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Outsiders
... The book that I will be reviewing is The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. This book was outstanding in more ways than one. First off S.E. Hinton was only 16, yes I said 16 when she wrote this book. That amazing fact is the reason that I chose this book and boy am I glad I did. Once I started this book it was amazing how hooked I was on it. Every free minute I had I put in to reading this book.The book starts off talking about two gangs, the Greasers and the Socs. The Greasers are poor kids who wear leather and slick their hair back with gel. The Socs are the exact opposite. They are rich kids who drive really nice, expensive cars and where nice clothing. They have many fights but one fight it went to the extreme. "I KILLED THAT BOY" is the remark of a greaser named Johnny. Although he was acting in self defense, him and Pony boy Curtis (the main character) run away to another toewn and they stay in a cabin until things calm down. This event is the set up of many events to come. Such as a rumble is set up. A rumble is a gang fight. All these events keep you asking why Greasers and Socs are so different and why can't they get along. After all they are both humans and nothing makes one superior to the other.All in all I think that any teenager who reads this book will like it, probably love it. I know that now I will read more of S.E. Hinton's books because if she wrote this when she was 16 then I cant imagine how good of a writer that she is now. I'm glad that is chose this book!.
Outsiders
IM NOT GOING TO SAY I LOVE THE STORY IT'S KINDA LAME PONYBOY WAS REALLY OBNOXIOUS HE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT ANYONE BUT HIMSELF THE STORY IS NOT SO BAD I JUST DIDN'T LIKE THE MAIN CHARACTER HE DOESN'T APPRECIATE WHAT HIS OLDER BROTHER IS DOING FOR HIM HE WANT'S HIM TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNIES HE DIDN'T HAVE BUT PONYBOY JUST DOESN'T GET IT.
Outsiders
The Outsiders The Viking press, i80pp.,$6.99S.E. Hinton ISBN 0-14-038572Have you ever experienced being in a gang? Knife fights, rumbles, beer blasts. If you want to, this is book you need to read. One book of the many written by S.E. Hinton, this one is the best and most exciting. Ponyboy is a fifteen year old kid that grows up in a gang with his two brothers, (Darry and Sodapop). His dad left them and the mother past away. They go through some rough times, fights, the Cops, and anything you can imagine.Ponyboy is walking home and gets jumped by three Socs and they beat him up pretty good. They almost slit his throat. Being the youngest brother and one of the youngest gang members is a hard thing to do. But Ponyboy seems to put up with it pretty well. Ponyboy, and his good friend jonny, decided to sleep in the alley and had a smoke in the park. A blue mustang pulled up. It was the Socs. What happens next.......read the book to find out.I loved the book. Once you start reading it is hard to stop. It is so exciting and it has so many cliffhangers. If I had to rate this book, I would give it a 5. This book is great and I think you should read it.Alex Encarnacion
Outsiders
The Outsiders The Viking Press,180pp, $6.99S.E. HINTON ISBN 0-14-038572The Outsiders, written by S.E Hinton is based on a hood`s life at the age of fourteen. This story will bring you the adventures and dangers that the greasers (Ponyboy, Johny,Two-bit, Sodapop, Darry, and Dally)face. The Socs (the upperclass kids at the other side of town) drive through the greasers part of town looking for people to beat up. One day Ponyboy and Johny are minding their own business when 3 Socs jump out of a Mustang and try to jump Ponyboy and Johny and things get out of hand. The adventures that Ponyboy and the rest of the greasers face are incredible as they go through hard times in years that are supposed to be the best times of there lives. This is and incredible story that everyone should read. I liked this book because it was written very well and it pertains to real life situations.
Outsiders
Ponyboy Curtis is the narrator of The Outsiders. He tells us the rivalry between two across town gangs, the Greasers and Socs. At first, being a Greaser, he only has one image of the Socs, wealthy kids with no problems to deal with. But after a fight was taken to far, everything changed. Ponyboy realizes that maybe things aren't always what they seem. Throughout this novel we listen as Ponyboy deals with rumbles, a bossy older brother, school, and the Socs, and watch him grow from it.Darry Curtis is the unofficial leader of the Greasers, who are known for their long, greasy hair. The personalities and characteristics range in this gang. There's Ponyboy who stays out of trouble and does well in school, and then there's Dally who robs stores for fun and has been locked up numerous times. Sodapop is happy-go-lucky and loves life. Lastly there's Johnny. Johnny comes from an abusive family and as a result he's very shy and fearful. The Greasers became his new family and look out for him. Johnny's a good person and becomes an important character.As you will see throughout the novel loyalty is a major theme. No matter how much trouble they're in, the Greasers always stick together. Leadership is another. Darry posses many leadership qualities. He's the leader of the gang, but also after his parents died in a car crash, he was forced to take responsibility and provide for his to brothers Ponyboy and Sodapop. A last theme is class change. The Socs and Greasers only see each other one way, rich kids and white trash. But after a character opens up to Ponyboy and shows that there's more to being a Soc than he thinks, the image starts to change. The gangs do not become friends in the end, but they do learn more about each other and broaden their image.I liked this book because it kept me wanting to read more. There was plenty of action and I enjoyed it. I think a lot of other students would like it too because they will be able to relate to it. I'm sure most students are not in gangs but the Socs can relate to the popular kids in school who everyone thinks are perfect with no problems, and the Greasers are the kids who are picked on. I would recommend The Outsiders.
Outsiders
The Outsiders was a great literary experience. Unlike other class assigned novels, this one was very interesting. How so? Well, teens these days aren't so interested in reading novels that take place during the American Revolution, or any other historical themes they can't relate to. The Outsiders takes place in a time period that may not be the time period they live in, but is very close. The novel contains many modern day themes and situations that kids of this time period will understand. There are fights, guns, fires, drugs, romance, and murder. Teens tend to enjoy something if it is close to real life, or something they have experienced. The Outsiders is that something.Set in a small neighborhood, live 2 social groups: The Greasers and The Socs. The Greasers are the lower class guys in town, while the Socs are upper class. These two groups have been at it for years, and showed no signs of stopping. That is, until the main character, Ponyboy Curtis, encounters a tragedy that will change the groups' lives forever, as well as his own. Ponyboy is a high school student who lives with his 2 brothers on the "rough side of town". Ponyboy is a straight A student, a track star, and a well-mannered kid. But not all is perfect in Ponyboy's life.His parents died in a car accident, and he is a member of the Greasers along with his brothers Darry and Sodapop. Darry Curtis is the oldest of the brothers who could have made it big in college. After his parents' deaths, he is forced to cut college and support his brothers. Darry can be described as buff, big, responsible, and very strict. He yells at Ponyboy constantly, just to keep him in line so he can live the life Darry could have had.Ponyboy believes otherwise. Sodapop is the family mascot, as he is funny, and always happy. Or so his brothers think. It seems that Sodapop can make the sad man happy, and can wash the frown off of anybody's face. Sodapop is Ponyboy's hero, just like how today young kids look up to siblings and worship them. The Curtis brothers are greasers, as stated before. Not only are the brothers Greasers, but their closest friends are too.This includes the brutal Dallas, the peaceful Johnny, the wise crack Two Bit, and Steve.This novel is mashed together by 3 themes: Loyalty, Leadership, and Social Differences.There is much mention of loyalty in the novel, because of the gang members stick together and never turn their backs on each other. When Dallas is mentioned to have been jailed several times in the story, the gang never turns their backs on him, and are not ashamed of giving him the title of "friend", even though Dallas is the most feared guy in town. Friends come before reputation in the outsiders, and that is true loyalty.Leadership was another major theme in The Outsiders. The Greasers are nothing without their leader, and they fear that they would fall apart without one. There are two debatable leaders in the outsiders: Darry Curtis and Johnny Cadge. Darry is a leader on the outside, while Johnny is a leader on the inside. Darry is a leader, because he is the most responsible man in the gang. The Greasers also see Darry as the toughest of them all, which clearly states their beliefs for a strong leader. Johnny on the other hand, shows none of these characteristics. He is not very smart, brave, or strong, but everyone in the Greasers has a place in their heart for Johnny. Johnny's parents are abusive drunks who honestly wouldn't care if Johnny died. Johnny has never experienced a real family, and the Greasers ARE that family. Everybody in the gang respects him, and listens to his request. Even Dallas will listen to Johnny's requests, and he doesn't listen to anybody but himself. The gang believes that the only reason why the gang hasn't broken up is because of Johnny. Without him, they fear that the Greasers will just be some other destroyed gang. This is proof that Johnny might possibly be 2nd in command of the Greasers. The last theme is a big one that basically IS the book's plot.This theme is called "Dispute between social classes". As stated, Greasers are lower class, Socs are high class. Socs drive mustangs, Greasers drive their feet. Socs drink alcohol, Greasers drink soda. Greasers have long, greasy hair, Socs have short, clean hair. These two groups are the exact opposites, and continue to fight over their differences. Fights burn on, just so the groups can prove who is better than the other.The book is almost entirely involved on the never ending disputes of the two groups.That is what makes this theme, the most important.This book is a classic, and I'd recommend it to just about anyone. Although this review makes the novel sound like a violent bloodbath, it really isn't. There's plenty of drama, romance, crime, and even humor. I'd give this book a four out of five. I don't give it a five because some events are a bit too old, and a bit unbelievable. Now I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll leave it up to the readers to understand what it is I'm saying."The Outsiders" is a great novel that is intended for today's youth, who will get a better understanding of the events. You do not want to miss out on "The Outsiders".