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{{Short description|1967 novel by S. E. Hinton}}
{{Refimprove|date=April 2010}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Infobox Book <!-- See ] or ] -->
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox book
| name = The Outsiders | name = The Outsiders
| image = ] | image = The outsiders 1967 first edition.jpg
| caption = First hardcover edition, 1967
| image_caption =
| author = ] | author = ]
| illustrator = | illustrator =
| cover_artist = ] | cover_artist = ]
| country = ] | country = United States
| language = ] | language = English
| series = | series =
| genre = ] | genre = ]
| publisher = ], ] | publisher = ], ]
| release_date = April 24, ] | release_date = April 24, ]
| media_type = Print (], ]), ] | media_type = Print (], ]), ]
| pages = 192 | pages = 192
| isbn = ISBN 0-670-53257-6 (hardcover reprint) | isbn = 0-670-53257-6
| oclc = 64396432 | oclc = 64396432
| followed_by = ] | followed_by = ]
}} }}


'''''The Outsiders''''' is a ] by ], first published in ] by ]. Hinton was 15 when she started writing the novel, but did most of the work when she was sixteen and a junior in high school.<ref>{{cite book | last=Hinton | first=S. E. | authorlink=S. E. Hinton | title=The Outsiders | origyear=1977 | year=2005 | publisher=Speak/Penguin Putnam | isbn=0-14-038572-X | chapter=speaking with S. E. Hinton | page=162}}</ref> Hinton was 18<ref name="sehinton1"></ref> when the book was published. The book follows two rival groups, the ] and the Socs (pronounced by the author as {{IPAc-en|s|oʊ|ˈ|ʃ|ə|z}}, short for ''Socials''), who are divided by their ]. '''''The Outsiders''''' is a ] by ] published in ] by ]. The book details the conflict between two rival gangs of ] divided by their ]: the ] "]s" and the ] "Socs" (pronounced {{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|oʊ|ʃ|ᵻ|z}} {{respell|SOH|shiz}}—short for '']''). The story is told in ] by teenage protagonist ], and takes place in ], in 1965,<ref name="sehinton1" /> although this is never explicitly stated in the book.


Hinton began writing the novel when she was 15 and wrote the bulk of it when she was 16 and a junior in high school.<ref>{{cite book | last=Hinton | first=S. E. | author-link=S. E. Hinton | title=The Outsiders | orig-year=1977 | year=2005 | publisher=Speak/Penguin Putnam | isbn=0-14-038572-X | chapter=speaking with S. E. Hinton | page= | url=https://archive.org/details/outsiders000hint | url-access=registration }}</ref> She was 18 when the book was published.<ref name="sehinton1">{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=SE Hinton.com|url=http://www.sehinton.com/misc/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100425081833/http://www.sehinton.com/misc/|archive-date=April 25, 2010|access-date=2010-04-13|website=www.sehinton.com}}</ref> She released the work using her initials rather than her feminine ]s (Susan Eloise) so that her gender would not lead male ]s to dismiss the work.<ref name=faq>
The book takes place in ], in 1965,<ref name="sehinton1" /> but it is never stated in the book.
{{cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=http://sehinton.com/misc/faq.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013090947/http://sehinton.com/misc/faq.html |archive-date=October 13, 2007 |website=sehinton.com |access-date= January 28, 2015 }}</ref>


A ] was produced in 1983, and ] appeared in 1990, picking up where the movie left off. A ] was directed in 1983 by ], and a short-lived ] appeared in 1990, picking up where the movie left off. A dramatic stage adaptation was written by Christopher Sergel and published in 1990. A ]-winning stage musical adaptation ] premiered on Broadway in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.theatermania.com/san-diego-theater/news/the-outsiders-musical-world-premiere-la-jolla_93457.html | title=The Outsiders Musical to Make World Premiere at la Jolla Playhouse &#124; TheaterMania }}</ref>


==Plot summary== ==Plot==
<!-- Per ], "There is no universal set length for a plot summary, though it should not be excessively long." Please use consideration when adding material to this section. -->
<!-- This plot summary is long enough; stop adding further information to it. -->
Ponyboy, a member of the Greasers gang, is leaving a movie theater when a group of Socs jumps him. His older brothers Darry and Sodapop save him. The next night, Ponyboy and his friends Dally and Johnny meet Cherry Valance and Marcia at a drive-in movie theatre. Ponyboy realizes that Cherry is nothing like the Socs he has met before. The Greasers walk Cherry and Marcia home, and Socs Bob Sheldon and Randy Adderson see them and think the boys are trying to pick up their girlfriends. Cherry and Marcia prevent a fight by leaving with Bob and Randy willingly. When Ponyboy comes home very late, Darry gets angry and hits him. Ponyboy runs away and meets up with Johnny. As they wander around the neighborhood, Bob, Randy, and three other drunk Socs confront them. After a Soc nearly drowns Ponyboy in a fountain, a terrified Johnny stabs Bob, accidentally killing him. Ponyboy and Johnny find Dally, who gives them money and a loaded gun and tells them to hide in an abandoned church. They stay there for a few days, during which time Ponyboy reads '']'' to Johnny and recites the poem "]" by ].


Ponyboy Curtis, a fourteen-year-old boy who is a member of a "gang of greasers", is leaving a movie theater when he is jumped by "Socs", the greasers' rival gang. Several greasers, including Ponyboy's two older brothers—the paternal Darry and the popular Sodapop—come to his rescue. The next night, Ponyboy and two greaser friends, the hardened Dally and the quiet Johnny, meet Cherry and Marcia, a pair of Soc girls, at a drive-in movie theater. Cherry scorns Dally's rude advances, but Ponyboy speaks civilly with Cherry, emotionally connecting with a Soc for the first time in his life.
When Dally comes to get them, he reveals that the fights between the rival groups have exploded in intensity since Bob's death. Johnny decides to turn himself in, but the boys then notice that the church has caught on fire and several children are trapped inside. When Johnny and Ponyboy rush to rescue them, burning timber falls on Johnny, breaking his back. Dally rescues Johnny. Ponyboy is relatively unscathed and spends a short time in the hospital. When his brothers arrive to see him, Darry breaks down and cries. Ponyboy then realizes that Darry cares about him, and is only hard on Ponyboy because he wants him to have a good future.


Afterward, Ponyboy, Johnny, and their wisecracking friend Two-Bit begin to walk Cherry and Marcia home, when they are stopped by Cherry's boyfriend Bob, who badly beat up Johnny a few months back. Bob and the greasers exchange taunts, but Cherry prevents a fight by willingly leaving with Bob. Ponyboy gets home at two in the morning, enraging Darry until he suddenly slaps Ponyboy. As Darry tries to apologize, Pony runs out the door and meets up with Johnny, expressing his anger at Darry's increasing coldness in the wake of his parents' recent deaths in a car crash.
Two-Bit informs Ponyboy that he and Johnny have been declared heroes for rescuing the kids, but Johnny will be charged with manslaughter for Bob's death. He also says that the Greasers and Socs have agreed to settle their turf war with a major rumble. The Greasers win the fight. After the rumble, Dally and Ponyboy visit Johnny and see him die. An overcome Dally rushes out of the hospital and robs a store. When he points is empty gun at the police, they shoot and kill him. Ponyboy faints and stays sick and delirious for nearly a week. While recovering, he tries to convince himself that Johnny is not dead and that he is the one who killed Bob.


Running away from home, Ponyboy and Johnny wander into a park, where Bob and four other Socs surround them. After some heated talk, Ponyboy spits at the Socs, prompting them to attempt to drown him in a nearby fountain, but Johnny stabs Bob, killing him and dispersing the rest. Terrified as to what to do next, Ponyboy and Johnny rush to find Dally, who gives them money and a loaded firearm, directing them to hide in an abandoned church in Windrixville. During their stay there, Pony cuts and dyes his hair as a disguise, reads '']'' to Johnny, and, upon viewing a beautiful sunrise, recites the poem "]" by ].
When Ponyboy goes back to school, his grades drop. Although he is failing English, his teacher says he will pass him if he writes a decent theme. In the copy of ''Gone with the Wind'' that Johnny gave him before dying, Ponyboy finds a note from Johnny describing how he will die proudly after saving the kids from the fire. Johnny also urges Ponyboy to "stay gold". Ponyboy decides to write his English assignment about the recent events, and begins: "When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: ] and a ride home..."
<!-- This plot summary is long enough; stop adding further information to it. -->


Days later, Dally comes to check on them, revealing that violence between the greasers and Socs has escalated since Bob's death into all-out city-wide warfare, with Cherry acting out of guilt as a spy for the greasers. Johnny decides to turn himself in and Dally agrees to take the boys back home. As they attempt to leave, they notice the church has caught fire and several local schoolchildren have become trapped inside. The greasers run inside the burning church to save the children, but Ponyboy is rendered unconscious by the fumes. At the hospital he discovers that he and Dally are not badly injured, but a piece of the church roof fell on Johnny and broke his back. Sodapop and Darry come to the hospital; Darry breaks down and cries. Ponyboy then realizes that Darry cares about him, and is only hard on him because he loves him and cares about his future.
==Characters==

The following morning the newspapers declare Pony and Johnny heroes, but Johnny will be charged with manslaughter for Bob's death. Two-Bit tells them that the greaser&ndash;Soc rivalry is to be settled in a final ]. Ponyboy and Two-Bit are approached by a Soc named Randy, Bob's best friend, who expresses remorse for his involvement in the gang war, lacks confidence about the rumble ending the feud, and says he will not participate.

Later, Ponyboy visits Johnny at the hospital, where he is in critical condition. On their way home, Pony spots Cherry and they talk. Cherry says she is unwilling to visit Johnny in the hospital because he killed her boyfriend. Pony calls her a traitor, but after she explains herself they end on good terms. After escaping the hospital, Dally shows up just in time for the rumble. The greasers win the fight. Afterward, Pony and Dally hurry back to the hospital to see Johnny, but he dies moments later and a hysterical Dally runs out of the room. Pony returns home that night feeling confused and disoriented. Dally calls the house to say that he has robbed a store and is running from the police. The greasers find Dally deliberately pointing an unloaded firearm at the police, causing them to ] him. Overwhelmed, Ponyboy faints and is sick in bed for many days due to the resulting ] from the rumble. When the hearing finally comes, the judge frees Ponyboy from responsibility for Bob's death and allows Pony to remain at home with Darry and Sodapop.

Ponyboy returns to school, but his grades drop. Although he is failing English, his teacher, Mr. Syme, says he will pass him if he writes a decent theme. In the copy of ''Gone with the Wind'' that Johnny gave him before dying, Ponyboy finds a letter from Johnny describing how he will die proudly after saving the kids from the fire. Johnny also urges Ponyboy to "stay golden". Ponyboy decides to write his English assignment about the recent events, and begins his essay with the opening line of the novel: "When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: ] and a ride home".{{sfn|Hinton|1967| p=180}}

==Major characters==
===Greasers=== ===Greasers===
*Ponyboy Curtis: The youngest Curtis brother, 14 years old, gets good grades and runs track. He is the narrator. *]: The narrator and the youngest Curtis brother, Ponyboy is 14 years old, and gets good grades and runs track. He is the most sensitive of the greasers (besides Johnny), and enjoys reading books.
*Sodapop Curtis: The middle Curtis brother, 16 years old, a high school dropout who works at a gas station. *Sodapop "Soda" Curtis: The middle Curtis brother, 16 years old, a popular high school dropout who works at a gas station. He is often described as being attractive and comedic, the reason for his popularity. He is a supportive brother to Ponyboy.
*Darrel "Darry" Curtis: The oldest of the Curtis brothers, 20 years old, has been caring for his brothers since their parents died in a car crash. *Darrel "Darry" Curtis: The oldest Curtis brother, 20 years old, who has been caring for his brothers since their parents died in a car crash. He is the unofficial leader of the gang. He is described as being very athletic and strong.
*Johnny Cade: Ponyboy's best friend. 16 years old, who is extremely quiet and lives with his ], neglectful, and ] parents. He is sensitive in the first part of the book. However, in the latter part of the book, Johnny faces his fears, becoming a hero-like figure.
*Dallas "Dally" Winston: The roughest of the Greasers, who lived on the streets of ] for three years.
*Dallas "Dally" Winston: A 17-year-old juvenile delinquent, he is the roughest and most volatile of the greasers, but cares more about Johnny than he does anyone else. He lived on the streets of ] for three years. He carries an unloaded firearm at all times.
*Keith "Two-Bit" Mathews: A wise-cracking ].
*Keith "Two-Bit" Mathews: A wise-cracking ]. He is known for carrying a ].
*Steve Randle: Sodapop's best friend since grade school. *Steve Randle: Sodapop's best friend since grade school.
*Timothy "Tim" Shepard: Leader of another greaser gang: an organized downtown one. He is also a friend of Dally's.
*Johnny Cade: Ponyboy's best friend, 16 years old, lives with his ] and ] mother and father.
*Curly Shepard: Tim Shepard's younger brother, mentioned as a friend of Ponyboy's.
*Sandy: Sodapop's disloyal girlfriend, who eventually leaves him.


===Socs=== ===Socs===
* Sherri "Cherry" Valance: Bob's girlfriend, attends the same high school as Ponyboy. * Sherri "Cherry" Valance: Attends the same high school as Ponyboy. Bob's girlfriend.
* Robert "Bob" Sheldon: Considered the leader of the Socs. Cherry's boyfriend who is stabbed and killed by Johnny.
* Marcia: Cherry's best friend.
* Randy Adderson: Bob's best friend and Marcia's boyfriend. After Bob’s death, Randy has a conversation with Ponyboy requesting for peace.
* Robert "Bob" Sheldon: Cherry's boyfriend, he is stabbed by Johnny.
* Randy Adderson: A friend of Bob's and Marcia's boyfriend. * Marcia: Cherry's best friend and Randy's girlfriend.
*Paul Holden: Darry's old friend from high school.
* David: A member of Bob and Randy's gang, he attempted to drown Ponyboy in the fountain.
* David: A member of the Socs who tries to drown Ponyboy in the fountain.


===Others=== ===Other characters===
* Jerry Wood: The schoolteacher responsible for the children that were in the abandoned church. * Jerry Wood: The schoolteacher responsible for the children who were in the seemingly abandoned church.
* Mr. Syme: Ponyboy's English teacher who assigns him a theme to write. * Mr. Syme: Ponyboy's English teacher who assigns him a theme to write that becomes the story of the novel itself.


==Controversy== ==Controversy==
''The Outsiders'' was a controversial book at the time of its publication and is still a frequently challenged book nowadays. It was ranked #38 on the American Library Association’s Top 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990–1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedbydecade/1990_1999/index.cfm |title=100 most frequently challenged books: 1990–1999 &#124; American Library Association |publisher=Ala.org |date= |accessdate=2012-07-24}}</ref> This book has been banned from some schools and libraries because of the portrayal of ], underage smoking and drinking, as well as strong language/] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://world.edu/worldedu_posts/banned-books-awareness-outsiders/ |title=Banned Books Awareness: The Outsiders &#124; Banned Books Awareness |publisher=World.edu |date=2011-05-08 |accessdate=2012-07-24}}</ref> However, in many schools today, the book is part of the curriculum for middle school and/or high school. ''The Outsiders'' was a controversial book at the time of its publication; it is still currently challenged and debated.<ref>Fallon, Claire (2017). "". ''The Huffington Post''. HuffPost News (Oath Inc.).</ref> It was ranked #38 on the American Library Association’s Top 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990–1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedbydecade/1990_1999/index.cfm |title=100 most frequently challenged books: 1990–1999 &#124; American Library Association |publisher=Ala.org |access-date=2012-07-24}}</ref> This book has been banned from some schools and libraries because of the portrayal of ], underage smoking and drinking, strong language/], and ].<ref>.'']'' Department of Special Collections.</ref> However, in many U.S. schools, the book is part of the English curriculum at the middle- or high-school level.<ref>Cummings, Siena (2017). "." ''Standard-Examiner''. Ogden Publishing Corporation.</ref>


==See also== ==Critical reception==
On November 5, 2019, the '']'' listed ''The Outsiders'' on its list of the ].<ref name=Bbc2019-11-05/>
* ]

== Legacy ==
Ponyboy Curtis appears in Hinton's later novel '']'' (1971).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hinton |first=S.E. |title=That Was Then, This Is Now |publisher=Penguin Group |year=1971 |isbn=978-0-14-038966-1 |edition= |location=New-York |pages=43–64 |language=English}}</ref>

], directed by ],<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFI{{!}}Catalog |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/67060 |access-date=2022-04-02 |website=catalog.afi.com}}</ref> has retained a fanbase since its release.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |last=O'Shansky |first=Joe |date=August 4, 2016 |title=The Curtis House in Crutchfield |url=http://www.thetulsavoice.com/August-A-2016/The-Curtis-House-in-Crutchfield/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515172908/https://www.tulsapeople.com/the-curtis-house-in-crutchfield/article_ae42c4d4-ff60-5aec-9e67-d91e5cc4c25d.html |archive-date=May 15, 2022 |access-date=June 6, 2017 |website=TulsaPeople Magazine |language=en}}</ref> The film is notable for casting young actors before their rise to fame, which includes ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tramel |first=Jimmie |title='The Outsiders' actor Matt Dillon tours Outsiders House Museum |url=https://tulsaworld.com/entertainment/movies/the-outsiders-actor-matt-dillon-tours-outsiders-house-museum/article_3e668d02-ac5e-11ec-8124-83c241a3144d.html |access-date=2022-04-10 |website=Tulsa World |date=March 25, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

] based on the characters of the novel and film aired in 1990. It consists of a different cast playing the same characters. It picks up right after the events of the film's ending and lasted only one season.

In ]' 2006 video game '']'', The Greasers and the Preppies/Preps, are based on ''The Outsiders''.

A stage musical ] held its world premiere at ] in February/March 2023. The production will be directed by Danya Taymor from a libretto by ], with songs by ] and music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations by Justin Levine.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 8, 2022 |title=The Outsiders Musical to Make World Premiere at la Jolla Playhouse |url=https://www.theatermania.com/san-diego-theater/news/the-outsiders-musical-world-premiere-la-jolla_93457.html |website=Theater Mania}}</ref> The show began previews on ] at the ] on March 16, 2024 and officially opened on April 11. It received 12 nominations at the ], winning 4 including ].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/16/theater/the-outsiders-best-musical-tony.html#:~:text=The%20gritty%2C%20bloody%20and%20relentlessly,seen%20on%20a%20Broadway%20stage | title='The Outsiders,' a Broadway Adaptation of the Classic Novel, Wins the Tony for Best Musical | work=The New York Times | last1=Paulson | first1=Michael }}</ref>

=== Museum and film locations ===
] opened in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on August 9, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tramel |first=Jimmie |date=August 5, 2019 |title=Outsiders House history stretches from land run to museum's opening night |url=https://tulsaworld.com/outsiders-house-history-stretches-from-land-run-to-museums-opening-night/article_0deacc5f-2df1-5af6-89eb-7c2860f996ba.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425024607/https://tulsaworld.com/outsiders-house-history-stretches-from-land-run-to-museums-opening-night/article_0deacc5f-2df1-5af6-89eb-7c2860f996ba.html |archive-date=April 25, 2022 |access-date=2022-04-25 |website=Tulsa World |language=en}}</ref> In 2009, hip-hop artist ] discovered the house that was used for the Curtis Brothers' home. Moving forward O'Connor kept the thought of buying it, which he eventually did in 2016.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Barnard |first=Matt |date=August 8, 2019 |title=From ruins to Tulsa icon: The story behind the famous Outsiders House |url=https://tulsaworld.com/entertainment/from-ruins-to-tulsa-icon-the-story-behind-the-famous-outsiders-house/collection_387abafc-58ab-51a2-8cc2-5519153c88fd.html |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=Tulsa World |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Krischer |first=Hayley |date=March 19, 2017 |title=Why 'Outsiders' lives on: a teen novel turns 50 |journal=The Herald |pages=3D}}</ref> O'Connor said he bought it sight unseen and when he first went inside that it was falling apart. With the help of friends, the Oklahoma Film and Music Office, the City Council, local business and individuals who volunteered the restoration started.<ref name=":222">{{cite web |last=O'Shansky |first=Joe |date=August 4, 2016 |title=The Curtis House in Crutchfield |url=http://www.thetulsavoice.com/August-A-2016/The-Curtis-House-in-Crutchfield/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515172908/https://www.tulsapeople.com/the-curtis-house-in-crutchfield/article_ae42c4d4-ff60-5aec-9e67-d91e5cc4c25d.html |archive-date=May 15, 2022 |access-date=June 6, 2017 |website=TulsaPeople Magazine |language=en}}</ref><ref name="tulsaworld.com">{{cite web |last1=Graham |first1=Ginnnie |date=April 2, 2016 |title=Ginnie Graham: Going inside 'The Outsiders' house |url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/columnists/ginniegraham/ginnie-graham-going-inside-the-outsiders-house/article_ca377a70-0045-57a6-b87d-d85a96be4562.html |access-date=June 6, 2017 |website=Tulsa World |language=en}}</ref> After raising funds the house went through extensive renovations to restore it and maintain its authenticity from the film.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Terrell |first1=Ron |date=January 12, 2017 |title='Outsiders' House: The Latest On The Renovations |url=http://www.fox23.com/news/renovations-continue-on-north-tulsa-home-seen-in-the-outsiders-film/483560436 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413013615/https://www.fox23.com/news/renovations-continue-on-north-tulsa-home-seen-in-the-outsiders-film/483560436/ |archive-date=April 13, 2022 |access-date=June 6, 2017 |website=Fox23 News}}</ref> A ] was set up for additional funds,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jayne |first=Ian |date=August 26, 2016 |title=A hip-hop icon is included in a team of enthusiasts dedicated to preserving The Outsiders house |url=https://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/a-hip-hop-icon-is-included-in-a-team-of-enthusiasts-dedicated-to-preserving-the-outsiders-house/Content?oid=2980957 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515195305/https://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/a-hip-hop-icon-is-included-in-a-team-of-enthusiasts-dedicated-to-preserving-the-outsiders-house/Content?oid=2980957 |archive-date=May 15, 2022 |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=Oklahoma Gazette |language=en}}</ref> notable donors include ] who donated $30,000 and ]. Also to raise funds, screenings of the film were organized that actor ] attended. Also in 2016, the street signs on the corner were changed to "The Outsiders way" and "The Curtis Brothers Lane".<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=Barnard |first=Matt |date=August 8, 2019 |title=From ruins to Tulsa icon: The story behind the famous Outsiders House |url=https://tulsaworld.com/entertainment/from-ruins-to-tulsa-icon-the-story-behind-the-famous-outsiders-house/collection_387abafc-58ab-51a2-8cc2-5519153c88fd.html |access-date=2022-05-15 |website=Tulsa World |language=en}}</ref> Since its opening, the museum now contains a collection of ''The Outsiders'' memorabilia.<ref name="FromOutside">{{cite news |last=Graham |first=Ginnie |date=May 5, 2017 |title=From the Outside: Hip-hop artist Danny Boy O'Connor saves a house, finds a mission |work=Tulsa World |location=Tulsa, OK |url=https://tulsaworld.com/lifestyles/magazine/from-the-outside-hip-hop-artist-danny-boy-o-connor-saves-a-house-finds-a/article_6cd301fc-bff8-5875-ab31-5945d00bf48c.html |access-date=July 28, 2021}}</ref> Aside from Howell, between its restoration and opening, other stars of the films visited this includes ], ], and ].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Tramel |first=Jimmie |date=August 5, 2019 |title=Outsiders House history stretches from land run to museum's opening night |url=https://tulsaworld.com/outsiders-house-history-stretches-from-land-run-to-museums-opening-night/article_0deacc5f-2df1-5af6-89eb-7c2860f996ba.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425024607/https://tulsaworld.com/outsiders-house-history-stretches-from-land-run-to-museums-opening-night/article_0deacc5f-2df1-5af6-89eb-7c2860f996ba.html |archive-date=April 25, 2022 |access-date=2022-04-25 |website=Tulsa World |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tramel |first=Jimmie |date=March 25, 2022 |title='The Outsiders' actor Matt Dillon tours Outsiders House Museum |url=https://tulsaworld.com/entertainment/movies/the-outsiders-actor-matt-dillon-tours-outsiders-house-museum/article_3e668d02-ac5e-11ec-8124-83c241a3144d.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515203251/https://tulsaworld.com/entertainment/movies/the-outsiders-actor-matt-dillon-tours-outsiders-house-museum/article_3e668d02-ac5e-11ec-8124-83c241a3144d.html |archive-date=May 15, 2022 |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=Tulsa World |language=en}}</ref> For his efforts on preserving a cultural landmark O'Connor received a key to the city of Tulsa.<ref>{{cite web |title=Stay gold: Hinton, Howell, O'Connor honored |url=https://www.tulsaworld.com/scene/books/stay-gold-hinton-howell-o-connor-honored-during-ceremony-at/article_38cfd58b-7c26-5563-9617-9d5f1839061a.html |website=Tulsa World|date=November 3, 2018 }}</ref>

In 2022, in ], the group Upward Sperry restored the now un-operational DX gas station seen in the film. The group's president Gary Coulson said, "It's really growing. I almost hate to say, but it's almost like a cult following. They stream through here – what that does is get people here." With O'Connor they are planning to revitalize ''Outsiders'' nostalgia in Sperry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ayer |first=Justin |date=September 26, 2022 |title=DX gas station from 'The Outsiders' draws revitalization in Sperry |url=https://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/dx-gas-station-from-the-outsiders-draws-revitalization-in-sperry |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=2 News Oklahoma |language=en}}</ref>


==References== ==References==
{{reflist|refs=
{{Reflist}}
<ref name=Bbc2019-11-05>
{{cite news
| url = https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-50302788
| title = 100 'most inspiring' novels revealed by BBC Arts
| work = ]
| date = 2019-11-05
| access-date = 2019-11-10
| quote = The reveal kickstarts the BBC's year-long celebration of literature.
}}
</ref>
}}

==Bibliography==
{{cite book|last1=Hinton|first1=S.E.|title=The Outsiders|date=1967|publisher=SPEAK|location=New York|isbn=9780140385724|url=https://archive.org/details/outsiders000hint}}


==External links== ==External links==
* *
*, '']'', April 26, 2017.
* By Dale Peck '']'' September 23, 2007
* By Dale Peck '']'' September 23, 2007


{{Outsiders (novel)}}
{{Hinton}} {{Hinton}}
{{BILBY Older Readers Award}} {{BILBY Older Readers Award}}
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Latest revision as of 12:03, 9 December 2024

1967 novel by S. E. Hinton

The Outsiders
First hardcover edition, 1967
AuthorS. E. Hinton
Cover artistRobert Hunt
LanguageEnglish
GenreYoung adult fiction
PublisherViking Press, Dell Publishing
Publication dateApril 24, 1967
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (hardcover, paperback), Audiobook
Pages192
ISBN0-670-53257-6
OCLC64396432
Followed byThat Was Then, This Is Now 

The Outsiders is a coming-of-age novel by S. E. Hinton published in 1967 by Viking Press. The book details the conflict between two rival gangs of White Americans divided by their socioeconomic status: the working-class "Greasers" and the upper-middle-class "Socs" (pronounced /ˈsoʊʃɪz/ SOH-shiz—short for Socials). The story is told in first-person perspective by teenage protagonist Ponyboy Curtis, and takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1965, although this is never explicitly stated in the book.

Hinton began writing the novel when she was 15 and wrote the bulk of it when she was 16 and a junior in high school. She was 18 when the book was published. She released the work using her initials rather than her feminine given names (Susan Eloise) so that her gender would not lead male book reviewers to dismiss the work.

A film adaptation was directed in 1983 by Francis Ford Coppola, and a short-lived television series appeared in 1990, picking up where the movie left off. A dramatic stage adaptation was written by Christopher Sergel and published in 1990. A Tony Award-winning stage musical adaptation of the same name premiered on Broadway in 2024.

Plot

Ponyboy Curtis, a fourteen-year-old boy who is a member of a "gang of greasers", is leaving a movie theater when he is jumped by "Socs", the greasers' rival gang. Several greasers, including Ponyboy's two older brothers—the paternal Darry and the popular Sodapop—come to his rescue. The next night, Ponyboy and two greaser friends, the hardened Dally and the quiet Johnny, meet Cherry and Marcia, a pair of Soc girls, at a drive-in movie theater. Cherry scorns Dally's rude advances, but Ponyboy speaks civilly with Cherry, emotionally connecting with a Soc for the first time in his life.

Afterward, Ponyboy, Johnny, and their wisecracking friend Two-Bit begin to walk Cherry and Marcia home, when they are stopped by Cherry's boyfriend Bob, who badly beat up Johnny a few months back. Bob and the greasers exchange taunts, but Cherry prevents a fight by willingly leaving with Bob. Ponyboy gets home at two in the morning, enraging Darry until he suddenly slaps Ponyboy. As Darry tries to apologize, Pony runs out the door and meets up with Johnny, expressing his anger at Darry's increasing coldness in the wake of his parents' recent deaths in a car crash.

Running away from home, Ponyboy and Johnny wander into a park, where Bob and four other Socs surround them. After some heated talk, Ponyboy spits at the Socs, prompting them to attempt to drown him in a nearby fountain, but Johnny stabs Bob, killing him and dispersing the rest. Terrified as to what to do next, Ponyboy and Johnny rush to find Dally, who gives them money and a loaded firearm, directing them to hide in an abandoned church in Windrixville. During their stay there, Pony cuts and dyes his hair as a disguise, reads Gone with the Wind to Johnny, and, upon viewing a beautiful sunrise, recites the poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost.

Days later, Dally comes to check on them, revealing that violence between the greasers and Socs has escalated since Bob's death into all-out city-wide warfare, with Cherry acting out of guilt as a spy for the greasers. Johnny decides to turn himself in and Dally agrees to take the boys back home. As they attempt to leave, they notice the church has caught fire and several local schoolchildren have become trapped inside. The greasers run inside the burning church to save the children, but Ponyboy is rendered unconscious by the fumes. At the hospital he discovers that he and Dally are not badly injured, but a piece of the church roof fell on Johnny and broke his back. Sodapop and Darry come to the hospital; Darry breaks down and cries. Ponyboy then realizes that Darry cares about him, and is only hard on him because he loves him and cares about his future.

The following morning the newspapers declare Pony and Johnny heroes, but Johnny will be charged with manslaughter for Bob's death. Two-Bit tells them that the greaser–Soc rivalry is to be settled in a final rumble. Ponyboy and Two-Bit are approached by a Soc named Randy, Bob's best friend, who expresses remorse for his involvement in the gang war, lacks confidence about the rumble ending the feud, and says he will not participate.

Later, Ponyboy visits Johnny at the hospital, where he is in critical condition. On their way home, Pony spots Cherry and they talk. Cherry says she is unwilling to visit Johnny in the hospital because he killed her boyfriend. Pony calls her a traitor, but after she explains herself they end on good terms. After escaping the hospital, Dally shows up just in time for the rumble. The greasers win the fight. Afterward, Pony and Dally hurry back to the hospital to see Johnny, but he dies moments later and a hysterical Dally runs out of the room. Pony returns home that night feeling confused and disoriented. Dally calls the house to say that he has robbed a store and is running from the police. The greasers find Dally deliberately pointing an unloaded firearm at the police, causing them to shoot and kill him. Overwhelmed, Ponyboy faints and is sick in bed for many days due to the resulting concussion from the rumble. When the hearing finally comes, the judge frees Ponyboy from responsibility for Bob's death and allows Pony to remain at home with Darry and Sodapop.

Ponyboy returns to school, but his grades drop. Although he is failing English, his teacher, Mr. Syme, says he will pass him if he writes a decent theme. In the copy of Gone with the Wind that Johnny gave him before dying, Ponyboy finds a letter from Johnny describing how he will die proudly after saving the kids from the fire. Johnny also urges Ponyboy to "stay golden". Ponyboy decides to write his English assignment about the recent events, and begins his essay with the opening line of the novel: "When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home".

Major characters

Greasers

  • Ponyboy Curtis: The narrator and the youngest Curtis brother, Ponyboy is 14 years old, and gets good grades and runs track. He is the most sensitive of the greasers (besides Johnny), and enjoys reading books.
  • Sodapop "Soda" Curtis: The middle Curtis brother, 16 years old, a popular high school dropout who works at a gas station. He is often described as being attractive and comedic, the reason for his popularity. He is a supportive brother to Ponyboy.
  • Darrel "Darry" Curtis: The oldest Curtis brother, 20 years old, who has been caring for his brothers since their parents died in a car crash. He is the unofficial leader of the gang. He is described as being very athletic and strong.
  • Johnny Cade: Ponyboy's best friend. 16 years old, who is extremely quiet and lives with his alcoholic, neglectful, and abusive parents. He is sensitive in the first part of the book. However, in the latter part of the book, Johnny faces his fears, becoming a hero-like figure.
  • Dallas "Dally" Winston: A 17-year-old juvenile delinquent, he is the roughest and most volatile of the greasers, but cares more about Johnny than he does anyone else. He lived on the streets of New York City for three years. He carries an unloaded firearm at all times.
  • Keith "Two-Bit" Mathews: A wise-cracking kleptomaniac. He is known for carrying a switchblade.
  • Steve Randle: Sodapop's best friend since grade school.
  • Timothy "Tim" Shepard: Leader of another greaser gang: an organized downtown one. He is also a friend of Dally's.
  • Curly Shepard: Tim Shepard's younger brother, mentioned as a friend of Ponyboy's.
  • Sandy: Sodapop's disloyal girlfriend, who eventually leaves him.

Socs

  • Sherri "Cherry" Valance: Attends the same high school as Ponyboy. Bob's girlfriend.
  • Robert "Bob" Sheldon: Considered the leader of the Socs. Cherry's boyfriend who is stabbed and killed by Johnny.
  • Randy Adderson: Bob's best friend and Marcia's boyfriend. After Bob’s death, Randy has a conversation with Ponyboy requesting for peace.
  • Marcia: Cherry's best friend and Randy's girlfriend.
  • Paul Holden: Darry's old friend from high school.
  • David: A member of the Socs who tries to drown Ponyboy in the fountain.

Other characters

  • Jerry Wood: The schoolteacher responsible for the children who were in the seemingly abandoned church.
  • Mr. Syme: Ponyboy's English teacher who assigns him a theme to write that becomes the story of the novel itself.

Controversy

The Outsiders was a controversial book at the time of its publication; it is still currently challenged and debated. It was ranked #38 on the American Library Association’s Top 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990–1999. This book has been banned from some schools and libraries because of the portrayal of gang violence, underage smoking and drinking, strong language/slang, and family dysfunction. However, in many U.S. schools, the book is part of the English curriculum at the middle- or high-school level.

Critical reception

On November 5, 2019, the BBC News listed The Outsiders on its list of the 100 most influential novels.

Legacy

Ponyboy Curtis appears in Hinton's later novel That Was Then, This Is Now (1971).

The 1983 film adaptation, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, has retained a fanbase since its release. The film is notable for casting young actors before their rise to fame, which includes C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Tom Cruise, and Diane Lane.

A television series based on the characters of the novel and film aired in 1990. It consists of a different cast playing the same characters. It picks up right after the events of the film's ending and lasted only one season.

In Rockstar Games' 2006 video game Bully, The Greasers and the Preppies/Preps, are based on The Outsiders.

A stage musical of the same name held its world premiere at La Jolla Playhouse in February/March 2023. The production will be directed by Danya Taymor from a libretto by Adam Rapp, with songs by Jamestown Revival and music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations by Justin Levine. The show began previews on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on March 16, 2024 and officially opened on April 11. It received 12 nominations at the 77th Tony Awards, winning 4 including Best Musical.

Museum and film locations

The Outsiders House Museum opened in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on August 9, 2019. In 2009, hip-hop artist Danny Boy O'Connor discovered the house that was used for the Curtis Brothers' home. Moving forward O'Connor kept the thought of buying it, which he eventually did in 2016. O'Connor said he bought it sight unseen and when he first went inside that it was falling apart. With the help of friends, the Oklahoma Film and Music Office, the City Council, local business and individuals who volunteered the restoration started. After raising funds the house went through extensive renovations to restore it and maintain its authenticity from the film. A GoFundMe was set up for additional funds, notable donors include Jack White who donated $30,000 and Billy Idol. Also to raise funds, screenings of the film were organized that actor C. Thomas Howell attended. Also in 2016, the street signs on the corner were changed to "The Outsiders way" and "The Curtis Brothers Lane". Since its opening, the museum now contains a collection of The Outsiders memorabilia. Aside from Howell, between its restoration and opening, other stars of the films visited this includes Rob Lowe, Ralph Macchio, and Matt Dillon. For his efforts on preserving a cultural landmark O'Connor received a key to the city of Tulsa.

In 2022, in Sperry, Oklahoma, the group Upward Sperry restored the now un-operational DX gas station seen in the film. The group's president Gary Coulson said, "It's really growing. I almost hate to say, but it's almost like a cult following. They stream through here – what that does is get people here." With O'Connor they are planning to revitalize Outsiders nostalgia in Sperry.

References

  1. ^ "SE Hinton.com". www.sehinton.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2010. Retrieved April 13, 2010.
  2. Hinton, S. E. (2005) . "speaking with S. E. Hinton". The Outsiders. Speak/Penguin Putnam. p. 162. ISBN 0-14-038572-X.
  3. "Frequently Asked Questions". sehinton.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  4. "The Outsiders Musical to Make World Premiere at la Jolla Playhouse | TheaterMania".
  5. Hinton 1967, p. 180.
  6. Fallon, Claire (2017). "50 Years After 'The Outsiders,' S.E. Hinton Is Sure The Characters Aren’t Gay". The Huffington Post. HuffPost News (Oath Inc.).
  7. "100 most frequently challenged books: 1990–1999 | American Library Association". Ala.org. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  8. Banned Books: Young Adult Novels.University of Tulsa Department of Special Collections.
  9. Cummings, Siena (2017). "After 50 years, 'Outsiders' continues to 'stay gold'." Standard-Examiner. Ogden Publishing Corporation.
  10. "100 'most inspiring' novels revealed by BBC Arts". BBC News. November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019. The reveal kickstarts the BBC's year-long celebration of literature.
  11. Hinton, S.E. (1971). That Was Then, This Is Now. New-York: Penguin Group. pp. 43–64. ISBN 978-0-14-038966-1.
  12. "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  13. O'Shansky, Joe (August 4, 2016). "The Curtis House in Crutchfield". TulsaPeople Magazine. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  14. Tramel, Jimmie (March 25, 2022). "'The Outsiders' actor Matt Dillon tours Outsiders House Museum". Tulsa World. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  15. "The Outsiders Musical to Make World Premiere at la Jolla Playhouse". Theater Mania. March 8, 2022.
  16. Paulson, Michael. "'The Outsiders,' a Broadway Adaptation of the Classic Novel, Wins the Tony for Best Musical". The New York Times.
  17. Tramel, Jimmie (August 5, 2019). "Outsiders House history stretches from land run to museum's opening night". Tulsa World. Archived from the original on April 25, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  18. Barnard, Matt (August 8, 2019). "From ruins to Tulsa icon: The story behind the famous Outsiders House". Tulsa World. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  19. Krischer, Hayley (March 19, 2017). "Why 'Outsiders' lives on: a teen novel turns 50". The Herald: 3D.
  20. O'Shansky, Joe (August 4, 2016). "The Curtis House in Crutchfield". TulsaPeople Magazine. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  21. Graham, Ginnnie (April 2, 2016). "Ginnie Graham: Going inside 'The Outsiders' house". Tulsa World. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  22. Terrell, Ron (January 12, 2017). "'Outsiders' House: The Latest On The Renovations". Fox23 News. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  23. Jayne, Ian (August 26, 2016). "A hip-hop icon is included in a team of enthusiasts dedicated to preserving The Outsiders house". Oklahoma Gazette. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  24. Barnard, Matt (August 8, 2019). "From ruins to Tulsa icon: The story behind the famous Outsiders House". Tulsa World. Retrieved May 15, 2022.
  25. Graham, Ginnie (May 5, 2017). "From the Outside: Hip-hop artist Danny Boy O'Connor saves a house, finds a mission". Tulsa World. Tulsa, OK. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  26. Tramel, Jimmie (August 5, 2019). "Outsiders House history stretches from land run to museum's opening night". Tulsa World. Archived from the original on April 25, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  27. Tramel, Jimmie (March 25, 2022). "'The Outsiders' actor Matt Dillon tours Outsiders House Museum". Tulsa World. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  28. "Stay gold: Hinton, Howell, O'Connor honored". Tulsa World. November 3, 2018.
  29. Ayer, Justin (September 26, 2022). "DX gas station from 'The Outsiders' draws revitalization in Sperry". 2 News Oklahoma. Retrieved September 30, 2022.

Bibliography

Hinton, S.E. (1967). The Outsiders. New York: SPEAK. ISBN 9780140385724.

External links

S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders (1967)
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Adaptations
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