The Outsiders
				Hinton, S.E. 1967. THE OUTSIDERS. New York: Puffin Books. ISBN: 014038572X      "I'm not saying that either Socs or greasers are better; that's just the way things are" (page 3). As a greaser, Ponyboy views the Socs, abbreviated for Socials, as West-side rich kids who can get away with anything. Greasers, on the other hand, are almost like hoods and are known to be poorer and wilder than even the middle class.
		Ponyboy, the youngest member of an informal greaser gang, lives with his two brothers since his parents’ deaths. In addition to the three brothers, four other boys are members of the greaser gang and the seven boys are all like family. One night Ponyboy and his close friend Johnny, the second youngest gang member, socialize with a couple of Soc girls at the movies. As the group walks home, a blue mustang pulls up and, in order to avoid a conflict, the two girls get in the car with their Soc boyfriends and drive home.      Later that same night, Ponyboy leaves his house after fighting with his oldest brother, meets up with Johnny, and begins to runaway. Before the two get very far, the same mustang shows up and the Socs inside emerge. These are the same Socs who just four months earlier had beaten Johnny to near death and had caused him to become more nervous, jumpy, and scared. Johnny now, in order to save Ponyboy’s life, ends up killing one of the Socs and the two boys, with the help of another gang member who provides money and a gun, find themselves running from the “fuzz.”      Through the eyes of Ponyboy, the reader is able to get a better grasp on the concept of being an “outsider.” S.E. Hinton tells the tale through a smart, sharp boy who happens to live on the East side of town and who is living in a parentless family with brothers who are doing their best to make ends meet. As the protagonist, Ponyboy is the most well rounded character; however, we are also given insight into each of the other six gang members. Ponyboy gives a brief history of each boy which allows the reader to understand how the group dynamics and how each member fits in and needs the other members.      THE OUTSIDERS has become a young adult classic novel because the message of friendship and belonging is one that every generation of teenagers can appreciate and relate to. As the reviewer from Amazon.com says, “[it] is as profound today as it was when it was first published in 1967.” Amazon.com review. Available at http://www.amazon.com                                                YA Literature Home Page