Giovanni Díaz-Infante Posadas, Grade 11
UWC Maastricht
S. E. Hinton.
I came across this name for the first time in 8th Grade, during my English Literature class, in the cover of the novel that would soon become my favourite: The Outsiders.
I have always been a book lover, both in and out of school; a new book and some alone time were the best birthday present anyone could give me when I was younger. I cannot say exactly when I developed such fascination for books, but whenever people ask me which was the first book I read, my answer is always Harry Potter and the Sorcerer'sSorcerer's Stone. I am confident that my answer is extremely inaccurate; nevertheless, J. K. Rowling novels are the first collection of books that I can vividly remember reading and re-reading again and again. I was mesmerized by the wizarding world and its rules, by the magical creatures and spells; I had never been captivated by a book like that. Now, the variety of books that I was familiar with at that age was not very impressive; most books that came across my hands were old books I found in my house or gifts from my grandparents, which is why studying new novels in my Literature class was always the most exciting moment of my day.
I must have been thirteen at the time, but I still remember the day my teacher introduced the class to S. E. Hinton:
Susan Eloise Hinton was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on July 22, 1948. She is one of the best-known writers of young adult fiction, a genre which she is credited with developing. She became a famous writer after her first and most popular novel, The Outsiders, published in 1967; she wrote it while in high school. This coming-of-age novel set in Hinton'sHinton's hometown, tells the story of the conflict between two rival gangs divided by their socioeconomic status: the ''Greasers'' and the ''Socs''. The story is crude, explicit and controversial; it portrays gang violence, underage drinking and smoking and use of strong language, which is why it was and remains banned in many schools. It was one of the most influential young adult novels of its time, and ever since, Hinton'sHinton's novels have changed the way people look at young literature.
GD: In light of recent events, I believe that The Outsiders still holds relevance in today's political climate, which is why I am delighted to have the chance to have a conversation with the author herself. Welcome Susan, thank you so much for being here.
SEH: Hi Giovanni, thank you for reaching out and setting up this interview.
GD: It was nothing, and please, call me Gio. Susan, I have to be honest with you. The Outsiders has been my favourite book of all times ever since I read it when I was thirteen. It is fascinating.
SEH: Thank you so much, it is always nice to hear positive things about your work, especially after so many years. When I was writing it, I liked the story, but I never thought the novel would have the impact it did; I owe so much to it.
GD: What always surprises me about this novel is that, when I read it, I was too young to understand the underlying ideas of social inequality and injustice that you were expressing, but you were not too young to write about them. What motivated you to write it?
SEH: Well, I started the novel when I was sixteen and wrote most of it by the time I was seventeen, so I was at that age where you start gaining awareness of the things happening around you and acting on them. At that time, I was not satisfied with the literature that was being written for us, the young adults, and I felt that it was my place to do something about it. I wanted a story that I could relate to, a story that inspired me. I wrote the novel based on two rival gangs at my high school, just like the Greasers and the Socs, in an attempt to empathize with them. When I finished it, I was proud of my work, but I would have never called it a masterpiece; I failed creative writing in my junior year, just before I decided to write the novel.
GD: Well, more than 14 million copies disagree with you. You have even been called the "voice of the youth". In your opinion, what caused that success?
SEH: I think the success was a result of a number of factors. First of all, I think that the novel is engaging because it is realistic; it is a story for teenagers by teenagers. Of course, Ponyboy and Sodapop are fictional characters, but their stories are not, their conflict was not. I'mI'm pretty sure that the rivalry between Greaser and Socs is something that, at least to an extent, can be found in every high school.
Secondly, I think that my willingness to talk so openly about uncomfortable topics hooked the readers emotionally; it is uncommon to read stories that depict so explicitly the struggles of being a teenager, of coming of age, especially at the time when I wrote the book. Every time I re-read The Outsiders, I notice how emotionally invested I was in the story, and I think that the readers are able to perceive that as well and resonate with it.
Finally, I would say that my choice to publish the novel using my initials (S. E. Hinton) instead of my real name allowed the novel to get the attention it deserved because male critics and reader were not biased by my sex.
GD: Do you think the novel's success will eventually fade?
SEH: I think that the novel will become a classic. It is already taught in many high school curriculums, and it has permeated the US culture so deeply that I think its effect is permanent. I still find it surreal, but the number of people that are familiar with the characters and the story keeps on growing; the words "stay gold" carry a new meaning.
GD: So, do you think the novel is timeless?
SEH: I think it is. It covers topics that are relevant for every young generation, especially the one we have right now. The eagerness to find an identity and the revolutionary spirit to stand up against injustice are extremely essential to the new youth. The title also adds to the novel's timelessness; it is applicable to many contexts and contemporary issues.
GD: That is very true. I also feel a very strong desire in my generation to be changemakers. There is an openness to explore new solutions that I don't think was very common when you were my age.
SEH: Indeed. Those were different times.
GD: As a UWC student who strives to achieve peace and harmony, I have to ask the following question: do you think the novel's ending is appropriate? Could it be less bloody?
SEH: It definitely could, but that would compromise the novel's realism
GD: How so?
SEH: In my opinion, the novel is true to its context; a Greaser and a Soccer could have never been friends. It reflects the reality of those times, the brutality of the class divisions, the toxic masculinity accurately. The ending is not far-fetched, it'sit's crude; the best the characters could do was to remember the importance of ''staying gold''.
GD: And if the novel were set in the 2000s, would the ending change?
SEH: Probably, but I think that the ending could also remain the same. If you take a quick glance at any newspaper, you'll see discrimination, injustice and violence.
GD: That is why it’s so important that we have novels like yours. Novels that show us reality as it is and encourage us to reflect on it. Thank you for having the courage of writing The Outsiders and thank you for the interview. You are truly an inspiration.
SEH: It was my pleasure, Gio.
I came across this name for the first time in 8th Grade, during my English Literature class, in the cover of the novel that would soon become my favourite: The Outsiders.
I have always been a book lover, both in and out of school; a new book and some alone time were the best birthday present anyone could give me when I was younger. I cannot say exactly when I developed such fascination for books, but whenever people ask me which was the first book I read, my answer is always Harry Potter and the Sorcerer'sSorcerer's Stone. I am confident that my answer is extremely inaccurate; nevertheless, J. K. Rowling novels are the first collection of books that I can vividly remember reading and re-reading again and again. I was mesmerized by the wizarding world and its rules, by the magical creatures and spells; I had never been captivated by a book like that. Now, the variety of books that I was familiar with at that age was not very impressive; most books that came across my hands were old books I found in my house or gifts from my grandparents, which is why studying new novels in my Literature class was always the most exciting moment of my day.
I must have been thirteen at the time, but I still remember the day my teacher introduced the class to S. E. Hinton:
Susan Eloise Hinton was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on July 22, 1948. She is one of the best-known writers of young adult fiction, a genre which she is credited with developing. She became a famous writer after her first and most popular novel, The Outsiders, published in 1967; she wrote it while in high school. This coming-of-age novel set in Hinton'sHinton's hometown, tells the story of the conflict between two rival gangs divided by their socioeconomic status: the ''Greasers'' and the ''Socs''. The story is crude, explicit and controversial; it portrays gang violence, underage drinking and smoking and use of strong language, which is why it was and remains banned in many schools. It was one of the most influential young adult novels of its time, and ever since, Hinton'sHinton's novels have changed the way people look at young literature.
GD: In light of recent events, I believe that The Outsiders still holds relevance in today's political climate, which is why I am delighted to have the chance to have a conversation with the author herself. Welcome Susan, thank you so much for being here.
SEH: Hi Giovanni, thank you for reaching out and setting up this interview.
GD: It was nothing, and please, call me Gio. Susan, I have to be honest with you. The Outsiders has been my favourite book of all times ever since I read it when I was thirteen. It is fascinating.
SEH: Thank you so much, it is always nice to hear positive things about your work, especially after so many years. When I was writing it, I liked the story, but I never thought the novel would have the impact it did; I owe so much to it.
GD: What always surprises me about this novel is that, when I read it, I was too young to understand the underlying ideas of social inequality and injustice that you were expressing, but you were not too young to write about them. What motivated you to write it?
SEH: Well, I started the novel when I was sixteen and wrote most of it by the time I was seventeen, so I was at that age where you start gaining awareness of the things happening around you and acting on them. At that time, I was not satisfied with the literature that was being written for us, the young adults, and I felt that it was my place to do something about it. I wanted a story that I could relate to, a story that inspired me. I wrote the novel based on two rival gangs at my high school, just like the Greasers and the Socs, in an attempt to empathize with them. When I finished it, I was proud of my work, but I would have never called it a masterpiece; I failed creative writing in my junior year, just before I decided to write the novel.
GD: Well, more than 14 million copies disagree with you. You have even been called the "voice of the youth". In your opinion, what caused that success?
SEH: I think the success was a result of a number of factors. First of all, I think that the novel is engaging because it is realistic; it is a story for teenagers by teenagers. Of course, Ponyboy and Sodapop are fictional characters, but their stories are not, their conflict was not. I'mI'm pretty sure that the rivalry between Greaser and Socs is something that, at least to an extent, can be found in every high school.
Secondly, I think that my willingness to talk so openly about uncomfortable topics hooked the readers emotionally; it is uncommon to read stories that depict so explicitly the struggles of being a teenager, of coming of age, especially at the time when I wrote the book. Every time I re-read The Outsiders, I notice how emotionally invested I was in the story, and I think that the readers are able to perceive that as well and resonate with it.
Finally, I would say that my choice to publish the novel using my initials (S. E. Hinton) instead of my real name allowed the novel to get the attention it deserved because male critics and reader were not biased by my sex.
GD: Do you think the novel's success will eventually fade?
SEH: I think that the novel will become a classic. It is already taught in many high school curriculums, and it has permeated the US culture so deeply that I think its effect is permanent. I still find it surreal, but the number of people that are familiar with the characters and the story keeps on growing; the words "stay gold" carry a new meaning.
GD: So, do you think the novel is timeless?
SEH: I think it is. It covers topics that are relevant for every young generation, especially the one we have right now. The eagerness to find an identity and the revolutionary spirit to stand up against injustice are extremely essential to the new youth. The title also adds to the novel's timelessness; it is applicable to many contexts and contemporary issues.
GD: That is very true. I also feel a very strong desire in my generation to be changemakers. There is an openness to explore new solutions that I don't think was very common when you were my age.
SEH: Indeed. Those were different times.
GD: As a UWC student who strives to achieve peace and harmony, I have to ask the following question: do you think the novel's ending is appropriate? Could it be less bloody?
SEH: It definitely could, but that would compromise the novel's realism
GD: How so?
SEH: In my opinion, the novel is true to its context; a Greaser and a Soccer could have never been friends. It reflects the reality of those times, the brutality of the class divisions, the toxic masculinity accurately. The ending is not far-fetched, it'sit's crude; the best the characters could do was to remember the importance of ''staying gold''.
GD: And if the novel were set in the 2000s, would the ending change?
SEH: Probably, but I think that the ending could also remain the same. If you take a quick glance at any newspaper, you'll see discrimination, injustice and violence.
GD: That is why it’s so important that we have novels like yours. Novels that show us reality as it is and encourage us to reflect on it. Thank you for having the courage of writing The Outsiders and thank you for the interview. You are truly an inspiration.
SEH: It was my pleasure, Gio.
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