 | | The cast from the movie. |
The Outsiders
S.E. Hinton
The novel is the story of a traumatic time in the life of a recently
orphaned fourteen-year-old boy named Ponyboy Curtis. He lives on the
East Side, a member of the lower class and a gang of "greasers." Quiet
and dreamy, Ponyboy has conflicts with his older brother and guardian,
Darrel, who keeps the family together. The greasers—whom Ponyboy
distinguishes from "hoods"—are the heroes of the tale. Set against them
are the upper-class socials, or Socs, who enjoy drinking, driving nice
cars, and beating up greasers.  | | S.E. Hinton |
The circumstances of this social
situation result in the death of three teens. The story explores the
themes of class conflict, affection, brotherly love, and coming of age
in a way that young people readily appreciate. This novel's portrayal
of disaffected youth has been criticized for its violent content, but
it is now regarded as a classic of juvenile literature. It can be
considered one of the first examples of the "young adult" genre, and
after its publication literature for teens gained a new realism, depth,
and respect for its audience.
http://www.enotes.com/outsiders
| 
