The Outsiders, by S. E. Hinton
About the Author, and on writing the novel...
The following excerpt is taken from Dr. James Blasingame, Arizona State University, and his online resource page on The Outsiders.
Susan Eloise Hinton is one of the best-known writers of young adult fiction. Her books have been taught in some schools, and banned from others. Her novels have changed the way people look at young adult literature.
S. E. Hinton was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. During her junior year in high school, one of her friends, a “greaser”, was beaten up by the “nice” kids. Angry, Hinton ran home and began writing what we know now as The Outsiders. Oddly, this was the same semester that she was failing her creative writing class in school. This would be the first book she would get published, followed by many other young adult books and even a few books aimed at kindergarten and elementary-aged children.
S.E. Hinton was becoming known as "The Voice of the Youth" among other titles. This kind of pressure and publicity resulted in a three year long writer's block, which her future husband would help her break by making her write two pages a day before going anywhere. S.E. Hinton became the first person to receive the YASD/SLJ Author Achievement Award, which was given by the Young Adult Services Division of the American Library Association and School Library Journal.
Susan Eloise Hinton is one of the best-known writers of young adult fiction. Her books have been taught in some schools, and banned from others. Her novels have changed the way people look at young adult literature.
S. E. Hinton was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. During her junior year in high school, one of her friends, a “greaser”, was beaten up by the “nice” kids. Angry, Hinton ran home and began writing what we know now as The Outsiders. Oddly, this was the same semester that she was failing her creative writing class in school. This would be the first book she would get published, followed by many other young adult books and even a few books aimed at kindergarten and elementary-aged children.
S.E. Hinton was becoming known as "The Voice of the Youth" among other titles. This kind of pressure and publicity resulted in a three year long writer's block, which her future husband would help her break by making her write two pages a day before going anywhere. S.E. Hinton became the first person to receive the YASD/SLJ Author Achievement Award, which was given by the Young Adult Services Division of the American Library Association and School Library Journal.
BANNED! and some pretty neat facts about filming
The Outsiders has been on the BANNED BOOKS list. It was ranked #43 on the American Library Association’s Top 100 Most Challenged Books of 1990-2000 and has been banned from some schools and libraries because of its portrayal of gang violence, underage smoking and drinking, strong language, slang usage, and exposé on family dysfunction.
How did this controversial novel become a screenplay? Read about the filming of The Outsiders, and read about the schools who have challenged reading the novel to students here.
How did this controversial novel become a screenplay? Read about the filming of The Outsiders, and read about the schools who have challenged reading the novel to students here.
"Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost
Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leaf's a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay. |
Poetry can be hard. Shmoop is one of those websites that can help you out.
Click below for their helpful analysis of this poem, one of the most commonly quoted sections of text from The Outsiders--it doesn't matter that S.E. Hinton didn't write it. |
Below, Opening Scene from the movie The Outsiders
We're READY for the CHALLENGE!
Our class has finished reading the book, and talked about themes, and the central social and personal conflicts of the main characters.
We are ready to be tested! Click below to answer a ten-question quiz.
We are ready to be tested! Click below to answer a ten-question quiz.