The Outsiders

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This is a book review about The Outsiders that I’ve been reading. The book is written by the author Susan Eloise Hinton and she was only 17 years old when she wrote it. It is based on a true story that took place in her hometown in Oklahoma. She got the book published in 1967 and it is taking place in the 60’s. It has also been produced as a movie with many famous actors. For example Patrick Swayze and Tom Cruise.

The Outsiders gives an account of the life for a fourteen-year-old boy, named Ponyboy. He happens to live in the wrong part of town, but that does not make him stupid. As a matter affect he is one of the smartest in his class at school. But this book is not just about Ponyboy and how clever he is, it is also about rivalry between two gangs. The two gangs are Socs, the rich kids from west side, and the Greasers, from the east side. They never speak with each other, the only time they ever meet, eye to eye, are in their fights. Ponyboy often thinks about it, and comes up with the conclusion that they aren’t that different after all. They have different problems but they are still seeing the same sunrise. The book also includes feelings like happiness and sadness. When you read the book you follow Ponyboy and his situation in the society. You are also getting insight in how the rich kids feel about their problems. You get to know Ponyboy and see him growing and get over difficulties that life brings.

What the book really wants to tell us about, according to me, is that the differences between humans, rich or poor, aren’t that big. In the end we are just the same, with normal problems and feelings. For example you can see when Ponyboy talks to the rich kid Cherry and they realized that it doesn’t matter where you live because all the people in the whole world are watching the same sunset anyway. There is also much about brotherhood in the gangs among the other gang members. You can read about it when, for example, one of them has been physically abused and the gang members help that person. They really stick up for each other and don’t want to deny their background.

The Outsiders is one of the most captivating books I have ever read. It really puts the reader into the picture and it feels like you are the main character, Ponyboy. I assume that it is because of the author’s style of writing. Hinton writes in first person and that makes the reader more involved with the feelings and thoughts that the character, Ponyboy, experience. She also puts in small flashbacks so the reader can characterize the persons. For example she tells the reader what have happened before this story takes place. The Outsiders really caught me because of how the society just remained blind in front of these events. You read about this young boy who is trying to fit in with the society but can’t because of the invisible “differences” between people.

To conclude this review I think that it is amazing that a 17-year-old girl can write such a fascinating book as The Outsiders. The fact that the book also has been produced as a movie tells the reader that this is a very good book. In my...