The Outsiders

Reader reviewed by tali

The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton is one of the most amazing books I have ever read! It is about a 14 year old boy named Ponyboy. He is part of a gang. His parents are dead and he lives with his two brothers, Darry, and Soda. He feels like no one understands him. He is different, like anyone would be, than everyone else in his gang. For example, most of the people in his gang get into fights or rob stores for no reason, but he doesn't.

As you have probably guessed, the charachters aren't exactly perfect. Most of them smoke, and are violent, and are thiefs. What I thought was really great about the book was that the author doesn't pass judgement on the charachters. She doesn't just straight out tell the reader that smoking, theft, and violence is bad. In fact, I never got the message from the book that smoking and theft are bad. However, the story is told from Ponyboy's point of view and he doesn't believe in violence from the begining, but throughout the story he learns more and more about this.

I would reccomend this book to anyone from the ages of 12- adult!

Lastly, I just wanted to point out that the author wrote this book when she was in high school. And yes, however supprising it may be, due to the lack of female charachters, S. E. Hinton is a woman.

Reader reviewed by Erin

Most of us have to read The Outsiders in school, seventh grade was when I was required to read it. I had heard it was a movie with a list of great stars including Tom Cruz. I figured I'd skip reading the book and instead watch Tom and Patrick Swazee (is that how you spell it?) act the book out for me. My mom caught wind of this and refused to allow it. I, unhappily opened the book and began reading. Little did I know I wouldn't be able to stop. This book is amazing. It blew me away. I wanted more. I did however end up watching the movie, disipointed really. For no book, let alone required school reading book, I have ever read been so GREAT! I can read it over and over again, as I can guarentee you would be able to.

Reader reviewed by No

This book is so great because it focuses on the bonds of the characters rather than their social status. This book doesn't categorize the characters as greasers and then show how they fit into that stereotype; instead S.E. Hinton shows how each character is an individual with a heart and a mind, despite their social status. I can't believe this book was written by a sixteen year old, and a girl for that matter! But it's a great story that I loved when I first read it at the age of 13 and still love now at 18.

Reader reviewed by M.L

S.E Hinton's "The Outsiders" should be a classic. Its about a gang called the "greasers", who live on the bad part of town. If you weren't a greaser you were a "soc," they lived on the good side of town. The book takes place in the 60's when gang members would jump people and have rumbles. But what the book is really about is growing up. Ponyboy curtis lives with his two brothers because his parents died before. He is best friends with Johnny. The book has different characters with different characteristics. Dally is titled as the bad one and when a couple gang members get in some big trouble he's there to help. Dally, Pony and Johnny have been through the most. As you read this book you'll feel sypathy for Ponboy because he's growing up. Robert Frost's poem "Nothing can stay gold" is what the books about.