The interesting thing about old literature is the tendency of the seas of time to wash away the drab selections from our memories, leaving only the beautiful and polished gems.
A book as good as S.E. Hinton’s “The Outsiders” will be read for much longer. A novel like this, published in 1967, still reserves its place in the minds of young readers as a novel that stands the test of time, and can be understood by those who face the problems brought on by poverty and bullying.
The novel is written in the first person from the perspective of a teenager named Ponyboy, a member of a Tulsa, Oklahoma greaser gang. The plot of the novel is a tale about a smart boy in a harsh world, and embraces a tragic and beautifully sad plot.
S.E. Hinton’s writing style is simple yet remarkably effective. The first-person narration offers insight into the main character and allows the reader to easily perceive the events of the novel through Ponyboy’s mindset.
In the novel’s key tragedies and events, language is used to paint a horrendously sad scene in the mind of the reader. This makes the plot very memorable and does a wonderful job in making the reader empathize with characters.
The issues presented in this book about violence and gang culture are not only relevant in 2014, they are more prominent now than they were then. The tale of Ponyboy and his gang has been repeated a hundred times over since 1967, by youth from all across the country.
The novel is overall well written and deserves remembrance in modern times, containing a touching story and a likable cast of characters.
