The Outsiders, published in 1967, emerged from a high school project written by a sixteen-year-old student in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Susan Eloise Hinton crafted this narrative to reflect the realities of rival gangs, the Greasers and the Socs, at Will Rogers High School. The work eventually sold more than 14 million copies and became a foundation for the young-adult genre.
Professional Origins
Born on July 22, 1948, Susan Eloise Hinton grew up in Oklahoma. Her publisher suggested she use the initials S. E. to avoid potential gender bias from reviewers who might dismiss a novel written by a young woman. Following the success of her debut, she maintained this professional moniker to separate her private life from her public literary identity and to protect the brand she established.
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Hinton expanded her bibliography throughout the 1970s and 1980s. She published That Was Then, This Is Now in 1971, followed by Rumble Fish in 1975, and Tex in 1979. Her final young-adult novel, Taming the Star Runner, appeared in 1988. By 1982, these four early works had collective sales exceeding 10 million copies.
Film Adaptations and Screenwriting
Several of her novels were adapted into films during the 1980s, including Tex in 1982, and both The Outsiders and Rumble Fish in 1983. Hinton contributed to the screenwriting process for Rumble Fish, collaborating with director Francis Ford Coppola. She also held cameo roles in these productions, appearing as a nurse, a typing teacher, and a sex worker across different projects.
Diversification of Work
In the 1990s, the author shifted her focus toward children's literature with the release of the picture book Big David, Little David and the novella The Puppy Sister in 1995. She later transitioned to adult fiction, publishing Hawkes Harbor in 2004 and the short story collection Some of Tim's Stories in 2007. These works incorporated more mature themes than her earlier writing.
Fast facts
- Born: July 22, 1948, Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Education: Will Rogers High School, University of Tulsa
- Margaret Edwards Award: 1988
- Spouse: David E. Inhofe
- Son: Nicholas David, born 1983
- Notable work: The Outsiders (1967)
Questions readers ask
Why does S. E. Hinton use initials?
Her publisher advised her to use initials so that male reviewers would not dismiss her work based on her gender.
What inspired The Outsiders?
The novel was inspired by rival gangs at Will Rogers High School and her desire to represent the Greasers' point of view.
Achievements
- Wrote 'The Outsiders' beginning around age 15
- 'The Outsiders' published in 1967 when she was 18
- Pioneered modern realistic young-adult fiction
- First recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award (1988)
