Goodreads | The Outsiders

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Sonya rated it:

(review of isbn 014038572X)

09/28/07

bookshelves: books-read-for-pleasure

Read in January, 1999

recommends it for: everyone

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a novel set in the U.S., of a boy named Ponyboy living in a low-class neighborhood with his two older brothers, one of whom has to take on the role of the parental figure after the parents have died while the other constantly serves as a mediator. Their neighborhood is divided by the high-income gang known as the Socs while Ponyboy and his family are amongst the “greasers.” Neither side socializes with the other, but Ponyboy is confronted with the qu...more The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a novel set in the U.S., of a boy named Ponyboy living in a low-class neighborhood with his two older brothers, one of whom has to take on the role of the parental figure after the parents have died while the other constantly serves as a mediator. Their neighborhood is divided by the high-income gang known as the Socs while Ponyboy and his family are amongst the “greasers.” Neither side socializes with the other, but Ponyboy is confronted with the question of how important social class is compared to friendship.
Ponyboy, alongside his best friend Johnny, gets tangled up one night in a fight with the bullying Socs which result in an accidental death of one of the Socs. Ponyboy and Johnny go into hiding, but soon have to come back to their home to face the consequences of that night. The war between the Socs and the greasers finally comes to a head, and Ponyboy has to decide if social class should get in the way of friendships.

The Outsiders is a book driven with a purpose in mind and the right characters/setting to accomplish that goal. Ponyboy is like any other teenager—he knows nothing about life except his own and the hardships having low-income can bring, and sees only that the higher-class sails through life without any problems.
Through the main plot of the story (the death of a Soc and their trials to come to terms with that life-altering event) Ponyboy grows and changes as a character, and begins to see beyond the social-class division set up between the greasers and the Socs. Hinton doesn’t do this in twenty-five pages or less—he makes the changes in Ponyboy gradual, with a catalyst that jumpstarts everything. He takes the time to explore every dynamic between all the characters, from Ponyboy and his brothers to the dynamics between Ponyboy’s friends and even their enemies, the Socs, as well as bystanders in the fight.
Hinton shows their changes and at some points their inability to change once given a choice. Dallas Winston, one of the greasers who lived in danger almost every moment of his life, could have broken away from the drama of living in a constant war of social classes, but presented with the choice of living on in his friend’s memory or dying to take revenge, chose the latter route because he knew nothing else in life.
There are many more themes to this book than the battle between social classes. There is the struggle to keep a hold of innocence, familial/brotherly conflicts, and coming to accept who you are, whether it is being a low-class greaser or a high-class Soc. Hinton manages to draw in all those themes into one story without making The Outsiders seem like four different stories being mashed into one.

If you have a chance to read The Outsiders, do. It’s not a lengthy book, it’s a quick read, and the characters and themes all strike a chord somewhere in a person.
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Briynne rated it:

(review of isbn 014038572X)

10/03/07

Read in January, 1995

I'm a little horrified at myself for not having this book up before now. We had a discussion about it in class today, and I had to write this as soon it was over. I wish there were more stars to give The Outsiders, but five will have to do. I love this book, and have loved it faithfully since I read it in sixth grade - I must have read it a dozen times, and possibly more. I can quote long sections of the book. I was obsessed, and to some degree still am.

It's not a good book by any lit...more I'm a little horrified at myself for not having this book up before now. We had a discussion about it in class today, and I had to write this as soon it was over. I wish there were more stars to give The Outsiders, but five will have to do. I love this book, and have loved it faithfully since I read it in sixth grade - I must have read it a dozen times, and possibly more. I can quote long sections of the book. I was obsessed, and to some degree still am.

It's not a good book by any literary standard, really. Hinton uses one of those usually awful formulaic introductions that devotes a paragraph to each main character, explicitly describing their characteristics, history, and appearance. When I think of it objectively, it's almost as bad as that awful, awful introductory second chapter of the Babysitters Club books that repeats in every installment.

I think the point is, though, that I just don't care. In fact, I adore the writing even though it is obvious. Maybe because I first read it when I was eleven and that sort of writing just seems clear and to-the-point. At any rate, I don't think it suffers to badly from the style, and if anything it benefits from the authenticity of a teenage author.

I can't even begin to say what it was about this book that caught my interest and imagination so completely. I liked the otherness of it - I had never experienced anything like these boys dealt with. Not the pervasive fear and violence, not the absentee, non-existent, or abusive parents, and definitely not the fascinating siege-mentality camaraderie that existed in their group.

The best part of the book, without any doubt, is the characters she has created. I love them all, with the exception of Steve. They are wonderful and so sympathetic, with their odd names and ill-fated lives. I hope for the ending to change every time I read it. Ponyboy's voice, which narrates the story, has a beautiful vulnerability and honesty that makes the story believable. He's often confused, hurt, scared, sorry, and just feels like things are wrong; but, he's also brave and kind and takes chances on people. I think that Hinton's allowing her main character to be a real person, who is more often than not unsure of everything he does, gives the book its credibility with teenagers.

Fantastic, must-read, childhood-defining book. Reading Hinton's "That Was Then, This is Now" is worth it just for the few brief cameos a slightly older Ponyboy makes throughout the story. ...less

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Ismaa rated it:

(review of isbn 014038572X)

05/23/08

When I first read this book, it was for 8th grade and usually the school recommends terrible books for us, but this was the exception of the whole school year. Once I read it, I knew it was one of those books I'd end up buying and read again from time to time, because like those other books, each time I read it, I learn/realize something new I hadn't noticed while the book simultaneously still gives me the same emotional reaction as if each time I read it it is my first.

Of all the characters...more When I first read this book, it was for 8th grade and usually the school recommends terrible books for us, but this was the exception of the whole school year. Once I read it, I knew it was one of those books I'd end up buying and read again from time to time, because like those other books, each time I read it, I learn/realize something new I hadn't noticed while the book simultaneously still gives me the same emotional reaction as if each time I read it it is my first.

Of all the characters of literature, I found I could relate to Ponyboy Curtis the most, not because of his background or personality, but just some aura he presented. I was 14 when I read it, and Ponyboy is supposed to be 14, too. :P Off the bat, I loved the main character and the fact that a woman wrote a novel about young men. There's one quote I don't remember but it's about how we all see the same moon from different places around the world but each of us is so very different.

Generally speaking, it's about poor kids and rich kids and how they interact during this time period, what they think of each other and so on, and how the effect of death in the rival gang affects everyone. It's just such a sad story to me because these kids are all alike but income and other things like that separate them from conversing or interacting, and if they were to hang out, there'd be commotion and disarray probably. We're all equal humans but we're so separated by such trivial things that deep down inside don't even matter and it's so idealist to believe we could all just get along so well.

Another part I loved so much was the emphasis of Robert Frost's poem, "Nothing Gold Can Stay."
Johnny: It's like the mist is what's pretty, ya know? All gold and silver.
Ponyboy: Hmm
Johnny: Too bad it can't stay like that all the time.
Ponyboy: Nothing gold can stay.
Ponyboy quotes the poem, and at first I didn't understand it at all. Things can't stay the way they are forever and that can be taken positively or negatively.

I think this book was written around the 1960s or so, but obviously, through the years it's become a classic and people continue to read it. It's a short read and I think it can make anyone cry, reading it through Ponyboy's perspective, and seeing how he reacts to everyday life. I say this a lot, but it's amazing with a capital A. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who loves to read because I know that you'll love once you pick it up and will be unable to put it down. Give it a try. :P...less

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Sara rated it:

(review of isbn 014038572X)

09/30/07

bookshelves: advisorybooks

Read in August, 2007

recommends it for: Anyone

The Outsiders is very similar to The West Side Story, it talks about 2 gangs however, in th is story, it’s about the relationships and gap between the rich and poor. The two gangs named, The Greasers and The Socs, are common enemies in their society. However, the love part is very similar to Romeo and Juliet, where one person from each of the gangs or the enemies falls in love with each other. Cherry from the Socs falls in love with Ponyboy and Johnny, Greasers. Like in Romeo and Juliet, it ...more The Outsiders is very similar to The West Side Story, it talks about 2 gangs however, in th is story, it’s about the relationships and gap between the rich and poor. The two gangs named, The Greasers and The Socs, are common enemies in their society. However, the love part is very similar to Romeo and Juliet, where one person from each of the gangs or the enemies falls in love with each other. Cherry from the Socs falls in love with Ponyboy and Johnny, Greasers. Like in Romeo and Juliet, it causes more conflict between one another.
The fight all began when Ponyboy was returning home from a movie and the Socs starts to bully them. They got into a big fight and boys from the Greaser comes to help but the problem did not end there. They started to develop bigger problems because the Greasers were hanging out with the girls, the Socs. Eventually, a lot of things starts to happen, fights breaks out, people dies. Johnny, one of Ponyboy’s friend, killed Bob, one of the Socs, because he was going to kill Ponyboy. So, Ponyboy and Johnny runs away to a church with the help of Dally, another Greaser. They are in the hideout for a week and Dally finally takes Johnny and Ponyboy home. However, on their way home, there was a fire in a children’s school; Ponyboy and Johnny decides to help and save kids. They became heros, but Johnny didn’t turn out good. While he was saving the kids, the roof of the school collapsed on him. It broke his back and eventually died at the end. Additionally, at the end, Ponyboy realizes the greater meaning of life, family. He realize how family and friends meant so much to him.
The point where Ponyboy realize how important family means to him is the part where he finally grows up. He finally understands the bigger meaning of life instead of just violence. The Outsider is very much the same as The West Side Story. The characters deals with the same obstacles, the same people dies, the same situation happens to Johnny, but the names of the characters are very different and the name of the gangs are different too, instead of Greasers and Socs, they have the Jet and Sharks. However, pretty much everything else is the same.

This is like my 4th time reading this book, it is so good!...less

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d-pain rated it:

(review of isbn 014038572X)

10/09/07

bookshelves: currently-reading

Read in July, 2007

In the book the outsiders Ponyboy is trying to fit in with his gang the greasers. He is also is trying to watch his back from the other rival gang the socs(or sociats). A greaser and the socs can't stand one another they're like the New York Yankies vs the Boston Redsox. A greaser is the poor gang they don't have too much money. they are the ones you'll see across the tracks sitting with there smooth comb back hair with the black leather jacket and sipping on a pop. While on the otherside you...more In the book the outsiders Ponyboy is trying to fit in with his gang the greasers. He is also is trying to watch his back from the other rival gang the socs(or sociats). A greaser and the socs can't stand one another they're like the New York Yankies vs the Boston Redsox. A greaser is the poor gang they don't have too much money. they are the ones you'll see across the tracks sitting with there smooth comb back hair with the black leather jacket and sipping on a pop. While on the otherside you'll see the "the rich kids" the ones whom future welled planed, and those who have the money and attiuide to go to college.
Ponyboy parents died in a deadly car accident and now he is being guarded by his brothers Darry and Soda Pop. Darry the oldiest he's about 20 and Soda Pop the second he is about 16. Ponyboy and his brothers don't get alone well especially him and Darry. All the brothers are greasers.
One day Ponyboy and Soda Pop was wallking down from a gas station that Soda Pop worked at and while they were walking they saw some socs and they started to fight and when Ponyboy got home he realized that the soc had cut his hair with a switch blade. Then on the same night him and Darry got into it and Poneyboy ran away from home. he meets with his friend Johnny and they head for the train station. then he gets with one of the gang leaders and they stay that night at a church. That morning they go to get somthing to eat and the church catches on fire.Poneyboy saves the children and is a hometown hero...it goes on
The authors purpose of this story was to tell the reader that nomatter what surroundings you come from you have a purpose in life and don't let the worst get the good of you.The theme was about the samething. The author stated his point by not really telling you, but in away that you have to put your self in if your were in the situation. The writting in the book is effective you'll understand it if you read it. the boook is written in like a entertainment catagory. The book is a fiction book. It was good I liked it. ...less

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Mike rated it:

(review of isbn 014038572X)

01/14/08

Read in September, 2005

recommends it for: anyone

The book is called The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. One of the main characters in pony boy, he has two brothers, the oldest is like a father to pony boy, he looks after him like a father would, the other brother is your average greaser. Their parents died which I’m sure they feel terrible about; you can really feel empathy for them. There neighborhood is kind of a poor/middle class one. In it are two gangs, the Socs and the greasers. The Socs are rich and more popular with the girls and other peo...more The book is called The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. One of the main characters in pony boy, he has two brothers, the oldest is like a father to pony boy, he looks after him like a father would, the other brother is your average greaser. Their parents died which I’m sure they feel terrible about; you can really feel empathy for them. There neighborhood is kind of a poor/middle class one. In it are two gangs, the Socs and the greasers. The Socs are rich and more popular with the girls and other people. Both gangs are rivals with each other.

Pony boy and his best friend Johnny end up getting in a fight the Socs, during the fight one of the Socs is accidentally stabbed with a knife. This sets a mood of panic and distress throught the story. This is pretty much what the whole story revolves around. Every one was shocked. Pony boy and his best friend get scared of what could happen because of what they did, so they hide. Eventually they go home and receive their punishment.

The Outsiders is a great book. All the characters play their own role in the story.Their language consists of swearing and slang terms Pony boy is that teenager who thinks he has it the worst and the grass is greener on the other side. His brother, like I said earlier, is like the father, and the other brother is just average, but still contributes to the plot of the story significantly. Pony boy really seems to be the one who changes the most through out the entire story. He learns about life and death, and it seems like he shouldn’t be a greaser or a Soc, throughout the story he kind of has to choose between the two, to me that brought the two gangs closer together in a way.

This is diffidently one of better books I have read, it kept me interested though out the story because the things happening in the story are things that could actually happen and I’m sure have happened in the past, also, theres alot of foreshawdoing, like when the main fight happens, there was so much suspence leading up to it you just knew something bad was going to happen, and it did. I would diffidently put this book on your to read list.

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Chris rated it:

(review of isbn 014038572X)

06/08/08

recommended to Chris by: a friend in middle school
recommends it for: teenagers savvy enough to handle it

In high school, what I thought I learned from this book wasthat, underneath it all, most hoods have hearts of gold. I had to learn the hard way that this was not so, and I worry about the legions of teenage girls who may be similarly affected - and confused - by the story of poor, unfortunate Ponyboy Curtis. Oh, the story is good, and I understand why so many teenagers have been drawn to it over the years. I have discovered, though, that boys rarely like it. The fact that it was written by a tee...more

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Weee!!wawaLAA!! :3 rated it:

(review of isbn 014038572X)

05/15/08

Read in May, 2008

recommended to Weee!!wawaLAA!! :3 by: school :)

this is one of the best books i 've ever read
i'm sure i'm not supposed to go on, but you know what boredom does to you.
the funny thing is that this book reminds me of a relation of my own life.
though people don't realize it, the walnut area is definetely associated in such things.
I mean coming from the rowland district, i support them much more than walnut, since all they do is flaunt their money, in my opinion.
So see here, i think my classmates can't understand anything i'm saying, ev...more

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Blake rated it:

(review of isbn 014038572X)

12/02/07

Read in November, 2007

recommends it for: those who enjoy extremely twisted plots

The novel I chose to read outside of school is called The Outsiders. It was written by S.E. Hinton. Other books by Hinton include Tex,Rumble Fish, The Puppy Sister, and many more. This story is a coming of age tale about a young orphan and his brothers. They belong to a gang called the greasers. The story is told from the point of view of the character Ponyboy and relates his struggle to cope with his family situation and a battle against the rich, snobby socs. Y...more

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Tim H rated it:

01/03/08

recommends it for: People who like action

The outsiders was a book that I liked. It had many twists and turns that made the book more intresting to me. It also had action which I need in a book I read. The book was mostly about a boy that was 15 named Pony Boy and his friend Johnny and the adventures that they go on.
They're both in a gang called the Greasers. Their the bad boys on the wrong side of town that are all good friends but can get into trouble. Pony Boy lives with his brother Dallas. On one day Pony Boy came home late ...more

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Dianna rated it:

(review of isbn 014038572X)

01/10/08

Read in January, 2008

recommends it for: anyone olde enough for pg-13

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

i actually read this book for assigned reading. it was good, and i could relate it to two other books i read by this author. i didn't take the time to think about it and find the "deep meaning", though. (i was in a hurry, it was assigned reading!)

this was the first of hinton's books, published when she was seventeen. it was based off of the situation in her school, metaphorically connected to the greasers and the socs. i loved the characters and personality and voice in this th...more

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Chantel rated it:

(review of isbn 014038572X)

06/20/07

bookshelves: young-adult

Read in January, 1984

I read this book when I was 13. It moved me so that as soon as I got to the end, I turned back to the beginning and read it straight through again. Of course, all this reading was accompanied by much heartfelt crying.

I told my mom that it was my favorite book. She told me it was not my favorite book. She really meant it wasn't the most well-written book I had ever read, and she was probably right about that. But no one call tell another person what is or isn't his/her/hir favorite...more

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Austin rated it:

(review of isbn 014038572X)

01/18/08

Read in December, 2007

My review is on The Outsiders by S.E Hinton. I gave this book a 4 star rating because of the great detail it has and the descrptive words in this book. The plot in this book is great and makes you want to keep on reading. This book also deserves a 4 star rating because of all the unexpecting events that occur in this book that creates suspense. That is some of the reasons why i gave The Outsiders a 4- star rating.

The Outsiders is about 4 young teenage boys, Ponboy, Dallis, Sodapop...more

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Trent rated it:

(review of isbn 014038572X)

01/16/08

recommends it for: everyone

I really enjoyed this book, The Outsiders. It has a lot of thrills and fun to read. The main character is named Pony Boy; he is a normal teenager living in the ghettos of New York. He has two brothers who are named Soda Pop and Darren. All three live together and are living in a tough time. They have this “war” with the upper class kids who the call Soc’s. The get into fights and jump each other all the time. This is a very exciting part of the story. Pony Boy has a best friend named Johnn...more

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Ben rated it:

(review of isbn 014038572X)

03/24/08

Read in December, 2007

recommends it for: Teenagers/Young Adults

The Outsiders Puffin Books, 1977, 180pp. $4.99
S.E. Hinton ISBN 0-14-038572-X

This compelling book by S.E Hinton tells the story of how decisions can shape one’s life and determine one’s future. The Outsiders begins in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when the protagonist, Ponyboy, encounters the socials, a group of rich white kids, and is threatened by them. Ponyboy is a teenage greaser, a white kid without money. As if determined by fate, he eventually runs into the same group ...more

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Ali rated it:

(review of isbn 014038572X)

06/13/07

Read in November, 2004

recommends it for: to all teens; 13 & up

When you think of someone who is an outsider you might think of S.E. Hinton's example when he writes the book "The Outsiders". YOu might think of someone who is "greasy" and that just how he decribes a group of kids in his book, the "greasers". The greasers are a group od kids that are far from the popluar rich kids, who he calls the "socs". In the book "The Outsiders" the two groups , greasers, and the socs hate each other. They groups CONSTANL...more

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Hank rated it:

(review of isbn 014038572X)

06/14/08

Read in June, 2008

synopsis- In the 1950s, a group or more or less overlooked kids band together in a gang called the greasers. Ponyboy, his two older brothers, and the rest are constantly at odds with the socs, the rival gang from the upper crust with the mustangs and checkered shirts. Ponyboy has to come to resolve his feelings of loyalty to his brothers and his gang with a growing sense of dissatisfaction resulting from punching one's way through life. This becomes especially clear when Ponyboy and another g...more

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Anita rated it:

(review of isbn 014038572X)

05/23/08

bookshelves: church-book-club

Read in May, 2008

The first time I read this book, I was in seventh grade and was more excited that we got to see the movie after the book was finished. Reading it as an adult has made a much bigger impression on me than as a teenager.

The first thing I did was read about the author. There were several things I learned that blew me away. First of all S.E. Hinton is a woman! All this time I thought The Outsiders was written by a man, since it is about boys. Secondly, the author started writing this story...more

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Naomi rated it:

(review of isbn 014038572X)

05/20/08

bookshelves: advisory07-08foradvisoryonly

Read in May, 2008

This is probably one of the best books I have ever read. At first I was skeptical about reading S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders (written in 1967). But when I saw Copolla's movie adaptation starring Matt Dillon, Rob Lowe, C. Thomas Howell etc. I was amazed at how good the movie was. It was so real because you were able to connect with the characters since they grew up in tough neighborhoods trying to fit in society. So I decided tot read the book in order to find out if the movie actually is worse th...more

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