MWC editorial selection · Updated
By S. E. Hinton
What is it about?
Ponyboy’s friendships sit inside a conflict between teenage groups divided by class. S. E. Hinton’s novel asks how loyalty and the labels people inherit can shape dangerous decisions.
Who might enjoy it?
For teens who want an emotionally direct story about identity rather than an elaborate invented setting. Track when a character surprises the group they supposedly belong to.
Things to consider
Gang violence, death, smoking and difficult home lives. A short novel can still make for an emotionally heavy read.
A question to take into your reading
Which label tells us least about the person wearing it?
Premise and publication context: Publisher: The Outsiders. Reading-fit suggestions and discussion questions are MWC editorial guidance.
Keep exploring
- Great books for teens aged 13–15
Five books for teens aged 13–15, spanning sport, friendship, history and imagined worlds. Compare themes, reading demands and content considerations.
- The Book Thief
The more demanding choice on this list, in both form and subject. Best for teens who want a substantial historical novel and time to talk afterwards.
- How many words are in a book?
Multiply the number of pages by an estimated average of words per page. At Million Word Club's transparent default of 250 words per page, a 200-page book is estimated at 50,000 words.
Keep the books that matter to you.
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