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stephmcoakley's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
katie0528's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This was a classic I missed growing up, but being a big musical fan, I wanted to read the orginal before exploring the new Outsiders musical. The story follows Ponyboy as he and his brothers and friends, who are all "Greasers" struggle to get by while being harassed and attacked by the wealthier "Socs." After meeting a soc girl names Cherry, and realizing she has a lot in common with him, Ponyboy and his friend Johnny are attacked by Cherry's boyfriend Bob and his friends. After Johnny stabs and kills Bob in self defense, the greasers find themselves involved in gang warefare, while Johnny and Ponyboy have to figure out their next moves. It's not an easy read, but I can see why it's a classic. Ponyboy is a bit angsty for my adult brain, but I could see teenage me sympathizing deeply with him and his gang.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, and Classism
Moderate: Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Vomit, and Alcohol
maybe_perhaps's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, and Death of parent
sadie_g's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Stay gold.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
serenspace's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
vadip's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
eloise648's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Suicide, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
music_girl93's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
claireelyse06's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I have no words for what this book did to me emotionally. Hear me out with this one.
This is the book that most American middle school students read in school. I feel like that's just a collective experience we all have. I read this book in fifth grade. I remember that I liked it but didn't absolutely love it the way some people did. I read this book again because I'm going to see the musical in a couple of weeks. And holy mother of God I had no clue what I was missing out on. And now I am even more obsessed with the musical recording than I was before (sorry to the people who live with me for the person I am going to be for the next two or three months). Also, the finale for the musical just cuts even harder now, and it cut to begin with. If you love this book please give the cast recroding a chance. I've heard there have been some problematic changes between the book and the musical but I am still willing to give it a chance since Hinton approved of it (Don't read, spoiler: allegedly they cut out Steve Randle and Dally jumps in front of a train instead of getting shot by the police).
First of all, what is incredibly impressive is that S. E. Hinton wrote this when she was a junior in high school. So please, don't expect writing the quality of Great Gatsby. But it didn't bother me. The story was just so incredibly profound and meaningful. Plus, not to spoil it, but it makes sense when you get a revelation at the end about the narration. Just trust the process. Trust me.
First of all, I felt so much love and empathy for the characters. Like Jane Austen is quaking in her boots right now in terms of good character crafting (in my humble opinion). I almost felt the pain that the characters went through. Like I feel like they are my brothers at this point and I want to give all of them a hug. Can we just talk about Soda and Sandy for a second? If you don't want potential spoilers just skip this paragraph. Can someone please explain if Sandy is supposed to be pregnant? Because I feel like that was pretty implied at the end and I tried googling it but the sources I looked at seemed to be conflicted. It feels like an unscratched itch and now I feel really bad for Soda.
I found myself relating to Ponyboy a lot. The way he looked at sunsets and got lost in books. The dreamer in him with the imagination. I really felt that. Like I feel like I could be friends with him. I truly do think everyone can find a piece of themselves in this book. Even if you're not a Greaser from tough circumstances like the main characters. It's more about the emotions and feelings and hopes and dreams that come with living life.
The topics/themes that are covered in this book just are so profound for someone who wrote this in eleventh grade. There are issues of class, family, grief, and all kinds of things. I think I'm going to need to read this book a bunch more times. I feel like I'm in a daze (I just finished it like five minutes ago).
Before you read this book, you should know, there is going to be death. If you don't like guns and knives and blood maybe don't read it. But man oh man it is so good. It's the story itself that just makes it so good. I'm just in awe and I don't know how to express that. At this point I'm just rambling.
The book feels so very human. At its core that is what it is and that is what I think truly makes a good book. A book that is purely human. I am reminded of that quote by Ernest Hemingway in Midnight in Paris (maybe he said it in realy life I'm not sure) but it goes like this: "It was a good book because it was an honest book". And The Outsiders truly embodies that quote. That I think is my review summed up. If you are looking for a book that is true to the human experience this is a good one. You'll cry, you'll feel for the characters, and you might just find yourself quoting a Robert Frost poem for the rest of your life. Also, bonus, the movie version (AFTER YOU READ THE BOOK) has an all star cast. Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, C. Thomas Howell, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Tom Cruise, and Emilio Estevez.
I don't think there's anything else I can say. Currently sitting in bed writing this with the finale for the musical on repeat at a loss for anymore words. So please read this book. It's worth it. It really is.
This is the book that most American middle school students read in school. I feel like that's just a collective experience we all have. I read this book in fifth grade. I remember that I liked it but didn't absolutely love it the way some people did. I read this book again because I'm going to see the musical in a couple of weeks. And holy mother of God I had no clue what I was missing out on. And now I am even more obsessed with the musical recording than I was before (sorry to the people who live with me for the person I am going to be for the next two or three months). Also, the finale for the musical just cuts even harder now, and it cut to begin with. If you love this book please give the cast recroding a chance. I've heard there have been some problematic changes between the book and the musical but I am still willing to give it a chance since Hinton approved of it (Don't read, spoiler: allegedly they cut out Steve Randle and Dally jumps in front of a train instead of getting shot by the police).
First of all, what is incredibly impressive is that S. E. Hinton wrote this when she was a junior in high school. So please, don't expect writing the quality of Great Gatsby. But it didn't bother me. The story was just so incredibly profound and meaningful. Plus, not to spoil it, but it makes sense when you get a revelation at the end about the narration. Just trust the process. Trust me.
First of all, I felt so much love and empathy for the characters. Like Jane Austen is quaking in her boots right now in terms of good character crafting (in my humble opinion). I almost felt the pain that the characters went through. Like I feel like they are my brothers at this point and I want to give all of them a hug. Can we just talk about Soda and Sandy for a second? If you don't want potential spoilers just skip this paragraph. Can someone please explain if Sandy is supposed to be pregnant? Because I feel like that was pretty implied at the end and I tried googling it but the sources I looked at seemed to be conflicted. It feels like an unscratched itch and now I feel really bad for Soda.
I found myself relating to Ponyboy a lot. The way he looked at sunsets and got lost in books. The dreamer in him with the imagination. I really felt that. Like I feel like I could be friends with him. I truly do think everyone can find a piece of themselves in this book. Even if you're not a Greaser from tough circumstances like the main characters. It's more about the emotions and feelings and hopes and dreams that come with living life.
The topics/themes that are covered in this book just are so profound for someone who wrote this in eleventh grade. There are issues of class, family, grief, and all kinds of things. I think I'm going to need to read this book a bunch more times. I feel like I'm in a daze (I just finished it like five minutes ago).
Before you read this book, you should know, there is going to be death. If you don't like guns and knives and blood maybe don't read it. But man oh man it is so good. It's the story itself that just makes it so good. I'm just in awe and I don't know how to express that. At this point I'm just rambling.
The book feels so very human. At its core that is what it is and that is what I think truly makes a good book. A book that is purely human. I am reminded of that quote by Ernest Hemingway in Midnight in Paris (maybe he said it in realy life I'm not sure) but it goes like this: "It was a good book because it was an honest book". And The Outsiders truly embodies that quote. That I think is my review summed up. If you are looking for a book that is true to the human experience this is a good one. You'll cry, you'll feel for the characters, and you might just find yourself quoting a Robert Frost poem for the rest of your life. Also, bonus, the movie version (AFTER YOU READ THE BOOK) has an all star cast. Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, C. Thomas Howell, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Tom Cruise, and Emilio Estevez.
I don't think there's anything else I can say. Currently sitting in bed writing this with the finale for the musical on repeat at a loss for anymore words. So please read this book. It's worth it. It really is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, and Car accident
liliana_b's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder