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Jul 30, 2016TEENREVIEWCREW rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
The Outsiders is an old book. It is about a group of kids who come from a different socioeconomic background than others in their community. They are viewed as "Outsiders" to society; hence, the title. From the beginning till the end, I was heavily entertained by the plot. It was exciting, deep, and well thought. Furthermore, there were some sad moments in which I almost cried. However, there were also many moments that made me laugh as well. The Outsiders was an all-around emotional rollercoaster. I would recommend this book to young adult readers as they would be able to relate to all the characters. S.E Hinton goes in-depth into the struggles of growing up as a teenager and the social expectations around their roles. The book is short with only 192 pages. Thus, it is a book that will not ramble on for hundreds of pages and instead keep it short and exciting. All in all, The Outsiders is a very good read for teens and you should definitely give it a try! I give this book a 5/5 but wish I could rate it higher. @JamesDashnerd of the Teen Review Board at the Hamilton Public Library There are two types of people in the Outsider’s world, the greasers and the socs. The greasers live on the outskirts of town and the socs, short for “socials,” are higher in the social class and they love to live the posh life. Everything changes one tragic night when Ponyboy and Johnny get attacked by the socs. I love how this book teaches us about divided communities, empathy, self-sacrifice and honour. Also, it was nice to see how certain characters such as Ponyboy, were able to figure out their own identity. Certainly, this book is for ages 12 and up! @grumpykat of the Teen Review Board at the Hamilton Public Library I remember reading this book for English class in Grade 8. Looking at the cover, a boy smoking a cigarette, I immediately formed a distasteful opinion about the book. Little did I know, The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton would prove me wrong in just about everything I’d believed about it. The moment Ponyboy said he liked to “lone it anyway” and that watching a movie with someone was “kind of uncomfortable, like having someone read your book over your shoulder,” I found myself already reaching out to Ponyboy. As more characters, each one used to life in the streets, yet so unique and endearing, entered the scene, I had the incredible joy of being drawn into a story with a setting so different from my own. By the time I’d finished—and written an essay, a report, and a poem about it—I knew that this would be a book I’d keep close to me through the years. Yes, there are fights, with broken bottles and switchblades, drunk parents abusing their children, and police matters, but alongside these are sunsets, horses, brothers, and a few of the most beautiful friendships I’ve ever come across in literature. I strongly recommend The Outsiders, especially to skeptics: within less than 200 pages you’ll find a literary treasure. 4 stars out of 5 @StarRead of the Teen Review Board at the Hamilton Public Library