This was an outstanding story and one of the best books I’ve ever picked up, it made me chuckle at times as well as cry! The variation of characters and the quick pacing made me not want to put it down, and neither will you!
The Outsiders tells the story of the lower-class “outsider” Greasers and the more well-heeled popular Socs (short for Socials); two teen gangs from the mid-1960s in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Ponyboy is a fourteen-year-old who tells us about his life as a Greaser in two weeks. After his parents passed away in a car crash, he and his two older brothers join a group of hoodlums: Johnny, 2-Bit, Steve, and Dally. All is normal one night when Ponyboy and his buddy Johnny are at the park when something unexpected happens. The events following this incident will test his bond with his fellow gang members as they flee the law and have fights against the Socs.
Yes, this novel does include rebellion, underage drinking, violence, and identity centres on two rival groups of teens. But Hinton’s message is very clear throughout the story that class conflict is pointless, unwarranted, and destructive. It’s truly a wonderful read, the unforgettable characters and captivating story have always hooked middle school kids, teens, and hesitant readers. Every one of the characters touched me, and it taught me a lot about the differences in social classes.
Now here are my thoughts on The Outsiders, categorized into strengths and weaknesses:
+ This story feels gritty, spunky, and authentic. Hinton manages to capture all the social, financial, physical, and emotional struggles, lives the Greasers are filled with. They demonstrate how difficult their lives really were.
+ Character development and depth. The characters have an astounding amount of history, personality, and potential for growth.
– The lack of subtlety when addressing themes and moral lessons. I know this is a minor or maybe even unimportant qualm, but some statements are simply so obvious. For example, when Ponyboy was talking about the sunset.
Overall, if you like inspirational and moving stories of struggle, friendship, and overcoming odds, you will really enjoy this book! You will cling to the book with excitement, and it is very meticulous so it allows you understand it better. By reading this book, it gave me a great learning moment in my life, and I know it will for you too. The message it gives out is very inspirational, I would strongly recommend this book to any teenager! My Rating: 5 out of 5 🙂