The Outsiders
by S.E. Hinton

Penguin Group, 1967, 180 pp., $6.99
ISBN 0-14-038572

The Outsiders is a book about two different kinds of gangs: the Socs and the Greasers. Ponyboy Curtis and Johnnycake were sleeping in the vacant lot, when the Soc gang comes along in their nice car, and Johnny does something good for his buddy Ponyboy but something bad for the Soc. Something that will change his life forever, something so bad that Ponyboy and Johnny will have to run away for a little while, but even when they run away something else happens, something tragic!

Ponyboy has two older brothers, Sodapop, and Darrel. Since their mother and father died in a car crash, Darry the oldest one of them all has to look out for Ponyboy and Sodapop. Darry always yells and gives Ponyboy a hard time, but what Ponyboy doesn’t realize is that Darry just does that because he wants Ponyboy to turn out good and he cares about him. I think that if all these brothers care and look out for each other they will do well in life together.

The theme of this book is that there are two gangs that don’t get along very well, so they jump each other they just hate each other so they plan to fight in a rumble!  A lot people in their gangs don’t really like the fighting, but a lot of them never confess it to each other.

This book is for people who like to read about violence, action, loyalty, and brotherhood. It’s also for people who can handle surprise endings.

When I read this book The Outsiders, I loved it. It has great detail, and lots of action, and surprises. And I love how the whole gang acts like a family by protecting and caring for each other. I recommend this book to people who love adventurous, and brotherhood.

~ reviewed by Michelle