The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton tells the story of a “greaser” named Ponyboy, and his struggles with gang violence, social classes, and finding his place in a world divided between the wealthy and the less fortunate.
The rich and poor are distinguished in this novel by the titles “Greasers” and “Socs.” The main characters are greasers Ponyboy, Johnny, Dally, Sodapop, Darry, Two-bit, and Steve.
Ponyboy and his friend, Johnny, must run away from home after an unfortunate accident between Johnny and a malicious “Soc.” They successfully escape with the help of an older, more experienced greaser named Dally, who gives them supplies to last for a while until he can leave to aid them.
A local church catches on fire while the boys are in the area, and, despite the stereotypes surrounding greasers, the group rushes to help children trapped inside. Unfortunately, Johnny is badly wounded in the rescue efforts, and this fateful event sets the rest of the book into motion.
This novel has a clear, concise writing style, and effectively tells a story of friendship and belonging. It’s easy to empathize with the characters, who feel almost uncannily real at times.
The socs and greasers come to a mutual understanding near the end of the book, emphasizing the message that things are bad everywhere, thereby validating people in unfortunate situations from all walks of life.
I highly recommend this book to teenagers and young adults who are looking for an impactful novel with a wonderful symbolic message. I wish I could experience this book again for the first time.
