"The Outsiders" book review by: Difan Li

 The Outsiders Book Review

by Difan Li

The Outsiders, by S. E. Hinton is a coming of age novel that addresses major societal issues, including violence, gangs, and poverty, yet presents them in such a way that encourages readers to view things in a different perspective. Ponyboy Curtis, the protagonist of the story, lives in a world where he feels as if he is an outsider. Though he finds a family within a gang of boys, he struggles with good and bad within their society, and the division between social classes. The Socs are the wealthy, higher-status rival gang to the Greasers, the gang Ponyboy belongs to. The clear differences between them mark them on opposite ends of the spectrum and establish them as unshakable enemies. Yet even within the gang, Ponyboy is set apart by his childhood innocence and his ability to see or dream beyond the life in which they are trapped. I really enjoyed this novel because it was able to present a world entirely different from my own and introduce ideas that I previously did not come into contact with. The Outsiders holds appeal for almost any audience, as it is filled with action, perspective, romance, and suspense. I would recommend reading this book, more than for academic purposes, but to truly gain the experience that the author wishes to convey.