Monday, February 23, 2009

The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is about a gang (group of friends) known as the 'greasers' that live in a neighborhood where violence is the only way to survive. I've read this book over five times. It relates to everyone's life in some odd way. I think this book is very emotional, it actually made me cry. It's something that pulls you in, and makes you feel the pain of the kids in the book. In my opinion, The Outsiders is a great book for people for all ages.

- Reviewed by Marika, grade 9.

33 comments:

elizabeth florez said...

this is the best book ive ever read in my whole life. this book related to my life in many ways.i would recommend this book to anyone, young or old. the outsiders book is one book ill never forget!

Anonymous said...

In my opinion, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton was really interesting and really touched my heart. It actually made me tear up. It shows how strong some friendships are and to what extent people would actually go. I would recommend this to any teenager. This book is a book worth reading. It is very emotional and it gets you hooked. It takes you back and makes you realize how different it was back then. I think you can learn a lot about this book. It has violent scenes because it does involve abuse and fights, but that’s a part of life. I think it is a real eye opener to teenagers. Considering the fact that the author was actually a teenager experiencing this happening.

Reviewed by Janette, grade 9.
Central

Anonymous said...

The book The Outsiders is a novel about gangs written by S. E. Hilton. The book outsiders is based on two groups of gangs the Greasers and the Socs. The gangs do not like each other at all, Ponyboy the main character is one of the youngest Greaser's. Jonny and Ponyboy are taking a walk at night when they get confronted by Socs. Jonny gets scared and stabs Bob the head leader of the Socs. The stab wound is to deep killing Bob on the spot. From then on things heat up even more between the Socs and the Greasers. The Greasers are the poor class the Socs are middle class.

I loved this book very much no parts were boring at all. This was on of the few gangster books that I actually enjoyed reading. I loved all the gang battles that were going on. It was even funny to read at times. The story may be about two different gangs fighting to see who is the best but there is much more in it like romance and comedy. The book really doesn't not have any violet scenes but I would still only recommend for teens to read the story. If you are looking for a action pact story with a hint of romance then this is the book for you.

Reviewed by Armand, grade 9
Central Library

Anonymous said...

The Outsiders is about a 14-year-old boy named Ponyboy and his brothers, sodapop and Darrel Crutis, who are in a gang made up of greasers. They and there gang members must face the Socs who are known to "jump" and even kill greasers.

This book can very emotional to some readers. It gets more interesting after each chapter. I would recommend this to teens and young adults, especially those who are interested in how gang members live.

Reviewed by Frederick S., grade 9
Montrose Library

Anonymous said...

The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton, was about Socs and Greasers that hate each other and they always fight with each other. The main character Ponyboy goes on an adventure.

I liked this book because it was caring and really sad. I think my friends would like this book because we read this at 7th grade and everyone liked it.

Reviewed by Eugene Shin, grade 9
Montrose Library

Teen Speak said...

I really enjoyed this book I really like how it was told by the point of view of a teen so, it was really easy to follow and relate. The book had good pace. It had some action and some drama. It was really easy to keep up with the story. Even though i read it in class I still liked which is pretty rare for. I would say if you are a teen you will like this book it might be based in the 60's, but I was still able to relate I completely reccomend it.

Reviewed by Christian W., Montrose Library

Anonymous said...

In "The Outsiders" Ponyboy is a 14 year old boy who struggles with right and wrong in society in which he is an outsider. He has two brothers, Sodapop and Darry. The Outsiders which are known as the greasers have a rivalry against the Socs which are the rich kids. One night, Ponyboy, Johnny and Two-bitt start talking with Cherry and Marcia, which were two Soc girls. While walking home, the richest Soc, Bob decides to jump Ponboy and Johnny. Because Johnny had been jumped before, he always carried a 6 inch switch blade with him. Bob was about to kill Ponyboy, and Johnny stabs Bob and kills him. Pony and Johnny scared out of there minds, run away. They spend a week at an old church and one day, it began burning on fire but they saved all the children which were in there. As they went to the hospital from serious injuries, Johnny, Ponyboy's best friend passes away and as he's dying he tells Pony to stay gold. The night of the rumble was here. All the greasers were determined to win this fight for Johnny. At last, they did and as Ponyboy was sitting at home writing in his journal he told himself..."All that was on my mind that night was Paul Newman and a ride home."

One quote which has stayed in my head until today is when Johnny says "Stay Gold Ponyboy." In my opinion, Johnny was telling Ponyboy to stop fighting. He was trying to emphasize that fighting is pointless and that Pony is a great kid and he should focus more on school and the bigger, brighter stuff in life. Overall, this book really hit me. It showed me how two best friends not only stood up for each other, but went through so much. Throughout the story, my favorite part was the ending. Ponyboy had been assigned to write about anything, and he decided to write about what had happened for the last 2 weeks. The main lesson, was when Johnny told Ponyboy to stay gold, he meant he should stay innocent. The author shows the reader that you should accept people for who they are, because at the end of the day, even if one is a Soc and one a Greaser they live under the same sunrise and sleep under the same sunset.

Reviewed by M.G., grade 9
Montrose Library

Teen Speak said...

The book talks about the hardships Pony Boy and his friends came across in their fight with the higher class gang. Pony Boy is the youngest of the group and he is not very good at being like his older brother and friends. When pony boy and his friends get into a fight with some of the high class gang pony boy’s friend kills one of them with a pocket knife. So they decide to run away since pony boy’s friend would go to jail if he was found out. So not to take any chances they decided to run away.

The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton, is a good book to read when you want a dramatic story filled fights and a very detailed description of the events happening. This is a book that is at an elementary school level is the difficult of words but the content and story plot are at a teenager’s level. This is why I recommend the book to the age group around 13- 16 years because of the content and the entertainment level it brings to the reader. The end of the ending half of the story is very touching because it shows the close bond pony boy has with his friends.

Reviewed by: Nichole Z., grade 9
Glendale Central Library

Teen Speak said...

This book is about a 14 year old named Ponyboy Curtis. He lives in a world divided by the rich and poor gangs. Ponyboy has adventures involving his friend Johnny as he witnesses murders and gang violence. Ponyboy is part of the poor gang and feels the tension of the arguments in his family and in the outside physical world.

Ponyboy has two brothers, Sodapop, and Darry. Sodapop is a not so serious gentleman and is considered to be a loser. Darry is a football player and he gave up his scholarship to college to take care of his two brothers as their parents died in a tragic car accident.

The gangs are divided into the rich kids, the Socs, and the poor kids, the Greasers. They have rumbles every now and then and just don't like each other. This conflict resolves in the murders of a few main characters.

The conflict begins when Johnny and Ponyboy are at the park and are attacked in the middle of the night by the Socs. Johnny kills one of the head leaders of the Socs in self defense and is traumatized by the murder. The murder of one of the head leaders results in bloody battles among the greasers and Socs.

I loved reading this story. It was pretty realistic and as we are teens, we can relate to it more than others. I would recommend this book to anybody is in the ages of 12-15. It's a fun book to read in your free time

The book is based on a real life incident and is hands down, a must read book. Older people may not find this entertaining and younger people may even find it boring, but if you are a teenager, it's the exact opposite and you will love reading this book.

Reading this book will be the first step to reading more mature novels.

Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 8
Grandview Library

Teen Speak said...

The Outsiders written by S.E. Hinton is about a boy named Ponyboy who is in the Greasers gang, followed by his two best friends Darrel and Sodapop. The story starts off when he is leaving the movie theater and suddenly another gang called the Socs jump him. They nearly tried to drown him in the water fountain but Darell and Bob Sheldon save him. The story is basically about two gangs who fight each other for the earning of strength and freedom. Each group is divided up social class and that's what the Greasers hate. The Socs are although more powerful and have more money but the Greasers are smarter and can get anything they want whenever. The story takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1965. After what has happened to the Greasers Johnny and Ponyboy find Dallas who give them money and a pistol to hide in abandoned church. Ponyboy starts thinking about Bob and how he got stabbed by Johnny who kills Bob. When the Socs find out about Bob's death they become stronger. But later at the end there is a last fight between the Greasers and the Soc's. The Greasers win in the name of Bob. After Ponyboy returns to school he gets to be known as a child rescuer. His grades drop but he still continues to believe in himself like Bob did.

This book is just great. It connects to me because I like action and drama, and this is what the book is all about. It teaches me that we all should work together. Two people are better then one. You should always stick together in life and you'll win any obstacle in life. This book is great because it teaches actual life lessons. No one should be divided. Whether one has more money and just their social class. Because sometimes all you need is your imagination and best friend. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes action. The book gets very interesting and exciting and I would love to read this book again and again.

Reviewed by Nathan J., Grade 9
Pacific Park Library

Teen Speak said...

This book is about a courageous fourteen year old boy named Ponyboy. Outsiders is a story about friendship and loyalty. One of which is so pure especially because it is emitted from a character such as Ponyboy. Ever since his parents passing, he has become a part of a gang. A gang with a very tight bond with each other. They all stick together and mend each others broken pieces while trying to build new memories. With their hair slicked back and their shirts tucked neatly into their finely creased high wasted pants, they roamed the streets and started getting into trouble. Not long after, Ponyboys best friend kills a member of a rival gang which unravels a series of life threatening and tear jerking adventures for Ponyboy and his gang.



This is one of the first books I’ve ever read from a teenage level and is still one of my favorites. This book shows prime examples of what it means to have true compassion, and be a teenager in trouble all in one. I highly recommend this book to young teenagers as im sure everyone will be able to relate to it one way or another. This story made me cry so many times. I learned what true friendship was because of this story. A perfect story line of what it is like to be a teenager with a difficult up ringing. This is a story of the street life from the view points of teens, and it teaches good morals and shows what true bonds are like when you have little biological family.

Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library

Teen Speak said...

This book is about a gang the greasers and their rivals the Socs. One day Ponyboy one of the greaser member is going to the movies. He gets attacked by the Socs. His older brothers Darell and Sodapop and other gang members protect. The next night they meet up with girls they like and they are girls from the Socs. Two Socs come see the girls and think they're trying to go out with them since the girls didn't want to see a fight they went with the Socs. When Ponyboy and Sodapop get yelled at Ponyboy runs away and meets with his friend johnny. There are Socs that confront them then they start drowning and johnny kills one of them and they get really scared. From then on they cut their hair and disguise so they wont be recognized.

I love this book. I like books about greasers and fighting and rivals. Its really cool. I'm not just saying this. It is an amazing book S.E. Hinton is one my favorite author. The books are amazing. The part i like is when johnny kills that guy to save Ponyboys lives. My least favorite part was Ponyboy getting beaten up. This book really gives you a rush it makes you feel exhilarated, excited, scared and sad when you come to some point of the story. You will get all these feelings. You can also put yourself in their shoes. Like should Ponyboy have ran away. Should johnny have killed him. What would happen if nobody was there to help Ponyboy while he was drowning to his death. There are a lot of parts that you can compare and contrast.

Reviewed by Alex Michael, Grade 7
Pacific Park Library

Teen Speak said...

The book follows 14 year Ponyboy Curtis, a member of the teen gang, the Greasers, who don't get along very well with the Socs. One night Ponyboy and his friend, Johnny, get into a skirmish which results in the death of a member of the Socs, and they are forced into hiding. During their time of hiding and when they return home, Ponyboy learns things about his brothers that he didn't understand before and changes his view of society and himself.

I really enjoyed the book and had a hard time putting it down. I liked how Ponyboy's struggles of what is right and wrong is discussed in the book. It was a very moving book and by the end I developed a special connection to the characters unlike any other compared to what I have read in the past. I really liked the book, it was well-written and I would recommend this to anyone.

Reviewed by Lusine M., Grade 9
Glendale Central Library

Teen Speak said...

Two groups - the 'Greasers' and the 'Socs' - are basically at war with one another for their differences. Ponyboy Curtis, his brothers, and his friends are all Greasers. Walking home from the movies one day, Ponyboy gets cornered by Socs who try to beat him. This event sets off a chain reaction that leads to murder, heroism, and a story about growing up.

The Outsiders is easily one of the best books I've read in a long time. As a slow reader, it usually takes me a while to read a book, but I was able to blow through this one easily. I adored this book and its characters that feel so real that it's heartbreaking. I'm so glad that I read this book, because it instantly claimed a place in my heart. I especially loved the relationship between Ponyboy and his brothers and how his relationship with Darry evolved. I believe, like all of the others in their group, that Johnny deserved better than what he got. I also really just wish that everyone in their group was just allowed to be happy.

Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold.

Reviewed by T.A.Y, Grade 12
Glendale Central Library

Teen Speak said...

The Outsiders is a novel, based on true events, about the life of a few average teenage boys, and how they suffer they wrath of social discrimination and higherarchy. Being low class, they were deemed "greasers" and bullied by the upper class "socs". Being young and uncontrollable, the affairs of these boys easily get out of hand and cause trouble for the greasers, who are naturally accused due to their thug-like nature. In the end, the characters are shown to be good people who had only been judged and blamed because of who they are according to stereotypes, and these boys learn about friendship along the way.

The Outsiders was, at least for me, a radical book. I had at that point, only read books of childish nature, about things like teamwork and friendship and stories that were no more than stories. But The Outsiders was a completely different type of book, a book that told of not fairytale but the true nature of society. Given that this book is considered radical even today, I cannot imagine how controversial it could have been when it was released. Based on other books I've read, The Outsiders is a very different story. I would recommend this book for anyone old enough to understand it, possibly seventh or eighth graders, as I myself am in seventh grade. Anyone of the same or similar age to the boys in the story would be able to appreciate it in the way it was meant to be appreciated.

Reviewed by Isabelle D., Grade 7
Pacific Park Library

Teen Speak said...

The book, "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton is a story about a group of greasers the t have to deal with life living in the poor part of town. The plot revolves around Ponyboy and his gang of friends and the adventures that they undergo. The main conflict is when Ponyboy's friend Johnny kill a person that was going to kill them which forces them to go into hiding. This leads to a chain of unfortunate events that don't end well.

In my opinion I think that this is a must-read. It is a story that I think anyone can appreciate and one that will definitely make you think about how we live our lives. One of the huge selling points on this book for me is that It is not very difficult to read and understand. It does have a slightly more difficult vocabulary but one that outlines the story with immense detail.

Reviewed by Kevin N., Grade 9
Grandview Library

Teen Speak said...

Ponyboy, a greaser lives in Tulsa Oklahoma where he live with his two brothers, Darry, and Soda. One night, Ponyboy goes to a drive-in with his friends Dally and Johnny. Dally harasses two girls, Cherry and Marcia, who happen to be dating Bob and Randy, members of the Socs gang. When Bob and Randy show up, Cherry and Marcia go with them to prevent a fight. Later that night, Bob and Randy confront Ponyboy and Johnny in a park. When the Socs try to drown Ponyboy in a fountain, Johnny pulls a switchblade and kills Bob. They went to hiding with their friend Dally.

I loved this book in every way possible. I loved the story and the characters. It felt really fun to read and after I always wanted to know what is going to happen next. I loved the part where Johnny stabbed Bob since it really was not like him. My favorite character was Dally since he did not care a bit if he got into trouble. I recommend this book to everyone because of it's constant urge that it gives me to read more of it.

Reviewed by Anonymous, Grade 7
Grandview Library

Teen Speak said...

The award winning novel "The Outsiders" written by S.E Hinton is a loved book my many. It has also been made into a movie. The Story's main character is a boy named Ponyboy Curtis and his older brothers Sodapop Curtis and Barrel Curtis. Ponyboy, his older brothers and their friend are in a gang for group called the "Greasers". They all care for each other and they do whatever then can to protect each other for dangers. The other gang the dont go well with the Greasers are the "Socs" which are a high class gang that bully or Harass the Greasers. The Story has a great ark that im not gonna spoil that deals with the Socs and the greasers.

I really Love this book and I read it for my 7th grader book. It has a very good story with Equally good characters. The story makes you feel like the Greasers are more like a family than a gang or group. It makes you care and notice each and every unique quality of every member of the Greasers. I would recommend this book for anyone and I am gonna go back and read it again. It is a very short book so noone should have a problem reading it for school. Overall this is one of my favorite books that I have read.

Reviewed by AB, Grade 8
Grandview Library

Teen Speak said...

The Outsiders written by S.E Hilton takes place in the East Side of his neighborhood. The main characters name is Ponyboy Curtis and he lives with his two other brothers sodapop and Darry Curtis. They were all in a gang called the "Greasers". The Greasers and the Socs were rival gangs and they lived in the east and west side in their town and they would always get into fights. Ponyboy and his other greaser friend Johnny did something that would change their lives forever.

The Outsiders written by S.E Hilton is a great books because of many factors. The characters like Johnny and Ponyboy were great and they added anther factor to the other greaser gang member that act differently. This book also has a great story too which what happens with Ponyboy and Johnny at the middle of the story. I would recommend this book to anyone because of its great characters and the great story it has.

Reviewed by AB, Grade 9
Grandview Library

Teen Speak said...

A group of Greasers with the names Ponyboy, Sodapop, Darry, Dally, Johnny, Two-Bit, and Steve live their lives as if they are in the hood. The Greasers are a group of boys who are low-class and they usually get beaten up by another group who is a bit higher in socioeconomic status known as the Socs. They are considered to be in a higher social class than the Greasers and they are kind of like bullies because they always jump the Greasers. The person who struggles the most is Ponyboy since he is the youngest in the group and he feels like he can't fit in with everyone else even though these teenage boys treat each other like family. He doesn't seem like the type who would want to drink and constantly engage in violence with others.

This is an amazing, awesome book. It felt like I was having an epic adventure, as if this was an adventurous journey I took while reading this. From a natural disaster to staying gold, it was so epic. I don't know how to say this in words but all I can say is this is a very enjoyable book. Since this is a book everyone would love, I would recommend anyone reading it. Just as long as the person is in their preteens because there is some intense violence and a bit of foul language. I know this is a book that a lot of people in my school, mostly teachers, would want their students to read such as middle school students and possibly high school students too. I didn't like some parts of the book, just a tiny bit probably because it can be a bit too detailed for my brain to process all that literature. The movie is also great as well. Just make sure whether it is reading the book or watching the movie it is age appropriate for you.

Reviewed by Hannah R., Grade 10
Downtown Central Library

Teen Speak said...

The book, The Outsiders, was published in 1967. The book was written by S.E. Hilton and is now one of the most recognizable books for teenagers. This book takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, during the year of 1965. The main character, a young boy, is a Greaser with his brothers. His name is Ponyboy Curtis. The Greasers are in a rivalry with a group called the Socs, and Ponyboy is caught between. Ponyboy, being a young boy, is confused about all of this and runs away, causing hardship for the rest of the group.

The book, The Outsiders, is and always will be one of my favorite books of all time. I very much enjoyed this book, and did not want it to end. This book is very good for teens because it is very relatable for a lot of them. This book teaches many life lessons about friendship and trust. One of the interesting things about this book is that the author, S.E. Hilton, never mentions the words, ‘The Outsiders’, in the book. I would highly recommend this book to all teenage readers who want a good story.

Reviewed by Alexander B., Grade 9
Downtown Central Library

Teen Speak said...


This book follows the story of a gang of boys in their teens, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1965. This gang is called "the greasers" and then we have their rivals, "The Socs". There is real conflict between these two gangs. Tension rises when our main character Ponyboy Curtis, is jumped by a Soc. Some of the Greasers end up getting caught in major conflict between the two gangs and our main characters find themselves fearing for their lives and needing to get out of town. The group of friend's courage and spirit is put to the test.

In my opinion, this book is quite a great read. Once I sat down to read it, I couldn't stop! The author does a wonderful job of keeping the readers engages by using great detail and powerful literary devices that really spoke to me. I could really relate to the characters and I stayed interested the whole time I was enjoying this book. After the first few chapters I really fell in love with the characters in this book, they're so realistic and easy to relate to. I fell that the readers got a really good look into the reality of the 60's. I would definitely recommend this book!

Reviewed by Angelina R., Grade 9
Montrose Library

Teen Speak said...


The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is about three brothers who go by Ponyboy, Sodapop, and Darry. Ponyboy is 14, Sodapop is 16, and Darry is 20. The three boys had lately lost both their parents in a car wreck, and Darry has been looking over Sodapop and Ponyboy ever since. They, the Greasers, are on the beaten-up East Side of town where there is a lot of poverty, while their rivals (the Socs, aka Socials) are the West Side rich kids who are always fighting with them. Then, when Ponyboy and his friend Johnny were flirting with the Socs' girlfriends, the Socs followed the two boys down to the park and started beating them up and then tried drowning Ponyboy in the fountain, when Johnny went up to the person drowning him and stabbed him to death. Now, Johnny and Ponyboy are on the run with only $50 in their pocket and a map to a safe-house.

This book in my opinion, is outstandingly amazing! I remember reading this book for the first time a while back and I loved it. Perfect plot, and a very interesting conflict. I have even seen the movie, which is also very good. If you're into 60s-70s old-school books, I really suggest reading this (if you haven't already). The book made me feel very interested and astounded. The whole plot of the story was crazy. Overall, this story was amazingly good!

Reviewed by RC, Grade 9
Central Library

Teen Speak said...

“The Outsiders” is a novel by S E. Hinton and was first published in 1967. The story follows a teenager named Ponyboy Curtis and his friends/brothers. The surprising thing about the novel is that the story takes place in only two weeks. But in those two weeks, Ponyboy’s life completely changes. He faces many obstacles and is also wounded physically and mentally. Still, he is not alone thanks to his brothers, Soda and Darry.

I did not like this book a lot. In my opinion, it is a very hard book to go through. I think that people around the age of seventeen will like this book. This book made me feel that being old is not the greatest thing. It taught me that you can change other people’s life in a good or bad way by your doings. I hope that everyone who reads this book can learn this too.

Reviewed by Jonah, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library

Teen Speak said...

The Outsiders involves two gangs, the Socs and the Greasers. The Greasers are a poor gang consisting of strong, athletic and attractive members: Ponyboy, the youngest member of the group; Johnny, Ponyboy’s introvert best friend; Darry, Ponyboy’s overprotective older brother; Sodapop, Ponyboy’s goofy older brother; Steve, Sodapop’s best friend; Dally, the careless and cocky gang member; Two-bit, the comedic gang member. The Socs are mostly, but not all, wealthy, violent and spoiled gang members. After Ponyboy’s parents died, his older brother Darry dropped out of school and started taking care of both him and Sodapop. The two don’t get along, and Sodapop is always there to solve the conflict, but when Darry and Ponyboy have had enough of each other, things take a drastic turn.

I read this book in seventh grade, but read it again a few months ago. This book does not get old, it's one of the most classical and emotional rollercoaster stories. One thing I like about this book is that it’s been many years since the book came out, but it hasn’t gotten any less interesting for teens. I recommend this book for people who can maybe relate to the narrator of this story, Ponyboy, and the pain he’s going through throughout the story. This book contains lots of adventure and realism and people who find those features compelling in a book should most definitely read The Outsiders.

Reviewed by AK, Grade 9
Montrose Library

Teen Speak said...

This book is about a 14-year-old gang member named Ponyboy who is a part of the greasers' gang, he is very different from the rest because his interests are more of that a normal person would have. The greasers are a very poor part of the community and often get mistreated. The Socs, on the other hand, live a more rich and free life, they like to beat up the Greasers. At the beginning of the story, Ponyboy encounters some Socs while walking home alone, he is then threatened and almost killed but luckily a couple of his friends stumble upon him and flee off the Socs. One day when Ponyboy goes to watch a movie with his gang members, he meets two of the Socs' ex-girlfriends, they become friends and offer to walk them home, but the Socs find them and threaten to fight them, forcing the girls to leave with the Socs. One of the girls, Sherri, soon becomes a spy for the Greasers and helps them avoid trouble. The society believes that the Greasers can do no good because of the constant fights, but one day when a house catches fire Ponyboy and his gang save the civilians inside of it, due to constant burning and many more injuries, Jonny, a fellow gang member, is killed in the fire. The greasers are now viewed as heroes. Later, Dally, Pony's brother, is forced to flee some cops, he heads to a telephone booth and calls the gang to come to pick him up, the police are still chasing after Dally and when the gang arrives, Dally pulls out a suspicious object and is shot by the police

This is a very good book to read at night before you sleep, or just read in your free time. What makes this book so good is how Ponyboy has to overcome pain, humiliation, and grief. Ponyboy believes that he is an outsider because of how different he is from the rest, but he does not realize how special this makes him. Ponyboy learns from his experiences and develops throughout the story. This book makes many people feel appreciative of how different they are. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in reading novels and has the free time to read them, but they have to understand the language because there are some high vocabulary and slang words in the book.

Reviewed by Aryan S., Grade 8
Glendale Central Library

Melissa said...

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a story about a group of boys who grow up in a rough neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the 1960s. The story is told in the eyes of Ponyboy Curtis, who lives with his two older brothers, Sodapop and Darry Curtis. During that time, there were two factions in the city constantly at odds with one another; Greasers, the eastern poor "punks" and the Socs, the western. As the tensions between the two factions increase, Ponyboy and one of his Greaser friend, Johnny, get caught up in a crime and the two boys go on the run to avoid trouble.

The Outsiders is one of the first books I had the opportunity of reading after transferring schools from another country in the seventh grade. It surprised me how this book is not well known outside of the United States yet is one of the most popular and praised books in the country. Despite the basic idea of the story sounding like a usual gangster crime novel, it offers an experience that was unexpected yet enjoyable. Most of the factors to why it was an surprising were its colorful cast of characters and how well they represent the themes of the story.

The characters are all enjoyable and unique. Particularly, Ponyboy shines out a lot throughout the novel. People can relate to him to an extent being the outcast of the Greasers, enjoying activities the other Greasers do not such as drawing and reading. He is also close with the more timid of the group, Johnny Cade, who is small yet is courageous to stand up against Socs when they were jumped by them. Other characters such as Sodapop and Two Bit give light hearted moments to balance out the serious moments. And while some can follow the stereotypical gangster or wealthy entitled personality like Steve Randle and Bob and Randy the Socs, there are characters who act out of their personality and become more intriguing like Dally Winston and Cherry Valance.

The theme of the Outsiders is courage and family. Throughout the novel, Ponyboy and the other Greasers stress that being brave in their neighborhood is the key to survival in their neighborhood. It also stresses how family is not always related by blood but through the bonds made over time. The Greasers show while they might not have much, they have one another. While it references drugs and violence, it has good morals and values. It is a story, while on paper sounds plain, that brings the reader on an unexpected experience of friendship, life in the 60s, and bravery. Definitely a solid book and a must read.

Reviewed by Rafi B., Grade 11
Glendale Central Library

Melissa said...

The Outsiders novel dives deep into the life of various people who are different from each other. The Greasers who are the poor class and The Socs who live the high-life clash together. The Greasers are always together who enjoy what they do even if they are not high class. The Socs are always looking for arguments and enjoy their power. The Greasers feel like they are outsiders because they don't go along with the rest of the population. In conclusion, The Outsiders novel tells the tale of The Greasers and Socs.

The Outsiders tells the magnificent tale of how people can be different and how to overcome the difference. I loved the book because of how The Greasers teamed up to beat others in a fight. The power that the Greasers have nearing the end of the novel proves how dedicated and hard-working they are. The Socs and The Greasers are two contemporaries that make the book what it is. The author did a fabulous job in portraying the characters and what they experience. In conclusion, I enjoyed reading The Outsiders and recommend anyone to read the novel.

Reviewed by Alfred, Grade 9
Glendale Central Library

Melissa said...

The book “The Outsiders”, written by S. E. Hinton is full of twists and turns. To truly understand each character, the author writes the book in such a way that you can see the characters in their worlds and through their perspectives. For instance, in the beginning we learn a bit about their backstories, about their parents and the relationship they have with the Socs. Towards the end of the story however we get to see how the characters have matured. We can examine the difference between the early stages of the characters and go along a journey to see how those characters evolve. During the story we also get to hear about additional nuances that explain some of the characters actions. Like when it says in the beginning about Johnny being the gang's pet, later on we find out that it was because everybody loved Johnny like a family member because his own parents were abusing him. Nobody could get mad at Johnny for long, even the unruly and wild Dallas Winston. Even though the story is fiction, it is presented in such a way that you can feel a connection with the characters, especially towards the end, because now you know more about them and now what they have gone through.

For me the Ponyboys character change was absolutely astonishing. In the beginning he seemed like a quiet kid with no interest in being a greaser. He was conservative and didn’t like his older brother much. Even though he was a greaser he still had the mind and the innocence of a teen. Through the events of the story he has grown so much and learned so much. Witnessing death, having to flee and hiding in an old church all alone, getting in a fire, losing two of his friends. All these big events contribute to his character change. With every incident that happens, Ponyboy gets more mature, more tough, and has an early grip on the harsh realities of life. It is truly amazing how you can completely change your opinion about a character from the beginning to the end of the story. In conclusion, I think this story was a great way to learn a lesson about stereotyping and how that can affect someone's whole life.

Reviewed by Agnes, Grade 7
Glendale Central Library

Melissa said...

This book is about 3 brothers part of a gang called the greasers, where they have a constant problem with their rival group the socs. The main character Ponyboy Curtis lost his parents and all he has left is this group and his two brothers Darrel and Sodapop. The Socs catch Ponyboy and put him under a fountain so his friend Johnny kills one of the socs which leads to a chain of events where they run off to an abandoned church. At this church they light a cigarette but don't put it out which leads to the whole church burning down. Johnny gets sent to the hospital and the greasers fight the socs to avenge Johnny in which they win. Ponyboy gets taken to court for the murder, and in the end sits down and begins writing a book on these events.

This book is very interesting and I would recommend everyone to read it. Even those who don't find interest in reading can enjoy the Outsiders. Its almost like an action book where every event wants you to read more and more to uncover what happens next. The book describes the fights with such detail and it feels almost like every event of the fight is happening at the same time yet you are following its order. This book is definitely worth picking up and reading and it feels like through reading the book you develop a connection between you and ponyboy. Now, rereading this book at an older age makes you understand how well written this book really is.

Reviewed by E.N., Grade 12
Casa Verdugo Library

Melissa said...

"The Outsiders" is a classic young adult novel by S.E. Hinton, published in 1967. The story is set in the 1960s and follows the life of a teenage boy named Ponyboy Curtis, who is part of a gang called the Greasers, from the wrong side of town. The Greasers are constantly at odds with a rival gang, the Socs, who are from the wealthy side of town. The novel explores themes of social class, identity, and the struggles of growing up in a divided society.

The Outsiders" is a timeless classic that has resonated with readers of all ages since its publication. The novel's portrayal of social class and the struggles of growing up in a divided society continues to be relevant today. The characters are complex and relatable, and their experiences of loss, love, and friendship are universal. The novel also explores themes of identity and self-discovery, making it a valuable read for young adults. The writing is engaging and easy to follow, and the plot keeps the reader invested until the end. "The Outsiders" is a must-read for anyone interested in young adult literature, and I highly recommend it. It's a poignant and powerful story that will make you think about social class, identity, and the struggles of growing up in a divided society.

Reviewed by Abraham K., Grade 9
Montrose Library

Melissa said...

The outsiders is a book where it’s about 7 boys that are like brothers. And they live in a very bad environment. It is an amazing book to read. I loved this book because it is really interesting. The book is basically the 7 boys trying to survive through serious moments and events throughout their lives. Each of the boys have different characteristics, some of them are honest, some are strong but mean, and some are very nice and friendly. They get into a lot of trouble in the end of the book and the way they settle it out gets very interesting.

This book is such a good book, I enjoyed reading this book a lot because it shows me what the outsiders had to do to survive in the situation that they were in. It was a very fun book and I loved to read this book, it was a really interesting book and I would love to reread it again. The book is very cool and the cover looks really nice, that is also one of the reasons as to why I really enjoyed this book. I don’t usually read books very well, but I would really recommend this book to teens because it was a really good book in my opinion.

Reviewed by Suren, Grade 9
Brand Library & Art Center

Melissa said...

The outsiders is a book where it’s about 7 boys that are like brothers. And they live in a very bad environment. It is an amazing book to read. I loved this book because it is really interesting. The book is basically the 7 boys trying to survive through serious moments and events throughout their lives. Each of the boys have different characteristics, some of them are honest, some are strong but mean, and some are very nice and friendly. They get into a lot of trouble in the end of the book and the way they settle it out gets very interesting.

This book is such a good book, I enjoyed reading this book a lot because it shows me what the outsiders had to do to survive in the situation that they were in. It was a very fun book and I loved to read this book, it was a really interesting book and I would love to reread it again. The book is very cool and the cover looks really nice, that is also one of the reasons as to why I really enjoyed this book. I don’t usually read books very well, but I would really recommend this book to teens because it was a really good book in my opinion.

Reviewed by Suren, Grade 8
Brand Library