Is The Outsiders still relevant today?

The "Outsiders" has a lasting message that still remains important today. Right before Johnny dies, he says "Stay gold Ponyboy." We know that these last words from Johnny are meant to carry significance in the novel, specifically with Ponyboy.Johnny tells Ponyboy to stay gold in reference to Robert Frost's poem, "Nothing Gold Can Stay." Hinton gives readers a look into how important it is to "Stay gold," or not to lose our innocence. She urges us to keep our eyes open, and to view the world as though as though we will stay young, untouched, and pure forever.
The book is written for and about young adolescents undergoing massive changes in their lives, but it's message stays true for all adults. "The Outsiders" is an ageless reminder that we must try to hold on to our young self, as we are seeing the world through a lens that will change before our eyes.

The appeal of The Outsiders lies in how Hinton validates the voice of young people. Prior to Hinton's work, young people, as a group and as individuals, really did not have a genre that truly spoke to them. Hinton is able to enter into the world of adolescence and social identity, realms that were as relevant then as they are now. She validates and authenticates young people's experiences.


In many respects, the genre of young adult literature owes much to The Outsiders. The struggle for identity and the need to understand potentially tragic conditions in adolescence are the basis of the modern genre. Hinton was ahead of her time in recognizing that within the domain of adolescence lies some of the best drama. She is able to draw from this reservoir in The Outsiders. The book holds a specific appeal today, as it has become a staple of the middle school/high school curriculum. It is not surprising to find teachers who say that they struggled to find literature that would connect to their students, but that this challenge temporarily subsided when they introduced The Outsiders to their students. In this regard, one sees how Hinton's work possesses a timeless quality to it, reflecting how adolescent struggles have not subsided and how the drama within it still makes for quality literature.