District Guide: English Language Arts: Novels

The Outsiders

The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
The 45th anniversary of a landmark work of teen fiction Ponyboy can count on his brothers and his friends, but not on much else besides trouble with the Socs, a vicious gang of rich kids who get away with everything, including beating up greasers like Ponyboy. At least he knows what to expect--until the night someone takes things too far. Written forty-five years ago, S. E. Hinton's classic story of a boy who finds himself on the outskirts of regular society remains as powerful today as it was the day it was written.

1960's Pop Culture PBS

The 1960's Crash Course in History

The Outsiders - Adapted Versions

The Outsiders - Adaptive Literature with Symbols

The Outsiders - Adaptive Literature Powerpoint

The Outsiders - Shmoop Notes

Comparison of The Outsiders to "Bored, Broke and Armed" - New York Times

Live Interview with Chicago Gang Members

New York Times pairs a scene from the novel with recent reporting from the South Side of Chicago, where the Times journalist John Eligon spent months with gangs who are “Bored, Broke and Armed.” In both pieces, an “insider” gives us a view of the world through the eyes of “outsiders.”