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The Outsiders is just as relevant and groundbreaking today as it was when it was written in 1967, breaking
convention with honesty and realism. As the Horn Book said, "The Outsiders was responsible for instigating
a whole new vision of relevance in books for teens." (Volume 79, Issue 2). The power of the story is its characters
- their passions, contrasts, weaknesses, and paradime about the world around them. The fast paced story of two rival
gangs becomes a story of love, survival, and courage to continue living in the face of crisis.
Ponyboy Curtis narrates the story, giving the reader a first hand account of the story. Yet there are things that
Ponyboy doesn't realize until the end of the story, that the reader has the chance to see before that. A compelling
aspect of the story is the relationships between each member of the Greaser's Gang. Dallas, for example, is stone cold
and doesn't let anyone or anything cause him to crack. Since he doesn't show emotion, he contends, he cannot be hurt.
Another poignant relationship triangle is that of Darry, Soda Pop and Ponyboy (all brothers.) Darry and Soda have both
made sacrifices for Ponyboy, yet he fails to see the extent of the sacrifice, especially from Darry. Relationships
between the brothers are strained, leaving Soda Pop in the middle, being the peace maker. The love of the brothers does
not fail; it is put to the test and it realistically shows the challenges of these young boy's lives, yet it never fails.
The Outsiders is really a story of survival, of love, and of courage. The reason the book is so powerful
is the characters themselves come alive to any reader - even a reader who is far removed from the hard way of life these boys
must endure.
Hinton, S.E. The Outsiders. New York: Viking Penguin, Inc., 1967.
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