The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a story about Ponyboy, his brothers, his unexpected group of friends, and the cruel reality that they were forced into—all because of their circumstances and social class. Ponyboy is an outcast and a loner from his perspective, yet he prefers it to be that way since he already likes doing activities by himself. But when tragedy strikes, and he is forced into a life filled with violence with those he cares about, it is up to Ponyboy and the boys to survive.

This dramatically-paced story is one that manages to use its words to draw you into the grimy world of The Outsiders and take you through their trials and tribulations as they try to make their way in the world before it devours them whole. Each of Hinton’s characters manages to show that while there are always sides that everyone knows a person by, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t also many other facets to them. This idea, in a way, represents all of us readers who have those sides to us that may make us “outsiders” too. This type of darker story would appeal moreover to young adults and older teens. Nonetheless, it would be entrancing to anyone who loves reading a genre that hits closer to the more difficult side of reality.

Review by: Hailey Rafols

Hailey is a virtual volunteer at Sylmar Branch Library. She is an 11th grader at Bishop Alemany High School.

—Dana Eklund, Sylmar Branch Library