Young Adult Fiction: The Outsiders

The Outsiders is about the life of a 14 year old boy summarized in two weeks. The book tells the story of the main character "Ponyboy" and the different struggles he is facing. Ponyboy is also the narrator of the book and takes us through the battles he is facing everyday. Main character Ponyboy and his brothers Darry and Sodapop are dealing with the loss of their parents due to a car accident. There is a custody battle going on between Darry, Sodapop, and the state trying to gain custody of their little brother. All Ponyboy has to do is behave himself but that is sometimes hard to do because of his surroundings. All of the boys are known as "greasers" the greasers are considered a gang from the poor side of town who are rivals with the "socials". It is often hard for the boys to stay on a straight arrow with all of the other distractions going on around them. 

Something I love about this book is how students can relate to it. Students in urban areas can have a special connection to a book like this. Often times there are children fighting the system just to remain with their families. Although their circumstances may be different it is still something they can relate to. Relatable books always keep the students engaged and involved. 

Another thing that is great about this book is the main character being the narrator. Looking at things in the perspective of a 14 year old boy can really change the way the book is read and interpreted. As events continue to unfold and affect this 14 year old boy, the readers feel every part of it!

Overall the book is great. It is something that will keep readers engaged and on the edge of their seat. This is something I enjoyed reading for the second time around with a different perspective. The Outsiders is a must read for young adults!

Pros- Originality, this book is very different from most books young adults would read with the happy ending. Character transformation, after reading the book all the way through you can see the changes in different characters. The message of the book is great as well one of the most memorable quotes, "stay golden ponyboy"

Cons- A lot of stereotypes throughout the book, the gangs were very prejudiced. The novel also sends somewhat of a bad message to the readers making it look like it is okay to be smoking at 14 like main character Ponyboy.