The Outsiders
ISBN 978-0142407332
Bibliography:
Hinton, S. E. (2016). THE OUTSIDERS. Penguin Books.
Plot Summary:
Ponyboy and the rest of his outcast “Greaser” gang-member friends are constantly battling their rival gang, the “Socs”, a group of young men from the affluent part of an Oklahoma town. On their way home from a movie one evening, Ponyboy, Johnny, Two-Bit, and two young ladies associated with the Socs are met by some members of their rival gang. The Socs jump both Johnny and Ponyboy and try to drown Ponyboy in a fountain. Ponyboy passes out, and when he wakes up, he sees the lifeless body of Bob, one of the Socs, next to Johnny. Johnny tells Ponyboy that he killed him because the group intended to kill them both.
Johnny and Ponyboy run in fear and look for Dally, who gives them a gun and money and tells them to hide. As Dally is about to drive the boys back, they notice that the church was on fire and realize that some children had gone in. In an effort to save the children, they all go into the church and rescue them. The greasers and the Socs have one final rumble. The Socs are defeated. Following the violent altercation, the friends rush to the hospital only to find Johnny has died. In a state of grief, Dally robs a store and is killed by police after he points a gun at them. Ponyboy makes amends with his brother Darry and writes his story as an English assignment.
Critical Analysis:
The Outsiders is an excellent literal and metaphorical portrayal of how the upper and lower classes collide with each other because of their differences. The majority of the Greasers, or the outcasts, come from broken families and have to work or find other ways to provide for themselves, while the Socs are made up of the more affluent, well-to-do members who want for nothing. The two are separated by an imaginary line that, although invisible, is very well defined. Their encounters are almost always violent with one trying to eliminate the other. Hinton’s characters are very well developed and portray the true hardships that many people face.
For example, Darry, Soda Pop and Ponyboy’s older brother, works to provide for his brothers after their parents are killed in an accident. There are also high school drop-outs, criminals, and a variety of other personalities that make up the group. I feel this book, even though the middle or high school students might not make the above-mentioned connection, will captivate the reader because of the action-packed, emotional-rollercoaster situations jammed in every page. Sinton does an amazing job matching the personalities and characteristics of each character to their respective friends. These match-ups help drive the plot and help the story stick together very well. The book’s simple language but violent situations makes it appropriate for students aged 12 and higher.
Review Excerpt(s):
"This remarkable novel gives a moving, credible view of the outsiders from the inside...we meet powerful characters in a book with a powerful message." —The Horn Book
“This realistic but sometimes unconvincing and melodramatic teenage novel by a 17-year-old girl centers on the actions of a semi tough gang in a city in Oklahoma. Narrated by 14-year-old Ponyboy, the story describes the conflict between the "greasers" and the wealthy upper-class boys, during the course of which Ponyboy's best friend is provoked into killing another boy. Some of Ponyboy's philosophizing about himself, his friends, and his enemies does not ring true, but on the whole the book is a meaningful narrative with appeal for teenage readers. Junior high and high school.”- ALA Booklist
Connection:
*ELA: Students can do a character analysis
*ELA: Students can compare and contrast characters.
Other books that reflect his genre:
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky ISBN: 978-0671027346
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