The Outsiders (book)

*The Outsiders* by S.E. Hinton is a coming-of-age novel told from the perspective of Ponyboy Curtis, a teenage boy from a lower-class background. The story explores the tensions between two youth groups: the Greasers, who are working-class and often seen as troublemakers, and the Socs, the wealthier peers. After a violent incident, Ponyboy and his friends face violence, friendship, and identity struggles, highlighting themes of social division, loyalty, and empathy. The novel emphasizes that despite societal labels, beneath external differences, everyone shares common human experiences.