The Outsiders
by S.E. Hinton
- Lexile
- 750L
- Grade range
- Grades 7–9
- Age range
- Ages 12–15
- Pages
- 192
- First published
- 1967
- Genre
- Young Adult Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780142407332
About this book
Ponyboy Curtis, a fourteen-year-old member of a 1960s Oklahoma gang called the Greasers, tells the story of a violent rivalry with the wealthier Socs. Written by Hinton when she was a teenager, the novel is often one of the first serious works of fiction assigned in middle school and remains a staple of 7th and 8th grade.
Themes
- class conflict
- friendship
- loyalty
- family
- violence
- identity
Content notes
- gang violence
- knife violence
- death of teens
- smoking
- underage drinking
Common Sense Media recommends age 12+.
Where this book is assigned
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 7th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 6-8 exemplar
- recommended· 7th grade · Texassource: TEKS grade 7 frequently taught text
- recommended· 8th grade · Californiasource: CA CCSS ELA grade 8 aligned reading
- recommended· 8th grade · Floridasource: FL B.E.S.T. summer-reading list — rising 8th grade
- recommended· 8th grade · Michigansource: Michigan ELA Standards grade 8 aligned reading
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is The Outsiders?
- The Outsiders is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 7–9, with a Lexile measure of 750L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What is the Lexile level of The Outsiders?
- The Outsiders has a Lexile measure of 750L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- What curricula assign The Outsiders?
- The Outsiders appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is The Outsiders banned in schools?
- The Outsiders does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
- What themes does The Outsiders explore?
- Central themes in The Outsiders include class conflict, friendship, loyalty, family, violence. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.