One sentence summary
The Outsiders is an inspiring coming-of-age novel by S.E. Hinton about two rival groups of teenage boys, the Greasers and the Socs, and the struggles they face growing up in Oklahoma.
Book genre
The Outsiders is a coming-of-age novel in the realism genre.
Main topic of the book
The main topic of The Outsiders is the struggles of growing up and the various forces at work in teenagers’ lives.
Key ideas
- Class conflict: The novel explores the tension between the Greasers and Socs and the ways in which class divides them, including the different expectations society places on each group.
- Loyalty: The novel explores the concept of loyalty as the Greasers stick together despite the pressures of the outside world.
- Change: Through the characters’ experiences, the novel looks at the ways in which individuals can grow and change.
- The American dream: The Outsiders examines what it means to live the American dream and the importance of home and family in achieving it.
Main parts of the book and a short summary
The Outsiders is narrated by 14-year-old Ponyboy Curtis, a member of a lower-class group called the Greasers. Ponyboy and the other Greasers have a strained relationship with the wealthier Socs, and the two groups often come into conflict with each other. Ponyboy and his friends get into a rumble with some Socs, and Ponyboy ends up killing one of them in self-defense. This leads to Ponyboy and his friends going into hiding for a while. Through their experiences, Ponyboy and his friends learn valuable lessons about friendship, loyalty, and facing their fears.
Key takeaways
- The Outsiders is an inspiring coming-of-age novel that examines the struggles of growing up and the various forces at work in teenagers’ lives.
- It explores themes of class conflict, loyalty, change, and the American dream.
- The novel follows a group of teenage boys, the Greasers, as they learn valuable lessons about friendship, loyalty, and facing their fears.
Author’s background and qualifications
S.E. Hinton is an American writer best known for her classic young adult novels, such as The Outsiders. She was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1948 and wrote her first book, The Outsiders, when she was only 16 years old. The book was a huge success and was adapted into a film a few years later. Hinton’s works often explore the themes of adolescence and youth culture, and she has received many awards for her work, including the Margaret Edwards Award in 1991.
Target audience
The target audience for The Outsiders is young adults, particularly teens aged 13 to 18.
Publisher and first publication date
The Outsiders was first published in 1967 by Viking Press.