class. Therefore, it is within this social war that Ponyboy lives while he studies at school, rests at home, and enjoys his free time in cinemas, watching movies alone, or with his friends like Two-Bit, Johnny, and Dally like he decided one Saturday. An initiative that makes them meet two girls linked to the Socs; generating a tragic incident affecting Ponyboy and his friends forever.

Set around 1965, The Outsiders makes references to pop culture figures like Elvis Presley (Greasers music) and The Beatles (Socs music), so for those who enjoy listening to music while, there are great Spotify playlists that present 1960s music. As a musical companion, it sets us right into the decade. An era of revolution, changes, and social confrontations. A story between two social groups in a middle-American town named Tulsa, Oklahoma. Furthermore, another crucial reference piece is Gone with the Wind, the classic by Margaret Mitchell. Read by Ponyboy to Johnny, this literary mention made me discover this classic which I started researching and it made me learn more about its movie adaptation and its novel.

As for The Outsiders‘s importance, its publication was revolutionary as it changed the landscapes of Young Adult and Teen literature. Back then, most stories published in those genres revolved around girl crushes, High School proms, and Sports teams. But here, S.E. Hinton presented a plotline about teens in emotional and social turmoils; living social classes discrimination and fighting to survive; and where a very good-hearted teenager tries to reveal to everyone how socs and greasers are the same. Living in different classes, but struggling with social codes and life reality.

So it is due to this capture of rough teen life that the book has been banned in certain schools and libraries. Nevertheless, its constant praises, words of mouth, and school readings have helped make it a best-seller for fifty years. With over 13 million copies sold by 2007; 40th anniversary of the book. And for this occasion, the Viking publisher released a special edition; featuring the original cover and printing typography inside. So when people read this copy, it is as if they hold the first edition in their hands. An edition that I find more rewarding and impressive than the so-so paperback edition I read at school that featured some heartthrob 1980s or 1990s teens. Indeed, the Original illustration is presented under pop art colors, dots, and hand-drawn squares. With the protagonists, drawn in rough-stick figures, running toward something (showdown between the Greasers and the Socs). A cover that helps make the novel accessible to adult readers who might want to read it, but might be too embarrassed to show that they are reading a teen novel.

By the way, that S.E. Hinton wrote the story while in high school helps make the prose more raw and accurate to what a teen feels inside; with all the questions, anger, and doubts that teens go through as they see drama between two cliques. Had an older author written the novel, the words’ emotional and dramatic intensity might not have been as impactful.

And as for the open-ending, it makes us wonder how will the story evolve for Ponyboy and his family. For the best or the worst? So what we have here is a recorded capture of two weeks that Ponyboy lives; where his life evolved through a rollercoaster of dramas and tragedies. And it is from that moment that we develop empathy for its protagonists. A team of youngsters trying to survive.

About the movie adaptation, it was directed by Francis Ford Coppola himself, and it stars icons like Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Patrick Swayze, Tom Cruise, and other 1980s icons. I remember seeing the film, but I think it was the theatrical version; not the complete version that the director presented in a DVD release, featuring a new soundtrack and thirty minutes of extra scenes, making it more faithful to the novel.

So overall, rereading The Outsiders 22 years later was quite an experience. It helped me recapture the feelings I experienced back then. An amazing time travel within a novel that I recommend everyone to read as the book’s reality is still actual. For it is a painting about how gangs and groups in conflict with each other are so similar in their pains and joys. A reality that some people still refuse to recognize sadly.

My kiddo had to read this for school, and I was disappointed in myself that I didn’t already own it as I thought I did. A classic, and a must read for anyone and everyone.

Mi serviva per scuola

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is one of those rare books that captures the raw, unfiltered essence of adolescence—its struggles, its heartaches, and its fierce sense of identity. First published in 1967, this coming-of-age classic remains as relevant today as it was then, making it a must-read for both young readers and adults alike. The novel is told from the perspective of Ponyboy Curtis, a 14-year-old boy living in a working-class neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ponyboy is a member of the “Greasers,” a group of boys from the lower rungs of society, constantly at odds with the wealthier, more privileged “Socs” (short for Socials). The tension between the two groups leads to violence, betrayal, and loss, and through it all, Ponyboy navigates the complexities of friendship, family, and identity. What makes The Outsiders so powerful is its honesty. Hinton, who was just a teenager when she wrote the novel, taps into universal themes of belonging, alienation, and the emotional turbulence of growing up. The characters feel real—each one grappling with their own internal conflicts, dreams, and insecurities. Ponyboy’s voice is authentic and relatable, and through him, we experience the highs and lows of adolescence, from the thrill of first love to the devastating pain of losing those you care about. At its heart, The Outsiders is a story about the common humanity that unites us all. While the Greasers and Socs may come from different worlds, Hinton’s writing reveals that their struggles, dreams, and vulnerabilities are not so different after all. It’s a poignant reminder that, regardless of our backgrounds, we all yearn for the same things: love, understanding, and a sense of belonging. The novel’s impact goes beyond its themes—it has shaped generations of readers and inspired adaptations in film, theater, and even music. Its unforgettable characters, including Ponyboy, Johnny, Dally, and the rest of the Greasers, have become iconic in their own right. The novel’s famous line, “Stay gold, Ponyboy,” has become a symbol of hope, resilience, and the desire to hold on to innocence in a world that often feels harsh. The Outsiders is a gripping, emotional, and timeless exploration of youth, class, and the bonds that tie us together. Whether you’re reading it for the first time or revisiting it after many years, it’s a story that stays with you long after the final page. STAY GOLD <3

I read this for the first time over 40 years ago.

I recently had my kids read it, and decided I wanted to read it again as well.

It was just as profoundly impactful the second time around.

I know they made it into a movie at one point, but I can’t bring myself to watch it. Hinton did such an incredible job at character development, that there’s simply no way a group of actors could ever live up to my expectations of who Ponyboy, Soda, Darry, Steve, Two-bit and Dally were as individuals.

Anyway, great book, and if you haven’t read, treat yourself.