The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Module 1: Classics and Awards


1.    BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hinton, S.E. THE OUTSIDERS. New York: Speak, 2008. ISBN 9780140385724

2.    Summary

Pony Boy Curtis , a 14 year old boy, narrates this story about his life and the factors that lead him to write about this time in his life. Belonging to a group known as The Greasers, Pony Boy writes about himself, his brothers Darry and Sodapop and the struggles they face against “The Socs”, and their need to fit into a society that dismisses them because of their lackluster ability to fit into the norm.

The two gangs are from different social classes. Greasers, as Pony Boy describes them, are from the poor side of town, while the Socs are from more privileged families, privileged in the fact that they have money and affluence to get out of trouble.

3.    CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book falls in the classification of Awards and Classics and explores themes like family, conflict, love and social acceptance. The Outsiders is about two different social classes trying to coexist in a small town. The Socs, upper class people who are wealthy and typically get away with unlawful behavior, reside on the west side while the rival gang, the Greasers, live on the on the east side and are generally considered to be lower class. The Greasers are named and known for their greasy hair, junky cars and bad attitudes. As you read farther into the book you find that neither fit the reader’s expectations. The Socs, despite money and influence, battled the same internal demons as the Greasers, trying to hide their feelings and fighting against their own personal identity.

Throughout the entire book, each character must make very important choices. This book also shows how important friends are and how the family theme emerges within the group even though some of the greasers are not related by blood. I found the use of other literary clues within the story to describe Ponyboys intellect, something you wouldn't expect from a greaser...someone living in poverty. Ponyboy mentions how he relates to Pip from Great Expectations, reads and quotes from Robert Frost and introduces Gone With the Wind to another Greaser. Hinton did a superb job detailing each group and their differences and gave the reader subtleties to their likeness, ones which come more obvious as the story progresses.

To add to the aura of the book, it is interesting to find it was written by a 16 year old girl and has been considered one of the first examples of a book in the young adult category. A classic among teens, The Outsiders is often considered one of the first literary elements to identify with teens and the need to fit in, social cliques and gangs, all of which were issues affecting teens at that time. The novel made teens feel as though someone understood and connected with these turbulent times in their life.

4.  AWARDS/REVIEWS

New York Herald Tribune Best Teenage Books List, 1967

Chicago Tribune Book World Spring Book Festival Honor Book, 1967

Media and Methods Maxi Award, 1975

ALA Best Young Adult Books, 1975

Massachusetts Children’s Book Award, 1979

THE HORN BOOK review: “...we meet powerful characters in a book with a powerful message.”

“The book The Outsiders is one of my favorite books to teach. It is action packed, full of colorful characters, and allows the reader to actually feel like they are in Pony Boy’s head. I have had so many reluctant readers latch on to The Outsiders and tell me it was first book they loved. The life lessons in The Outsiders are numerous; from how to get along with family, to how to get along with yourself in spite of the decisions you make in life. SE Hinton wrote a book from the heart, and the message has not been lost on the youth of the 21st century. “-DeDe Diaczenko, McCarroll Middle School ELA teacher, 7th grade, Decatur TX.

“One of the things I look forward to every year is when my classes get to read The Outsiders. I get so excited because it’s like a reunion with some great friends. I absolutely LOVE this book! The messages about not judging people and the bonds of friendship are as relevant today as they were when S.E. Hinton wrote the book 40 years ago.”- Lisa Heiens, ELA Dept. Chair, McCarroll Middle School, Decatur TX

5.    CONNECTIONS

Students write a news story using incidents and descriptions from the novel, The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton. They work effectively in teams to edit and evaluate the newspaper articles and then present the newspaper article to the class. Finally, students participate in class discussion, relating it to the effect of the media on public opinion, particularly as it may relate to elections or different groups in society.

Activities were found at the following website: http://www.lessonplanet.com/lesson-plans/the-outsiders

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Module 1: Classics and Awards

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Alexie, Sherman. 2007. THE ABSOLUTLY TRUE DIARY OF A PART -TIME INDIAN. Ill. by Ellen Forney. New York: Little, Brown and Company. ISBN 0316019684

2. SUMMARY

Arnold (Junior) Spirit is a fourteen year old Indian boy living on a “Rez” (what he calls a reservation) near Spokane, Washington. Through his illustrated diary, Arnold shares with the reader his trials and tribulations of being teen boy dealing with tough issues such as poverty, prejudice, violence, alcoholism , love, death and the need to reach his full potential…something he won’t be able to do on the reservation.

Arnold makes the painful decision to attend a predominantly white school twenty two miles away from home in order to get the start he needs to be able to get out of the cycle so many of his tribe are stuck in. this decision, however does not sit well with some of the tribe members as well as his best friend, Rowdy. Struggling to fit in at a new school and to live among his people, Arnold’s life becomes one full of twists and turns.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The author portrays the story of Arnold (Junior) Spirit as a story of hope and potential one has to change their circumstances. Arnold was born into poverty with “water on the brain” to an alcoholic father and a former alcoholic mother on an Indian reservation. Each social issue is described often with humor but reveals enough to tug at the readers heartstrings. You can feel Arnold's resentment for living on the “rez” when he talks about being poor and describing the time when he had ten teeth removed at once because one trip to the dentist was cheaper than ten separate trips, or how the family dog could not be taken to the vet because a two cent bullet is cheaper than a visit to the veterinarian.

As the story unfolds in a first person point of view, Arnold is encouraged to attend Reardon, an all white high school not on the reservation. Arnold believes that the promise for a better life and getting out of the rez cycle begins with a solid education, one he cannot get on the reservation. Arnold must trek twenty-two miles each way to attend. Often he walks as the family does not have gas money, the car is broke down or his dad is not sober enough to drive him. Often Arnold hitch-hikes or occasionally doesn’t attend.

Going to Reardon brings its own set of problems. Being the only Indian kid where the school mascot is an Indian, adds to the already heavy burden Arnold is feeling at home where his tribe considers him a traitor for wanting to leave the reservation. Even his friend, Rowdy, wants absolutely nothing to do with him, often calling him names and acting out violently at times.

As time goes on Arnold notices that problems aren’t just at home. At his new school he finds students facing issues such as eating disorders, being ignored and uninvolved parents. These students may have the latest and greatest Arnold notices but it doesn’t replace the basic needs of love and acceptance many teens crave.

With the many painful moments the book explores, mostly dealing with death and often the factor of those deaths is alcohol….the author and the illustrator does an amazing job telling it with the humor you would expect from a teenage boy. Drawings, which are more than just doodles for the diary are done in cartoon-like pen drawings adding humor to the not so humorous topics addressed but reminds the reader that this is indeed the work of a 14 year old boy with the male humor and the sometimes lack of sensitivity the drawings provoke. Readers cannot help but love this comic tragedy.

4. AWARDS/REVIEWS

Winner of the 2007 National Book Award for Young People's Literature

Winner of the 2008 Boston-Globe Horn Book Award

Winner of the 2009 International Book on Books for Young People Sweden - Peter Pan Prize

Winner of the 2010 California Young Reader Medal

Finalist for the 2007 Los Angeles Times Book Prize

HORN BOOK starred review: “The line between dramatic monologue, verse novel, and stand-up comedy gets unequivocally- and hilariously and triumphantly-bent in this novel.”

BOOKLIST review: “Alexie's humor and prose are easygoing and well suited to his young audience, and he doesn't pull many punches as he levels his eye at stereotypes both warranted and inapt. A few of the plotlines fade to gray by the end, but this ultimately affirms the incredible power of best friends to hurt and heal in equal measure. Younger teens looking for the strength to lift themselves out of rough situations would do well to start here.” By Ian Chipman

5. CONNECTIONS

Read A likes:

THE BONE PEOPLE by Keri Hulme

SHORTCOMINGS by Adrian Tomine

AN OFF YEAR by Claire Zulkey

RAIN IS NOT MY INDIAN NAME by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Books written in diary format:

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID series by Jeff Kinney

THE DARK DIARIES series by Rachel Renee Russell

MONSTER by Walter Dean Myers

Just like Arnold and his diary, students could also write and illustrate journal entries.

Authors Website: http://www.fallsapart.com/

Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Module 1: Classics and Awards

1.    BIBLIOGRAHY
  
Bray, Libba. 2009. GOING BOVINE. New York, NY. Delacorte Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0385733976

2.    SUMMARY

Cameron is just your average teen guy. He's lazy, aimless, a slacker and the highlight of his day is smoking pot in the school restroom. But then the unexpected happens: he contracts the human form of mad cow disease, which is fatal in every single case. The only chance that Cameron has to save his life is to undertake a mission to save the world. His sidekicks include a punk-rock pink-haired, spray painted winged angel, a hypochondriac video game playing dwarf with an overprotective mother, and a Nordic god in the form of a talking lawn gnome. Setting out on the ultimate road trip to Find Dr. X and the Mad Cow cure, the trio encounters cults, possible serial killers, a New Orleans jazz singer, a parallel universe, crazy game show hosts and a lawless snow globe franchise.

3.    CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Author, Libba Bray, takes the reader on a twisted ride as she develops the story of Cameron and his battle with Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy known as the human form of Mad Cow Disease. Up until contracting the incurable virus, Cameron lived a quiet reclusive life. Usually overlooked and a bit on the “loser” side of high school, he suddenly finds himself thrust into the spotlight once word of his illness spreads. Bray portrays the protagonist as someone you wish to hang out with due to his quick wit and edgy personality. The reader never wants to leave his side as you begin to care about Cameron and the battle he is facing as his condition worsens.

While reading I often wondered if the events were truly taking place or if it was all happening inside Cameron’s head while lying in the hospital as the disease slowly takes over. The “hallucinations” (or not) take the reader through a wild ride of emotions as one deals with how fragile life can really be.

Young readers will identify with the pop culture icons scattered throughout the novel. Disney World, vexing music, reality TV, energy drinks and the antics of an MTV style shows will keep the readers of this generation interested, and gives them an author they feel like identifies with their generation. Along with Bray’s depiction of various teen cliques (jocks, outcasts, popular and stoners), teens will definitely stay with this book for the entire wild time it provides.

4. Award/Reviews

2009 Children's Book Sense Pick

Publishers Weekly Best Children's Book of the Year 2009

Booklist Books for Youth Editors' Choice in 2009

Michael L. Printz Award Winner 2010

School Library Journal  "Bray blends in a hearty dose of satire on the road trip as Cameron leaves his Texas deathbed—or does he? —To battle evil forces with a legendary jazz horn player, to escape the evil clutches of a happiness cult, to experiment with cloistered scientists trying to solve the mysteries of the universe, and to save a yard gnome embodying a Viking god from the clutches of the materialistic, fame-obsessed MTV-culture clones who shun individual thought. It's a trip worth taking, though meandering and message-driven at times. Some teens may check out before Cameron makes it to his final destination, but many will enjoy asking themselves the questions both deep and shallow that pop up along the way. —Suzanne Gordon, Peachtree Ridge High School, Suwanee, GA

Booklist, starred review "An unforgettable, nearly indefinable fantasy adventure."

5. CONNECTIONS

Learn more about Mad Cow Disease at: http://kidshealth.org/teen/infections/bacterial_viral/mad_cow_disease.html

Read Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. Referenced many times in Going Bovine, readers may enjoy learning the connections between the two books.

Check out the author's website for additional (and fun) information about the book.
http://www.libbabray.com/