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Hinton’s novels deal with a lot of adult content but have also been widely praised and acknowledged in academia. Hinton’s novels bring up relevant issues like gang violence and bullying that adolescents can identify with. I think these factors make for a roughly 50/50 split between reading for academic and pleasure purposes. From personal experience, I had been assigned to read The Outsiders in high school. Though it is not listed in the top most frequently required titled for grades 9-12 in the Applebee article, but as the article states, since curriculum as a whole remains generally the same, it is likely that students will be assigned at least The Outsiders of Hinton’s work. As the Coats article mentions, many classical texts often fail to register with today’s students because it is a perspective they cannot understand. Though Hinton’s novels were written over fifty years ago, the topics she addresses are still relevant and relatable to youth. From this I assert that after being introduced to Hinton’s work academically, students would be encouraged to continue reading Hinton’s other novels. Because her novels take place in the same world, and involve some of the same characters throughout, I see this as an additional motivator for students to read beyond the first book.

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In Tex, the brothers Tex and Mason McCormick have been left to take care of themselves. Their father has left to go work in the rodeo, and their mother has passed away. Older brother Mason, who is a senior and star of the basketball team, takes care of himself and Tex. One day when Tex comes home, he has found that Mason has sold his favorite horse Negrito. In confronting Mason, the argument turns violent and Mason hits Tex. Tex leaves vowing to find the horse, later meeting up with the Collins family. Tex has many confrontations with Cole Collins, who blames him as the cause of corruption to his children. Tex is in love with Jamie Collins, though she is forbidden to see him. Tex runs away, but returns, reflecting that his life was better living with his brother.

Hinton, S.E., (1979) Tex. New York. Dell Publishing

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Written roughly only a year ago, this Rolling Stone article by Margaret Eby praises S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders as a piece still relevant to the modern youth. Eby states that Hinton’s novels were the first to show that young adult literature could be deeper than cutesy romance novels. Eby also points out that Hinton’s background as a writer continues to inspire young writers. Writer Nick Greene states that upon learning of Hinton’s age he redefined his thinking of what a writer was, inspiring him to become a writer.

Rolling Stone Magazine.com (4/26/2017) Retrieved from https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/why-the-outsiders-still-matters-50-years-later-w479029

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Hinton’s books are generally characterized as “coming of age” novels. Her characters ages range from twelve to seventeen. All of Hinton’s books include scenes with violence and use or reference to drugs. Many of Hinton’s characters come from broken homes, where their parents are absent, alcoholics, or abusive. The adult material within Hinton’s books makes them best suited for Juniors or Seniors able to maturely handle the adult material. Beyond the depictions of gang violence, Hinton’s novels, such as The Outsiders teach against prejudice. Many of the reviews I read from readers stated they were the same age as Hinton’s young characters, 11+, and believed the novels content would be suitable for that age. Personally, I remember reading The Outsiders in Middle School, in eighth grade, I believe around thirteen/fourteen years old. Hinton’s novels touch on many topics relatable to young adults ages 15-18, who are entering into the world of dating, drugs, working, shifting relationships with friends, and following different life paths as they grow up and move beyond high school. Similar to Hinton’s characters, teens are experiencing puberty and undergoing physical, and hormonal changes. Hinton’s novels deal with complex issues requiring critical analysis and thought. Young adolescents undergoing puberty are also intellectually developing, and begin to develop the capacity for abstract thought processes. Though Hinton’s novels were written from another era, the content is still relatable to teens today. Mickey Caskey’s article “Developmental Characteristics of Young Adolescents”, states that “during early adolescence, youth are more interested in real life experiences and authentic learning opportunities”, interested in less academic texts. Hinton’s novels strike a balance between academically praised literature and relatable/thrilling literature for young adolescents.

Caskey, Mickey, and Anfara, Vincent A. (October 2014). AMLE.org. Retrieved from https://www.amle.org/BrowsebyTopic/WhatsNew/WNDet/TabId/270/ArtMID/888/ArticleID/455/Developmental-Characteristics-of-Young-Adolescents.aspx

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The Outsiders begins with Ponyboy’s narration, establishing the differences between two rival gangs, the Socs and the Greasers. Soc girls Cherry and Marcia are heckled by greaser Dally, and Ponyboy ends up standing up to him and having a civil conversation with Cherry. This is where Ponyboy first begins to question his judgements against people because of their social status. Later in the evening, Ponyboy and Johnny are walking through a park and are suddenly surrounded by four Socs, including Cherry’s boyfriend Bob. Ponyboy spits at the Socs prompting them to begin drowning him in the fountain. Johnny, who had been previously beaten up by Bob, pulls a knife and fatally stabs Bob. The boys panic and go to Dally for help, who gives them a loaded gun and instructs them to hide in an abandoned church. The boys hide out in the church, cutting and bleaching their hair as disguises. While in hiding, the boys read Gone With the Wind and reflect on the poem “Nothing Gold Can Stay” by Robert Frost. Johnny decides to turn himself in, but upon returning the boys rescue children who are trapped in the burning abandoned church. The boys are praised as heroes, though Johnny is still charged with manslaughter, and dies later from his injuries. Dally takes the news hard and faces off with police with the unloaded gun, getting shot and dying. The book ends with first line of the book, where Ponyboy has begun recounting recent events which he is writing for a school paper.

Hinton, S.E. (1967). The Outsiders. New York: Viking Press.

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That Was Then, This is Now follows the evolving brother-like relationship between characters Bryon Douglas and Mark Jennings. The novel begins with their mother in the hospital, she has been shot by her husband in an argument. She is Bryon’s birth mother and Mark’s adoptive mother. The boys begin to drift apart when Bryon begins to date Cathy and spend less time with Mark. Additionally, both boys find different ways to bring in money to the house, Bryon gets a job at the local supermarket and Mark begins selling drugs. In a finalizing move, Bryon calls the cops on Mark and he is put into a reformatory. When Mark is released he makes it a point to Bryon that he hates him, though in acting out, he is again put into prison. Bryon breaks up with Cathy and reflects on how his youth was much less complicated than his life and relationships now.

Hinton, S.E. (1971). That Was Then, This is Now. New York: Puffin Books

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The novel begins with characters Rusty James and Steve Hays running into each other after a traumatic incident five years prior. Rusty recounts the story of his stab wound from the incident. The book flashes back to Rusty learning that rival Biff Wilcox wants to kill him for comments he has said about a girl named Anita. Though Rusty’s brother would disapprove, Rusty accepts the challenge to the rumble, and gets stabbed by Biff in the fight. Referred to only as Motorcycle Boy, Rusty’s older brother is a former gang leader tough guy gone peaceful, wishing to leave the street life, and urges Rusty to do the same. The novel is named for a particular scene where Motorcycle Boy and Rusty James go to the pet store to watch the fish, that Motorcycle Boy calls “rumblefish” stating if they could kill each other they would, though he ponders whether the fish would act this way if they were freed and in the river. Later that evening, Motorcycle Boy breaks into the pet store and begins freeing animals, taking the fish with him to the river. A Police officer fires a warning shot, fatally hitting Motorcycle Boy as he reaches the river, poetically killing the fish as well.

Hinton, S. E. (1975). Rumblefish. New York: Delacorte Press

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This blog post on gang activity and violence focuses on Tulsa, OK, which is Hinton’s hometown and setting location for majority of her books. Though in interviews Hinton has stated that she never personally experienced gang violence like much of her books, this blog shows how relevant Hinton’s books are to the younger generation, who is experiencing gang violence. Teens growing up in Tula are faced with much of the same issues which characters face in Rumble Fish or Tex, who are dealing with poverty and broken homes, making Hinton’s book more relevant than ever with today’s intercity youth. http://www.therealstreetz.com/2015/07/22/thug-town-tulsa-gangs-ghetto/

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Though Hinton attended Tulsa University, she was later additionally recognized by the school. In 1992 Hinton was inducted to the University of Tulsa’s Phi Beta Kappa Chapter. Hinton wrote and published That Was Then, This is Now while attending university. Like many of Hinton’s novels, it has been adapted into a film. Here is the list of awards the novel received upon publication in 1971.

ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 1971

Chicago Tribune Book World Spring Book Festival Honor Book, 1971

Massachusetts Children’s Book Award, 1978

S.E. Hinton.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sehinton.com

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James Ronda, 2015 Billie Letts, 2014 Marcello Angelini, Artistic Director, 2011 Tim Blake Nelson, Film Maker/Actor/Director, 2010 B. H. Fairchild, Poet, 2008 Paul Llewellyn Brown, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, 2004 Ellen Gussman Adelson, Educator and Public Advocate, 2003 Penny Baldwin Williams, Oklahoma State Legislator, 2001 Yevgeny Yevtushenko, Distinguished Russian Poet, 2000 Clifton L.

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Here S.E. Hinton is speaking as the recipient of the 2008 Young Adult Book Award presented by the Chicago Tribune. Hinton states that it is her greatest joy to read letters from readers saying that her books have sparked their reading interest. Hinton comments how her books were the fist of their kind to have more adult plot and content for YA lit, though she does not read or keep up with current YA lit.

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S.E. Hinton speaking as recipient of the 2008 Young Adult Book Award presented by the Chicago Tribune

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Hinton wrote That Was Then, This is Now shortly after marrying David Inhofe, publishing her second novel in 1971. Hinton had apparently been depressed with writer's block during this time, and her husband made her write two pages a day if she wanted to go anywhere, until completion. The novel is somewhat of a sequel to The Outsiders, and contains cameos from characters like Ponyboy and Tim and Curly Shepard. Like Hinton’s other novels, That Was Then, This is Now was made into a full length feature in 1985, though directed by Christopher Cain not Coppola. Emilio Estevez starred in the role as Mark and also wrote the screenplay. This scene and caption from the film perfectly encapsulates the novel/films premise. The ways which Mark and Bryon drift apart because of dating and heading different places in life, is a theme relatable still to adolescents experiencing similar shifts in friendships and life goals/experiences. The films had varied reception, and scenes/plot parts were changed in the film from the book.

Hinton, S.E. (1975). That Was Then, This is Now. New York: Puffin Books

S.E. Hinton.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sehinton.com/

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Hinton wrote and published Rumble Fish in 1975 and was made into a full length film directed by Francis Ford Coppola in 1983. Hinton and Coppola wrote the screenplay while Coppola had off time during the filming of The Outsiders. Hinton also has a small bit part as a hooker in Rumble Fish. Pictured here is where Rusty James (Matt Dillon) rounds up his friend for a rumble against opposing gang leader Biff, who pulls a knife and stabs Rusty James. The film was received with very mixed reviews. The film is very avante garde and film noir, it was shot in black and white to reflect how the character Motorcycle Boy is color blind. Coppola took much of his inspiration from French New Wave cinema and German Expressionism. Prior to filming, Coppola had gave specific novels and films to his actors so they could draw inspiration from them.

S.E. Hinton.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sehinton.com/

Hinton, S. E. (1975). Rumblefish. New York: Delacorte Press

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S.E. Hinton.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sehinton.com

Here’s Hinton is at a Barnes and Noble in New York, celebrating the 50 year anniversary of The Outsiders on April 27, 2017. Because of the adult content, The Outsiders was seen as controversial but has become widely recognized as a classic, and has forever altered YA lit content expectations. Hinton’s official website lists awards The Outsiders received upon publication, but it comes nowhere to showing how much recognition this novel has received since 1967.

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

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Susan Eloise Hinton was born in Oklahoma in 1948, and is best known for her series of young-adult novels which take place in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Hinton wrote and published her first book in 1965 (The Outsiders) when she was only seventeen. With few activities to do for girls in Tulsa, Hinton took on reading and writing as her pastimes, and has since restated her love of literature. As a young woman, Hinton wanted to be a cattle rancher, and her love of cowboys and gunfights greatly influenced her first novel, The Outsiders. Hinton chose to publish all of her books with abbreviated initials so that male readers would not be deterred by a female author. After high school Hinton attended Tulsa University where she met her husband David Inhofe and they married in 1970. Pictured here is Hinton (27 years old) with her third novel published in 1975, titled Rumble Fish. Four of Hinton’s novels have been made into popular films, two of which directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

Hinton, S. E. (1975). Rumblefish. New York: Delacorte Press

S.E. Hinton.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sehinton.com/