The Outsiders

Reader reviewed by Alex11181992

incredable story of how young teens survive in the streets.
Having to leave everything behind them after a horrible accident.
Learning how to live on their own and find shelter.
Learning the value of life and what life brings us.
A perfect book to get young teens into reading.
SOme teens will be able to relate and some may not but still a most read for all young teens out there

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 Denisa

To make a long story short, this is a book that will have you on the edge through each and every chapter, every paragraph, every SENTENCE. The author is very detailed and descriptive . The ending is also quite suprizing and unexpected. Differnt from the traditional books they make you read in school. This is definately a book I would reccomend everyone reads at one point in their life. Be it for class, assignment, or just fun read. It's an excellent and easy read. Very well written.

Reader reviewed by Saba

The Outsiders is one of those "classics" that stay with you long after you have read it. I really mean this - you really can't forget it.

In a convincing and honest style, SE Hinton tells the tale [in first-person] of Ponyboy, and member of the local gangster group, the greasers, and they verse their enemies, the Socs, the west-side rich kids.

The plot runs its course, with its multiple deaths and honest, sometimes slightly poetic, and simple detail and leaves you with a slightly wearied, hopeful aftertaste that at least the boys will move on.

I loved this book because of its unforgettable plot, a plot that makes you ponder about the world. You should really read it.

Reader reviewed by Crystal

Great book! It keeps your interest throughout the entire book! Its about a gang of boys struggling in a terrible neighborhood where theres always fighting, people dying, and everything worse! Read this book, You'll thank me. Even though you dont know me. And if you do.. thats kinda creeeeepy!

Reader reviewed by wiicked

This was such a real, and emotion novel. On a first glance, it may seem very one dimensional with no real story, but as you think about it, the characters and events really jump out at you and talk to you. Ponyboy is such a different character, yet somehow, you can completely relate to him as he rocks back and forth in the sea of harships. He has a very unique personality, and a very different outlook to life than the rest of his gang, but as the story progresses, you can also see the changes that occur within him and then way he sees things. A fantastic read allinall.

Reader reviewed by Janet

this book was truly unforgettable. it is realistic in the way that although you are not in the situation that this book lets on, you can still relate to the events that happen. it captures your heart, and when you think that this is actually the life of real people out there, you appreciate it so much more. The Outsiders pulled me into the world of a smart and unfortunate boy, and his views on everything from murders and girls to sunsets and losing someone you care about. i can go on and on about this book, and why it is my all-time favorite. this is a story and a message, and it shows us how much we take for granted. it changed me for the better, and i hope everyone out there reads it and that they see what can only S. E. Hinton can show.

Reader reviewed by Melissa Palmer

The Outsiders is the classic boy book, even though it's written by a female.  It tells the story of two warring factions:  the Socs and the Greasers.  It is the ultimate fight of good vs evil, rich vs poor.  Even though it is set in the 60s, its message is timeless.  This book has great characters, especially Ponyboy, Johnny and Dally.  

Reader reviewed by nikki

This book is so moving and inspirational that i thought that it was in the modern times. I just love the way Ponyboy tries not to get intimidated by his brothers. It made me so sad though when johnny dies. That breaks my heart. I dont like the way they fight almost every day like that. Someone is almost always getting hurt and it was really intense the way that the socials and the greasers were handling things. I give this book two thumbs up!

Reader reviewed by big-brain

First of all, AAAAWWWWEEEESSSSOOOOMMMMEEEE (AWESOME). This book is about a boy named Ponyboy, his brother Sodapop, and his other brother Darry.Yes, that's right, their names are Ponyboy and Sodapop.Those aren't nicknames, they are there real names. STRANGE MUCH? Anyway, Ponyboy is walking home from the movie house alone and gets jumped by a gang of soc's. Oh, by the way, this book is about two groups of people that call themselves soc's, and the greasers. Pony boy is a greaser. Okay, back to the jumping. Before the soc's can do that much damage, Ponyboy's gang shows up and drive away the soc's. Then aafter a short while, Dally, Two-bit, Ponyboy, and Johnny sneak into the drive-in movie. Dally starts showing off his terrible vocabulary in front of two girls and Johnny stops him. Dally leaves and the two girls Cherry and Marcia ask Johnny and Ponyboy to stay and protect them, which they do. Two-bit offers to walk the girl home, and so Ponyboy, Johnny, and Two-bit end up walking them home. Later on in the book, Darry ends up hitting Ponyboy who runs away with Johnny to the park. When they get to the park, Cherry and marcia's boyfriends show up with their friends and jump Johnny and Ponyboy. One of them attempts to drown Ponyboy in the fountain but Johnny stabs Bob, Cherry's boyfriend and scare away the other soc's. Bob dies and Johnny and Ponyboy run away with the help of Dally. Dally helps them run away by giving them fifty dollars and a gun. They run away to Jay Mountain and end up saving five little kids from a burning church, which Johnny and Ponyboy had been staying in. Johnny gets severely injured and Dally hurts his arm. The rest of the book I will leave to you to read. ENJOY!