The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton

Reviewed by Vicki Chou, 13, Pennington, NJ

The Outsiders is a wonderful book for people who love all types of stories. It is a book for someone who enjoys reading about gangs and friendships. It is also a perfect book for those who enjoy a good laugh and cry.

The Outsiders is about Ponyboy Curtis, a fourteen year old boy whose only family is his two older brothers, and his gang. Where he lives, people like him- poor kids with long, greasy hair- are called greasers. Their rivals the Socs (rich kids) are one thing that bothers everyone in their neighborhood. One night when a gangmember kills a Soc, Pony goes through a series of trials and his life as he knew it was over.

This was the best book I ever read. It was written when S E. Hinton was sixteen, so the way she wrote the story (in Ponyboy's point of view) was very real, and it made sense. It was written very well, with lots of emotion and creativity. The Outsiders is a sad, but somewhat humorous story. I recommend it to anyone who is understanding, a deep thinker, and especially those who love watching sunsets.

"Vicki Chou is a seventh grader at Timberlane Junior School. She lives in Pennington, NJ and has a brother and a sister. Vicki likes reading, swimming, and watching movies. She also plays the violin and likes skiing in the winter."

Teacher: Pat Coats

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