Fifty years ago today, a book called The Outsiders, written by Susan Eloise Hinton while she was still in high school, was published. Credited to Hinton using her gender non-specific initials, S. E. Hinton, this coming of age story has often been described as a book "about teenagers, by a teenager, for teenagers."
I was in grade 7 when my home room teacher read Hinton's The Outsiders aloud, one chapter a day, to a class of spellbound teenagers. I remember that we couldn’t wait to get to class each day to hear more about Ponyboy Curtis in the engaging story about family, peer pressure, friendship, injustice, rebellion, and acceptance.
In opting to read the book aloud to us, our teacher wisely avoided the lack of interest students typically show for books they’re forced to read in school: She exposed us to the relevance and appeal of The Outsiders before she asked us to dissect and analyze Hinton's skillful usage of plot, characters, setting, conflict and resolution.
I believe, her clever strategy actually encouraged some of us to re-read S. E. Hinton's debut book, even after we were out of school: I know that I have revisited The Outsiders countless times over the years, and recommended it to many people.
I recently bought a copy of S. E. Hinton’s classic novel for my 12-year old grand-daughter, who is already an avid reader and fittingly in grade 7. Not surprising, as with generations of readers before her, The Outsiders drew Rachel in and she was hooked: Five chapters into it, she enthused, “It’s my new favourite book!”
I believe The Outsiders continues to resonate with young readers because S. E. Hinton wrote with authority about the people and circumstances she knew from experience; moreover, her easy, youthful, gender non-specific writing style gave The Outsiders an enduring quality that keeps it relevant, even now, fifty years later.
From Hinton's, "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," to the story's moving conclusion, The Outsiders is truly memorable.
Therefore, if you know a 12-yr-old or a teenager who hasn't yet discovered the timeless gem that is The Outsiders, rush out now and buy them a copy. You won't be sorry you did; and, fifty years from now they'll probably still be grateful.
Today I celebrate S. E. Hinton and the 50th anniversary of her book, "about teenagers, by a teenager, for teenagers." The Outsiders is a gift that keeps on giving, and you can take that from a clever teacher; and a former teenager and her soon-to-be teenage grand-daughter.
