I love books, I love to read, and I love to see children read books. Normally, I wouldn’t speak down on a book because, like music, there’s always an audience even if I’m not a fan. Allow me to make an exception to tell you why you shouldn’t read The Outsiders this school year.

For one, it’s not a very good book.

While the themes of the book are tried and true (family, friendship, social status, bullying, juvenile delinquency, redemption, and coming of age), the story is all over the place. S.E. Hinton was a teen when she wrote it. While that’s awesome, it reads like a teen wrote it.

The character development is, well, underdeveloped. The plot is predictable with some “why was that needed?” moments thrown in the mix (like the whole church thing and the random fire). It’s also filled with outdated references. Madras print? We gotta let that go!

Because I’m solutions-oriented, let’s talk alternatives for middle school. If you like The Outsiders for the literary references, try “The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora.” Also has a very strong theme of family and is a coming of age tale.

If you like The Outsiders because of the bullying topic, might I suggest “Save Me a Seat.” Also great for studying the influence of culture on plot and character development.

Another alternative to the bullying topic in The Outsiders is Ghost Boys. This book also has non-linear plot development, which is included in Texas’s new ELAR TEKS.

If you like The Outsiders because the family dynamic is nontraditional and that impacts the characters’ actions and decisions, might I suggest One Crazy Summer. It’s also good for historical and cultural influence and studying the importance of setting.

If you want to focus on the juvenile delinquency aspect of The Outsiders (for whatever reason that is your own), try House Arrest. It’s written in verse and considers the idea of doing bad things for good reasons.

If you read The Outsiders to consider the haves and have-nots, consider Amal Unbound. If you read I Am Malala, this one is a great fictional component.

If you like the aspect of friendship in The Outsiders, read Ghost by Jason Reynolds. Then read the entire track series! The characterization and positive themes in these books make this a series that I wish was out when I was a kid.

I could go on and on, but I’ll give you just one more. If you actually do like the historical aspect of The Outsiders, try Midnight Without a Moon. You’ll have great lessons on character, tone, theme, plot, figurative language, suspense, foreshadowing, and more.

Let me know if you’d like more suggestions for alternatives to other books!

If you’re a teacher in Houston ISD, all of the books I suggested are in the MackinVIA library as either an ebook, audiobook, or both.