Blessing In S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders
At 17 years old, S.E. Hinton managed to write one of the most memorable and accurate novelistic depictions of what it’s like to want acceptance and belonging as a teenager. The Outsiders, Hinton’s first novel, remains as one of the best-selling young-adult novels of all time.
Written for teenagers, about teenagers, and by a teenager, The Outsiders captivates its audience with memorable characters (who are memorable for more than their obscure names) and climactic drama, and it leaves the reader with the message of what a blessing it is to be naive, innocent and young (or, as the book puts it, staying “gold”).
The story is centered around the aftermath of a “rumble” between two opposing gangs: the Socs, who are the “rich kids,” and the Greasers,
the kids on the wrong side of the tracks (the two gangs can be compared to the Jets and the Sharks in West Side Story(1957)). Ponyboy Curtis, a 14-year old member of the Greasers gang, is tossed into a fast-paced whirlwind of events when one of his friends causes an uproar in the Greaser-Soc rivalry.
This book is extremely well written. The gripping plot progresses fluidly, and the scenes are skillfully sketched out with important and illustrative details before any event unfolds; this helps the reader grasp onto any component the author conveys. Each character is thoroughly represented with flaws and interests, which causes the reader to imagine them as real people dealing with real problems.
The Outsiders still sings a similar song of the trials, violence, and difficult decisions in a youth’s life every day, despite the differences between 1965 and today. This book makes us realise how important it is to “stay gold” and preserve innocence. This book is a must-read for teenagers and adults alike.
Written for teenagers, about teenagers, and by a teenager, The Outsiders captivates its audience with memorable characters (who are memorable for more than their obscure names) and climactic drama, and it leaves the reader with the message of what a blessing it is to be naive, innocent and young (or, as the book puts it, staying “gold”).
The story is centered around the aftermath of a “rumble” between two opposing gangs: the Socs, who are the “rich kids,” and the Greasers,
the kids on the wrong side of the tracks (the two gangs can be compared to the Jets and the Sharks in West Side Story(1957)). Ponyboy Curtis, a 14-year old member of the Greasers gang, is tossed into a fast-paced whirlwind of events when one of his friends causes an uproar in the Greaser-Soc rivalry.
This book is extremely well written. The gripping plot progresses fluidly, and the scenes are skillfully sketched out with important and illustrative details before any event unfolds; this helps the reader grasp onto any component the author conveys. Each character is thoroughly represented with flaws and interests, which causes the reader to imagine them as real people dealing with real problems.
The Outsiders still sings a similar song of the trials, violence, and difficult decisions in a youth’s life every day, despite the differences between 1965 and today. This book makes us realise how important it is to “stay gold” and preserve innocence. This book is a must-read for teenagers and adults alike.