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Set in a small town in Oklahoma in the 1960's, this novel is narrated by a vulnerable fourteen year old orphan, Ponyboy Curtis, who is a member of the "Greasers". The "Greasers" are a gang of boys from a poor neighbourhood and they've all have had to grow up much too fast in order to survive. They come from broken homes, either have no parents or they're parents are drunks and just don't care about their children. The "Greasers" constantly have to be on their guard against vicious attacks from their rival gang, the "Socs". The "Socs", are a group of higher middle to upper-class boys, who all have designer clothes, cars and are college bound. They are rich kids that have things the "Greasers" can only dream about. The two groups literally live on opposite sides of the tracks and are locked in a long standing battle with each other until one night things go too far and a member of the "Socs" is murdered. This was my first time reading The Outsiders. I never managed to get around to reading it as a teenager but I've heard so many people say it is one of their favourite books so I thought it was about time that I read it finally. And now that I've finished the book I can't believe I waited so long! The Outsiders is a gripping and compelling read which is full of suspense. It was also extremely heart-breaking and touching at times. The novel is very well-written, considering S.E. Hinton was just seventeen years old when she wrote it. I was amazed with the amount of depth and layers in this book. There are some corny scenes and the novel is slightly dated in parts but you have to bear in mind that it was written in the 1960's and most of the popular books, TV shows and movies from back then are considered quite corny now. But the book's message is still the same regardless of how cynical we've all become in the 45 years since this book was written. It shows that whether they are poor or rich, all teenagers are essentially the same. They all have the same concerns, fears, struggles, worries and hopes for the future. The characters are all vivid, realistic and well-developed. I really felt for the characters of Ponyboy, Johnny and Dallas and wanted them to succeed. I found it easy to sympathise with the all main characters, after all, we've all been in at least one situation at some point in our lives where we've been misunderstood, and put down simply because of who we are or aren't. The book really shows the flaws in society's pre-conceptions and prejudices of the various social classes. It teaches you thinks are not always what they seem and it reminds us all not to judge a book by its cover. Five stars! If you liked The Outsiders, you'll like the Kevin and Sadie series by Joan Lingard. The two are quite similar and deal with the same conflicts.