The Outsiders: A Comprehensive Review

Ponyboy Fan Club, who's with me?

“Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold . . .” The pillow seemed to sink a little, and Johnny died.”

― S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders

In middle school, most of us are required to read the literary masterpiece by S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders. I had the best 7th-grade English teacher who made everything about that class fun. (I am currently studying English Education in college.) I had never liked reading growing up. I would read the books we were required to read like To Kill a Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies, and even though they were classics, none of them stuck out to me like The Outsiders did.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a coming-of-age novel set in the 1960s that follows two rival groups, the working-class "Greasers" and the wealthier "Socs." The story is told from the perspective of Ponyboy Curtis, a 14-year-old Greaser who grapples with issues of identity, class conflict, and loyalty. After a confrontation between the two groups results in the death of a Soc, Ponyboy and his friend Johnny go on the run. The novel explores themes of friendship, violence, and the struggles of growing up in a divided society, ultimately emphasizing the shared humanity of both groups.

This was the first time in my life that I truly experienced a parasocial relationship. I felt a deep love for the character of Ponyboy Curtis. Being around his age at the time I first read this book, I felt a connection to him. He felt so familiar to me in ways I can’t explain. This novel revolutionized the genre now known as Young Adult Fiction. At only sixteen years old, S.E. Hinton was able to depict teenage struggles and highlight important topics that weren’t talked about. The novel also paved the way for more complex and realistic portrayals of youth in literature, breaking away from the more sanitized or idealized versions common in books before its time. It challenged stereotypes by presenting both the "Greasers" and the "Socs" as multi-dimensional, allowing readers to see beyond their labels.

When it came time for this novel to be adapted into a film, we witnessed actors Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, Matt Dillon, Emilio Estevez, and Tom Cruise perfectly bringing to life the characters we had grown to love from the novel. When a book is adapted into a film, we often hear the phrase “The book was better”. In my opinion, this movie perfectly captures the book's essence, which is often lacking in modern book-to-movie adaptations.

In 2024, The Outsiders musical has won a well-deserved Tony Award. 56 years after the novel was published, the popularity of The Outsiders is stronger than ever. They managed to take the original story and seamlessly translate it onto the stage. It gained popularity in a short time. From the music down to the set pieces and the cast, we were able to see our favorite childhood characters in a new light once again. I usually don't like multiple adaptations, but every adaptation of The Outsiders has been amazing.

Fun Fact: Ponyboy Curtis himself told me that he loved me, and here’s proof.

Thanks, Tommy Howell for being a highlight of my childhood.

Stay Gold, my friends.