American Icons: The Outsiders
This is the underbelly of teen America.
Susan Eloise Hinton was a teenager when she wrote The Outsiders, the story of rival gangs in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She used the pen name “S.E.” so readers wouldn’t know she was a girl, and bought a Camaro with the earnings. “Some of [the novel’s] faults, like its over-the-top emotions and drama, are what make it so popular because that’s the way kids really feel,” she says. “You’ve got to have the hormones going before you really appreciate that book.”
Librarian Elizabeth Bird says the novel’s unresolved class struggle resonates as powerfully as ever. “There are always going to be the haves and the have-nots — the divide is getting bigger and bigger all the time. And this book talks about that. A lot of books for kids and teens do not.”
Jack Starky read passages from the book.
(Originally aired: May 4, 2012)
Memos from Hollywood: Librarian Jo Ellen Misakian and the students of Lone Star School wrote to Francis Ford Coppola asking him to turn The Outsiders into a movie. He did.
→ Read letters to Misakian from producer Frank Roos during the film's development
Slideshow: How The Outsiders became a movie
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Heather Acs, Elizabeth Bird, Kristi Yeramian Bishop, S. E. Hinton, Ralph Macchio, Jo Ellen Misakian and Eric TribunellaProduced by:
Lu OlkowskiEditors:
Derek JohnStudio 360's American Icons is made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: great ideas brought to life. Studio 360 is a co-production of Public Radio International and WNYC Radio, and is funded in part by Ken and Lucy Lehman, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the SC Group. Our series on creativity and science is supported in part by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Comments [6]
I remember borrowing the book from one of my friends in 5th grade (1982). She was an Irish-Catholic girl w/9 brothers & sisters living in a predominantly African-American & (ethnic) minority [urban] neighborhood. I sat behind her, and often played with her hair:) We both lived south of Hillside Ave. in Jamaica, NY, which told the world how much money your parents made. We were excited when the movie came out. My older brother took me to see it. I cried so much the next day. I felt sorry for those boys.
Another novel dealing with "The Outsiders" theme is Slow Walk in A Sad Rain, called the Catch-22 of Vietnam. It is currently optioned for a movie with a young director named, Jeremy Rush, out of LA.
As I was listening to "The outsiders" memories began to flood my mind. Growing up in a lower middle class neighborhood in the 1970's, I was an outsider. Two older brothers, friends throughout the neighborhood. A bond of friendships that would last a life time. Being poor and living in the "Park" we just never realized how poor we really were.
It wasn't till my freshman year in high school, that I found out. Our english teach, Mrs. Byers, would begin our class reading to us from "The Outsiders." Immediately my love for the written word was etched deep in my heart, I found my identity.
I often thank Mrs. Byers for opening up the world of the Outsiders to us, and giving me the love I have for reading today.
Sincerely,
An outsider.
Great story about The Outsiders, the first time I had heard the voice of S.E. Hinton. One correction, Eric Tribunella is a professor at the University of Southern Mississippi (not the University of Mississippi as stated in the program).
The Hunger Games trilogy is a fantastic series of young adult novels about class struggles. It's such a shame that the first movie completely cut out any mention of class struggle. In the books 'Class' is such a central theme.
I just finished listening to the interview with S E Hinton,and I couldn't wait to write a comment!!! The Outsiders was THE book that began my passion for reading. My 8th grade English teacher, Teddy Sullivan from Kennedy JR. High in Natick MA took our class to a book fair. He asked me what book I was going to buy. I gave him a blank stare and said, "I don't like to read." He quickly picked up The Outsiders and handed it to me. He told me to read it and he promised that I would love it. That was 38 years ago and I have never stopped reading!! Many thanks to S E Hinton for writing a book that captured my attention. Unfortunately, Mr. Sullivan passed away and never knew the lasting impact he had on my life.
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