The Outsiders

S. E. Hinton wrote The Outsiders as a teenager, and you can feel it—every scene is close to the skin. Through Ponyboy Curtis, we step into a world where two tribes, greasers and Socs, move through the same streets but live in different universes. Ponyboy hides a love for movies and sunsets beneath long hair and the armor of his crew. One terrible night at the park changes everything, forcing him and his best friend Johnny to run, hide, and reckon with what loyalty really costs. Inside the violence is a surprisingly gentle story about found family, grief, and the small moments—like a sunrise, a poem, or a letter—that keep us human. This 30-minute narrative brings the book alive as one seamless, spoken experience, honoring its heart and urgency while guiding you through the story’s key turns and quiet truths.

• Listeners who love character-driven fiction about found family and identity
• Teens and adults interested in stories about class, loyalty, and grief
• Educators and book clubs seeking rich discussion on empathy and labels

S. E. Hinton wrote The Outsiders as a teenager in Tulsa, Oklahoma, drawing on the tensions she saw between kids on opposite sides of town. Her debut changed young adult literature with its raw honesty and teen perspective. She later wrote Rumble Fish, That Was Then, This Is Now, and Tex, and stayed closely involved with film adaptations of her work. A lifelong reader, Hinton’s voice blends empathy, observation, and spare, cinematic storytelling.