The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is more than just a book you had to read in school for credit. Its presence in the literary world redefined what it means to write young adult literature and how we perceive what children should be exposed to when they read. Hinton’s novel created a conversation that is still ongoing today, but how did she manage to do that with one book?
Trigger Warning: The mention of teen violence may be triggering for some readers. Please exercise personal care when reading.
What is The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton?
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a young adult novel, published in 1967, that tells the story of a kid who ends up in a situation that goes too far and the consequences that follow. Ponyboy lives with his family of brothers, blood and found, in his neighborhood where he tries to avoid trouble. When the Socs, a group of wealthy white kids in a rival gang against the Greasers, take a night a bit too far, Ponyboy finds himself on the run with Johnny as they try to face the consequences of the death of a Socs.
Hinton’s masterpiece set the tone for teen protagonists left to handle consequences that are supposed to be outside their age range, creating a thought-provoking piece on misunderstood kids and their struggles. S.E. Hinton wrote this when she was sixteen and has since written several other meaningful novels, such as Tex and Rumble Fish. Over 15 million copies have been sold and translated into 30 languages since its release. The Outsiders novel was adapted into a movie in 1983 starring Ralph Macchio, C. Thomas Howell, Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, and several other known 80s stars. It also produced the 1990 TV series, The Outsiders, and The Outsiders Broadway musical.
How did it challenge the YA genre?
There is no doubt that this novel is for younger readers, as Hinton continues to follow the YA genre style in her writing. There are seldom adults in this novel, and when there are, they tend to be either family figures or authority, both of which the teens fear in one way or another. This perspective speaks true to that of teenagers, especially those looking to avoid trouble. This can also be seen in elements of the writing, such as the language and character development. This novel is fast-paced and a clear read for teens, making it a more enticing and enjoyable read. The character development shows realistic growth with how teens’ perspectives change for their parental figures, the actions they deem necessary when they are scared, and the emotions they experience when life gets dark.
Hinton’s novel opened up the conversation on depicting young protagonists as real people we see every day. We struggle, hurt each other, experience death, and experience emotions on heightened levels when we are scared and in a new situation. She displays all of this in her novel, and by doing this, she makes teens feel seen and understood with the struggles they are going through, whether it is to the extreme of the boys running away or the complex emotions of feeling like you are not enough for your parental figures. Hinton once commented, “Teenagers know a lot today. Not just things out of a textbook, but about living. . . Writers needn’t be afraid that they will shock their teenage audience. But give them something to hang onto.” This is reflected in her novel, especially since she wrote it at a young age when she wanted to see her own peers in literature after realizing the YA genre was not fully catering to them and their needs.
The Effect on the Genre Today
Today, young readers of all ages can see themselves represented in literature. The genre has been widely expanded from what used to be a majority of cis white men and has turned literature into a place where everyone, no matter what race, sexuality, experiences, etc., can find themselves in a book and feel understood for their existence in life. There is more freedom to speak on racial bias, low-income households, addiction, violence, and a myriad of other struggles teens face and know about in their everyday lives in the young adult genre because of pioneers in the genre, such as S.E. Hinton.
The Outsiders had been challenged as a banned book in states such as Wisconsin, Iowa, and West Virginia for its topics on gang violence, drugs and alcohol, strong language, and even family dysfunction. These objections tend to come from parents saying children aren’t ready for these topics, however, teens are likely to either experience or know someone who has experienced hardships such as those of the greasers in the novel, and by attempting to eliminate these voices in literature, adults are doing more harm to young readers that simply wish to find solace in the stories they read. While it is still a controversial subject, readers can now always find themselves in books, whether they are struggling with their mental health, their family lives, love lives, or any other aspects of their lives that they may otherwise be too embarrassed or worried to speak on.
There’s this notion that young readers must be shielded from aspects of life in literature so they can live their childhoods unexposed to harsh realities. This idea can be more harmful to children, especially when lots of children live in these environments and need an outlet to be seen and heard. S.E. Hinton allowed readers to see an emotional perspective of kids in serious trouble. From that point on, she redirected what it means to write young adult books for teen readers.
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Want to find books for young adult readers? Check out our Adventures Beyond Pages: A Young Adult Journey bookshelf on Bookshop.org.
