S.E. Hinton writes young adult fiction about teenagers divided by class, loyalty and the pressure to prove themselves within tightly knit groups. The Outsiders is narrated by Ponyboy Curtis, a Greaser whose friendships with Johnny and other boys are shaped by conflict with the wealthier Socs and by violence that changes both groups. Rumble Fish follows Rusty-James, another teenager drawn to fights and to the reputation of his older brother, while That Was Then, This Is Now looks at a friendship strained as two boys begin making different choices. Hinton's novels are short, direct and accessible, with teenage narrators and little distance between the reader and the immediate consequences of their decisions. The Outsiders remains the clearest entry point for readers looking for classic YA about class, friendship and youth violence, with Robert Cormier and Paul Zindel providing useful neighbouring reading. Read more Less
No products in the cart.