The+Outsiders

Emily L. Book Review: Outsiders

When I composed this, I was pondering about my buddy book, and lunch. For my buddy book I read the book, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. Well what else can I say; this was actually a pretty good book. In my book, on a scale of 1 to 10 I would give it a 7 or an 8. It would be a 10 but I personally am not really a fan of violence, but it still had a good lesson and a good plot, though, it did become boring at a few points.

Although this story was rather entertaining, I felt that the plot really all blended together and there was really not a climax. The only thing I could consider the climax was really towards the end and was actually more together with the resolution. In the first chapter which I guess was supposed to be like the exposition, it took a long time but the author did explain all of the characters and introduced the book, so that was beneficial for later. Though the climax was thrilling it left a lot to be desired and the falling action and the resolution didn’t sum it up all that well. It still left everyone bleeding and there could be a sequel but the author never made one. Also the rising action was really long, but it was more like multiple rising actions. This is so because lots of events happened before the climax occurred. All in all though the whole shebang made the story flow really well and made it wonderful. The way the plot flowed it made it seem like you were really in the story! The plot made the book enjoyable.

There were many characters in this book, and I have a different opinion on each of them. The main character in this book was Ponyboy. Ponyboy was not my favorite character. I don’t admire his life choices very much. He is only 14 years old, he already smokes, is part of a gang, and does not care about his future at the slightest. This makes him seem like just because he is part of this gang that he can be all cool and not care and that is just not reality. The next character was Two-bit. Two-bit was my absolute most favorite character in the whole entire book. I just loved his attitude! He kind of reminded me of me, I guess. He had a big mouth that sometimes got him in trouble, and he was really witty and just happy go lucky all of the time! He was definitely my kind of guy. The next character was Darry. He was okay because he was smart and dedicated to school and all of that, but I didn’t like how he didn’t treat Sodapop and Ponyboy evenly. They are both his brothers and different people and they do the best they can! He should not try to change who they are to be someone different. I also don’t really like Dally, who is another character in the book. I don’t like that he is a criminal and steals! But when Ponyboy and Johnny were in trouble he helped them, which made me see that if he wants to he can be a good friend. Though, I do not admire him very much for practically committing suicide when Johnny died. That is not very brilliant. He is my least favorite character, even out of Ponyboy. Another one of the main characters is Johnny. He is doing pretty well in his life considering what happened to him when the Socs jumped him. Even so, I do not understand why he is so attached to Dally and how he idols him, because he is not even all that good of a person. But for some reason that I do not know why I really like Johnny and I don’t know why I just like the way he acts and his character, the way he handles things. The last main character of the book is Sodapop. Sodapop is my second favorite character, after Two-bit. Sodapop is very peaceful and is always trying to make peace between Darry and Ponyboy. Also, even when he dropped out of school, which I didn’t like, at least he got a job and kept his life going. Also I like that he knows how to love and that he said he loved Sandy. Plus, he was good looking. These are the main characters in the “Greasers’ gang.

Concurrently, the setting of The Outsiders was in the east side of Windrixville, New Jersey. Mostly it took place at the “greasers” houses or in the city streets of the east side. The house that is the main house is the Curtis’ house which is where Darry, Sodapop, and Ponyboy. Also, then after Ponyboy and Johnny ran away the settings after that were the church, and the hospital. The story didn’t really explain the setting all that well but I think it was because it was from Ponyboy’s point of view, and he probably didn’t really pay too much attention to the setting. He probably paid more attention to what was going on in the setting in than the setting.

Simultaneously, the theme of this book was quite easy to identify. With all of the events in the story that emphasized it made it even more so. The theme of this story is that you should always have your friend’s backs no matter what. There is an example of this like even when Johnny killed that guy Dally was right behind him 100% helping him get away from the police. Furthermore, when Cherry went to help the “greasers” instead of the Socs that showed that they were her true friends because she helped them in the most desperate situations, even. That shows that this is defiantly the theme of the story.

In the final analysis, the book, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton was a very good book. Even to someone who does not approve of gang behavior, like myself, would like this book. To most, this book is defiantly at 10! So check it out of the library as soon as you can muster! ☺