The Outsiders

S. E. Hinton’s novel, The Outsiders, is a perfect novel for an 8^th Grade classroom. It tells the story of two opposing gangs, the Greasers and the Socs, and the escalation of violence between them after one teenager is accidentally killed. Ponyboy, our protagonist, endures one unbelievable hardship after another as he loses his best friends. In a “classic” tale, the accidental murderer is named a hero after rescuing a group of children and is rewarded with a broken back and a newly enlightened mind. He helps a guilt-laden Ponyboy get his life back on track with his deathbed advice and serves as the voice of light in the novel.

Though the book may sound melancholic, it has amazingly deep and relevant themes for a multicultural classroom. Activities may be focused around topics such a gang violence, family relationships (Ponyboy and his older brothers have a dysfunctional connection), and suicide. The book is definitely teachable for girls and boys, especially in an inner-city or low-income setting. There are many opportunities for succulent vocabulary words and other teaching moments. The book even brings in Robert Frost and Gone With the Wind! Students will be able to make so many connections with this book and it would be ideal for prediction activities. Students will be amazed that the author was only 18 when Outsiders was published!

Hinton, S.E. The Outsiders. Viking Press, Dell Publishing, 1967.