S. E. Hinton ​

Susan Eloise Hinton is an American author best known for her debut novel, The Outsiders, which she wrote when she was just 15 years old. She is recognized as a pioneer of the young adult genre, with several of her novels being regarded as classics in the field.

Quick Facts ​

• Began writing during junior high school, inspired by a teacher's assignment.
• The Outsiders, a novel she started to wrote at fifteen, was published when she was eighteen and it was her first published work.
• The novel is considered one of the most popular and best-selling young adult books of all time.
• The Outsiders was turned into a movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
• Continues to write and publish novels, but none have achieved the same fame as The Outsiders.

Background ​

Hinton was born in 1948 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She had a keen interest in reading from an early age and loved to write stories. She attended Will Rogers High School in Tulsa where, inspired by her experiences, she wrote her first novel, "The Outsiders" when she was just 16 years old. This novel gained instant popularity and paved the way for her successful career as a writer. In the early 1970s, following the success of The Outsiders, she took a brief hiatus from writing to attend the University of Tulsa. After a few years, she returned to writing and produced other notable works such as "Tex", "Rumble Fish", and "That Was Then, This Is Now". Her novels are often lauded for their gritty and realistic depiction of teenage life. Hinton’s work mainly focuses on the experiences and struggles of young people.

Writing Style and Impact ​

Hinton’s writing style is often described as straightforward and realistic, capturing the emotions and experiences of her teenage characters. Considered a pioneer in young adult fiction, her work has often tackled themes such as identity, family, and the transition from childhood to adulthood. Her most famous novel, "The Outsiders," challenged norms by presenting teenagers as complex, differentiated individuals, and not just stereotypical characters. This brought a new perspective to YA literature and had a significant influence on the genre.

Notable Works ​

• The Outsiders (1967)
• That Was Then, This is Now (1971)
• Rumble Fish (1975)
• Tex (1979)
• Taming the Star Runner (1988)