Module 2--The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton



Source: http://www.cbc.ca/books/bookclub/books/youngadult/

Summary:

Ponyboy is a teenager raised by his oldest brother, 20 year-old Darry.  In the beginning, he does not get along well with Darry, but is close to his other brother, Sodapop.  All three are considered Greasers, a gang in direct conflict with the Socs.  Ponyboy and his friend Johnny befriend Soc member's girlfriends Cherry and Marcia while at the movies one night.  Later, this causes a fight that ends with Johnny fatally stabbing a Soc boy.  Ponyboy and Johnny run away to go into hiding.  A week later, Johnny decides to turn himself in, but is seriously injured trying to save children from a burning church.  Sadly, Johnny dies.  This causes Dally, an older friend who helped Johnny and Ponyboy's getaway, to commit suicide when he points an unloaded gun at police officers.  Ponyboy must deal with this set of events emotionally and socially.  The book ends with Ponyboy writing the events into a long report for a class assignment. 

APA Reference: 

Hinton, S.E. (2005). The outsiders.  New York, NY: Penguin Books. (Originally published in 1967.)

My Impressions:

I listened to this book via audio recording.  The first person narrative worked well with this format.  I found the characters and the plot believable, so I felt as if someone was in the room telling me the story as I listened.  This book certainly is a classic and the many universal themes will continue to appeal to new audiences for years to come.  Sibling relationships, socioeconomic status, violence, labels, gangs, and education are a few of these themes.  It is also a very readable book with a high interest level, so it would be a good book suggestion for a reluctant reader or a reader who struggles with comprehension skills.

Professional Reviews:

"Many readers have enjoyed spending time with Cherry, Ponyboy, and Soda. You can dwell on the themes of classism and stereotypes by reading Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet or The Merchant of Venice or by reading The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton."

B, M. (n.d.). [Review of the book The outsiders, by S.E. Hinton]. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. Retrieved from http://www.plcmc.lib.nc.us/readers_club/reviews/tresults.asp?id=997

" ...the heart of Hinton’s groundbreaking novel is still, indisputably, gold."

Peck, D. (2007, September 23).  The outsiders': 40 years later [Review of the book The outsiders, by S.E. Hinton]. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/23/books/review/Peck-t.html

Library Uses: 

• Me Poster: Allow students to make a poster or display that shows how they define their identity including friendships, favorite items, and culture.  Encourage students to look for commonalities amongst all the projects as well as read The Outsiders to see how its characters defined their identities.  

• Preachy Preachy Writers Night: Have students write a story that teaches an important lesson, just like Ponyboy did.   Invite students to share the stories in an Outsiders Coffeehouse Night or after school party.