The Outsiders is a thrilling coming-of-age novel that targets teenagers as the primary audience. It was written by S.E. Hinton and published in 1967. It is considered an honorable contribution to young adult fiction because it explores some relatively dark themes of teenagers during the 1960s.
While the problems teenagers faced in the 60s don’t equate to the ones teenagers face today, the book is still relevant because many adolescents and adults can relate to it.
In this article, you’ll learn what The Outsiders is about, and you’ll get to read a book review to determine if it’s worth adding to your reading list.
What is The Outsiders about?
The Outsiders is the first-person narration centered around Ponyboy, a teenager living with his two older brothers in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is the story’s main character. The three siblings are orphans who lost their parents in a car crash.
Darry is the eldest of three brothers and works as a roofer. Sodapop is the middle child and Ponyboy’s favorite brother. Soda’s a handsome high school dropout who works at the local gas station.
Brother Darry is the parental figure in the family. He works two jobs to make ends meet. He’s also very strict with the boys to ensure they uphold high moral standards.
Their town is essentially divided into two social groups constantly fighting each other. The Socials, also called Socs, are the rich kids with nice clothes and cars living on the town’s West Side. The greasers comprise a group of kids from the surrounding neighborhoods who come from low or working-class families, the antithesis of Socs. Ponyboy and his brothers are greasers.
Other members of the greasers include Dally, a wild character from New York; Johnny Cade, a quiet boy who is constantly abused by his parents back at home; Randy, a 17-year-old boy who knows his way around cars, and Two-Bit, the funniest of the gang members. Of all the greasers, Johnny Cade is Pony’s best friend.
One day, Ponyboy hangs out with a pair of Soc girls, Cherry and Marcia, at the drive-in movie theatre. As a result, he is attacked by a group of Socs. Luckily, he’s saved by Johnny, who stabs Bob, the attacker, and kills him.
Ponyboy and Johnny run into an old abandoned church to hide. On their way out, Ponyboy and Johnny realize that the building is on fire and a couple of children are trapped inside.
On hearing the screams, Ponyboy and Johnny rush in to rescue the kids. They sustain severe injuries but are considered heroes by the community. Ponyboy is reunited with his two brothers, who are ecstatic to see him. The reunion proves to Pony that his brother Darry wants the best for him despite his authoritarian tendencies.
Unfortunately, Johnny dies from the injuries in the fire. Dally is overcome with grief and acts out by robbing a grocery store. He pulls a gun on the police and is shot dead. Ponyboy is acquitted of all charges regarding Bob’s death, allowing him to continue living with his brother.
The Outsiders – Our book review
The Outsiders revolves around the importance of a loving family, actions and consequences, prejudices of economic inequality, and the effects of unnecessary violence.
The greasers come from non-traditional families. Some are orphans, while others, such as Johnny, live with abusive parents. The gang members live with poverty, discrimination, and gang violence as a way of life. However, the gang serves as a surrogate family for each member because they love and support each other during tough times.
Throughout the novel, readers also learn that every action has consequences, whether accidental or intentional. For instance, when Pony and Johnny rush to rescue children from a fire, none of them considers the deadly effects of the action. Johnny loses his life as a result.
The social ills of economic inequality are also prevalent throughout the book. The Socs think that the greasers are undeserving of opportunities, privileges, and even fundamental human rights just because they lack material wealth. This economic imbalance and lack of opportunities negatively affect the greasers because they don’t have big goals beyond graduating high school.
Readers also learn that violence is senseless and does not solve anything. Ponyboy learns the hard way that violence won’t solve the economic inequality in the region. The upper class will continue to have wealth while the lower class languishes in poverty. The senselessness of violence is also demonstrated by the untimely death of Dally, whose life is filled with violence and aggression.
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FAQ
Why is The Outsiders such a good book?
The Outsiders is a great book because it showcases a different, and sometimes dark and ugly, side of the life of adolescents and their challenges.
What age is appropriate to read The Outsiders?
The Outsiders is recommended for kids aged between 12 and 18.
What is the main message of the book The Outsiders?
The main message of The Outsiders is to be yourself. Don’t let society dictate your worth or who you should be.
What is the most important scene in The Outsiders?
The most important scene in The Outsiders is when Ponyboy Curtis gets attacked by the Socs. It’s a turning point in the story and changes the destiny of most characters.
What is the significance of the title of the book The Outsiders?
The title, The Outsiders, is befitting because the greasers were considered outcasts and looked down upon by the rest of the town, especially the Socs.
