The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

The Outsiders. S.E. Hinton. Speak, c1967. 180 pages.

Plot:

Narrated by Ponyboy Curtis, a shy, fourteen-year-old boy, The Outsiders depicts the rivalry between the Greasers and the Socs (short for Socials), two groups separated by their socioeconomic status. Ponyboy, his two older brothers, and their tight-knit group of friends are Greasers. When Ponyboy and Johnny (his best friend among the gang) are jumped one night by a group of Socs, Johnny winds up killing one of them. The incident opens Ponyboy’s eyes to the fact that the warring groups really aren’t that different.

Review/personal thoughts:

Though The Outsiders was written and takes place in the 1960’s, I consider it an appropriate addition to a core contemporary realistic fiction collection for tweens as the material isn’t dated. Written when Hinton was just sixteen, the novel tackles issues that are still relevant today.  

For example, tweens will relate to the characters’ need to belong. Though Ponyboy and his friends consider themselves outsiders, they find comfort in their “Greaser” label. Hinton’s characters initially define themselves according to their Greaser or Soc status. In the end, however, they begin to recognize their similarities, in spite of their differences; “Socs were just guys after all. Things were rough all over, but it was better that way. That way you could tell the other guy was human too” (Hinton, 1967, p.118). 

The Outsiders also touches upon such other relevant subjects as friendship, family relationships, and loss. 

Genre: contemporary realistic fiction

Reading level: ages 10-up 


Awards: 

New York Herald Tribune Best Teenage Books List, 1967

Chicago Tribune Book World Spring Book Festival Honor Book, 1967

Media and Methods Maxi Award, 1975

ALA Best Young Adult Books, 1975

Massachusetts Children’s Book Award, 1979

Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes

Henkes, K. (2003). Olive's Ocean. Greenwillow Books: New York.

Plot

  Olive Barstow was in Martha's class, until she was killed in an hit and run accident while riding her bicycle. After Olive's mother gives Martha a page from her daughters' journal, Martha's life will never be the same as she begins to notice the special similarities between the two girls. Both girls want to be writers, both of them want to see the ocean and both are struggling with their everchaging childhood and adolescence. After reading Olive's journal, Martha realizes the uncertainty of death and that life is worth living to the fullest.

Review

  For young adult readers, this book is a powerful look at the affirmation of life and the mysteries of death. Readers don't know Olive, yet her thoughts fill their heads with epiphanies about the uncertainty of life. Henkes words brilliantly, yet subtly, touch on subjects that tweens experience, from first love, preparing for school and the loss and gain of friendships.

Genre

Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Age

Tweens/4-7th grade/ 9-12 years

Similar Books

Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur

Sun and Spoon- Kevin Henkes

A Corner of the Universe - Ann M. Martin

Awards

ALA Booklist Editors’ Choice ALA Notable Children’s Book Newbery Honor Book

Virginia Young Readers Award ALA Best Book for Young Adults New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

 

Bridge To Terabithia. Katherine Paterson, Illustrated by Donna Diamond, Crowell, c1977. 128 pages.

"Do you know what we need?" Leslie called to him. Intoxicated as he was with the heavens, he couldn't imagine needing anything on earth. "We need a place," she said, "just for us. It would be so secret that we would never tell anyone in the whole world about it." She lowered her voice almost to a whisper. "It might be a whole secret country," she continued, "and you and I would be the rulers of it (Paterson, 1977, p38-39)."


Plot/ Description: Fifth grader, Jess Aaron has practiced all summer to become the fastest kid in the fifth grade. All of his classmates know him as the boy who draws all the time and he is ready to shed that reputation. But Leslie; a new student and a girl beat out Jess. Leslie and her educated parents move from the suburbs to rural West Virginia to enjoy the simple life. Leslie is an outcast at school, but soon Jess and Leslie become close friends. Leslie encourages them to create their own secret land in the woods called; Terabithia. The two tell and act out stories in Terabithia. Jess and Leslie are very influential on each other; she gives him her Narnia books and teaches him about saving endangered species, while he teaches her compassion for the school bully. After a rainy season, the creek bed they swing across to enter Terabithia is dangerously full of water, Jess is afraid to cross and feels embarrassed to tell Leslie not to go to Terabithia. One day, he is invited by his favorite teacher to go to the National Gallery, while he is away; Leslie is killed after the rope they use to swing across breaks. Jess goes through a myriad of emotions; including denial, anger, and guilt as he deals with her death. Jess resolves to build a bridge to Terabithia and to share Leslie’s secret world with his little sister.

Review: Bridge to Terabithia is a work of realistic fiction about two lonely kids who create a magical forest kingdom. The novel deals with the subjects of boy and girl relationships, children and death, country life, imagination in children, ten year-olds and friendship. Leslie and Jess are both outcasts at school; Leslie does not wear dresses and runs as fast as the boys, while Jess likes to draw and enjoy music.  Leslie and Jess accept each other for who they are and they make each other better people; they communicate, they are honest, and loyal. They share an exemplary friendship. Both children are good role models for boys and girls because their friendship and personalities do not follow typical gender roles.  The book deals with the topic of death, when Leslie, the story’s heroine dies. Jess, who is still a young child, must learn to grieve and accept his best friends death. This plot twist can benefit children who have and have not experienced a death of a family member or friend by relating to and learning from Jess’s grieving process.

Personal Thoughts: I read this book in the fifth grade and it is the first book, that I remember affecting my emotions. Leslie is the heroine, I loved Leslie just as much as the character; Jess Aaron. And I remember grieving for Leslie with Jess Aaron too. This book was my first introduction to death and grief, which are very taboo subjects but facts of existence. Great friendships and death are common occurrences throughout a person’s lifetime, which is why this novel is a core piece of contemporary realistic fiction. This story is valuable to any one who has ever experienced love and loss.

 
Genre: Non Sexist Literature, Realistic Fiction 

Reading Level: Ages 9 - 12

Awards:

Newbery Medal

Virginia Readers’ Choice Award: Elementary School (Grades 3- 5)