Citation: Hinton, S. E. (1997). The outsiders. Penguin Young Readers Group. Original work published 1967.
Set in Oklahoma in 1965, teenager Ponyboy Curtis grows up on the wrong side of the tracks and comes into his own against a backdrop of social prejudices and violence.
Because of the strong content in this book, the following trigger warnings must be included: violence, death, police violence, injuries caused by fire, stabbing, attempted drowning, and abuse. S.E. Hinton, reportedly, came up with The Outsiders after witnessing the class divide between students at her high school and the violence that would frequently erupt because of it. While the tension described in this book may not be as apparent in modern society, youth 13 and up will still be able to find themselves in the characters and recognize similar bonds between characters that they have with their own circle of friends. The times may have changed between now and when The Outsiders was first written, but some things remain a universal part of growing up.
Check out our other review of The Outsiders here.