The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
S.E. Hinton's classic coming-of-age tale is heartbreaking and powerful.
Fourteen-year-old Ponyboy is in a gang of "greasers" who rival a gang of rich kids.
This book has been credited with helping to create a foundation for the Y.A. genre as well as opening up themes of class division and trying to find a sense of belonging.
Learners may also find it interesting to learn that this book was written while the author was herself still in high school.
(Note: If you're looking to pair this older novel with a more modern exploration of the same themes, join us for the May 2024 Tween Book Club: Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus.)
How Live Book Club Classes Work
Participation in the live book club includes access to a set of resources and activities as well as interactive components.
Participants receive
- A suggested reading schedule
- PDF reading guides with comprehension questions
- Vocabulary/reading activities
- Discussion board posts in our online classroom
- Writing/multimodal project prompts related to the reading
- An invitation to a live discussion
- A recording of the summary of the live discussion
- An optional feedback add-on for the final paper/project
- Rubrics for at-home feedback
Families are welcome to use as much or as little of the suggested resources and activities as they'd like to fit their interest and schedules.
(There will be an option to add a Feedback Add-On at checkout.)
Ages:
9-13
Dates:
April 1-30, 2024
Live Meeting:
Monday, April 29, 2024 from 1-2pm Eastern
Those who cannot attend the live session will receive a recorded summary.
Content Note:
This book was first published in the 1960s and is a bit dated. There is a depiction of violence between two rival gangs including a death. There is brief mention of sex as well as alcohol. The characters smoke cigarettes. You may find this review from Common Sense Media useful in deciding if the book is right for your learners: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-outsiders
Supplies:
A copy of the book The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (ISBN: 0-14-240733-2). Borrowed, audio, and used formats are fine.
- Zoom account for live session
- Microphone and camera for live session
- PDF reader
- Access to printer recommended