March 9, 2009

The Outsiders Book Review

By: Bailey Hawke

***** (5 out of 5 stars)

In the novel The Outsiders author S.E Hinton describes the rivalry between Greasers and Socs. The plot takes place in Oklahoma with the gang also known as the Greasers with members in it such as Ponyboy, Sodapop, Johnny and many others. They wear their hair greasy and long with jeans and converse unlike the upper class rivals that Socs who are tidier and wear much nicer clothes.

Throughout the book S.E. Hinton describes the nonstop rival between the two classes and the bond between “the gang”. She shows this by discussions with each class and the gang standing up for each other and fighting back. During the book best friends Ponyboy and Johnny, both Greasers learn valuable lessons by saving people from a church and from past experiences that Johnny went through with the Socs. Ponyboy being the youngest brother has to deal with his older brother, Darryl yelling at him a lot and being very over protective. After his parents death he lives with Darryl and Sodapop his two brothers who create a strong friendship while dealing with the Socs and going to fight in the rumble, a big fist fight held at the lot with both classes. “The Gang” must also watch out for Dally a very tough trouble making greaser who had already gone to jail. S.E Hinton clearly shows relationship between Dally and Johnny after Dally makes a complex dission after a shocking move by Johnny.

S.E Hinton writes a book about typical teenage boys in Oklahoma that describes a very rough life for all of them, some even growing up without parents. I think that this book is suitable for middle schoolers and up. Middle school is the perfect reading level and people at that age could possibly relate to the text very well. Younger readers may be very struck with some outcomes and it may not be suitable for their ages. Anywhere from middle school is a great age even if the book is to easy for you past those ages. As a middle schooler I enjoyed The Outsiders very much and I thought that it was a fantastic read.