A group of misfit teenagers? An accidental murder? Outsiders running from the law with nowhere to go? S.E. Hinton’s debut novel, ‘The Outsiders’ covers it all. Published in 1967, it quickly became a favourite, being turned into a movie in 1983 with some of Hollywood's biggest stars and then a musical in 2023. It's somehow managed to stay relevant all this time and for good reason.

The story is set in 1967 Tulsa, Oklahoma, and follows fourteen-year-old Ponyboy Curtis, the youngest of his two older brothers and of his gang, the Greasers. Unlike many of his friends, Ponyboy desires a different life away from the gang violence and poverty that he’s always known. He dreams of graduating high school and leaving Tulsa behind, always feeling like he doesn't quite fit in with the others. But when a boy from the rival gang, the Socs, targets him and almost drowns him in a fountain, things take a drastic turn, and Ponyboy and his best friend Johnny Cade are forced to flee the scene, leaving a violent crime in their wake.

All in all, The Outsiders is a modern classic that's full of angst and suspense with its fair share of comedy and found family too, which is sure to make you laugh and cry as you read and truly understand just what it can mean to be an outsider in your world. The novel highlights important issues such as classism, poverty and gang culture which are still very much relevant in today's society, reminding us that even though it was set 57 years ago, we still have the same problems and a long way to go. I would definitely recommend adding this to your bookshelf and watching the movie too if you get the chance. Just remember to bring the tissues.