Books like The Outsiders
Loved The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton? We think you'll enjoy these just as much.
It’s been 55 years since S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders was first published. It's a beloved American novel that explores one teen boy’s coming of age story fraught with bullying, difficult family relationships, and the desire to belong. Ponyboy tries to find his place in the Greasers gang, then gets caught up in some dangerous situations. If your love of The Outsiders is so deep that you can quote it forwards and backwards, and you need to try another read, I’ve found a few books that would be a great follow up.
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass
If the title alone isn’t enough to pull you into this book, the endearing main character, Piddy Sanchez, will. Piddy is told on her first day at a new school that Yaqui Delgado wants to kick her ass. Piddy doesn’t even know who Yaqui is! Or why she’s so mad. Yaqui and her gang start taking over Piddy’s life, so she has to decide whether to take action or not. Readers who are looking for a story about standing up to bullies, strong family relationships, and finding identity will love this book.
View eBook View AudiobookWe are the Ants
A coming of age LGBTQ teen story meets aliens in We are the Ants. A book made for teens who feel out of place and disconnected, this novel works for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider. Henry Denton has been abducted by aliens on and off for years. When the aliens tell him that the world will be destroyed in 144 days, but that he has the power to stop it with the push of a big, red button, Henry is torn. It would stop him grieving his boyfriend who died by suicide, stop his mom’s exhaustion from working overtime as a waitress, stop his grandmother’s descent into Alzheimer’s. On the other hand, the world isn’t all bad, and Henry would really like to know more about the mysterious boy who walked into his life by accident. He decides to approach it as a scientist, rationally and logically. But not all decisions can be made with logic alone, especially when there is an easy way to end all the pain.
View eBook View AudiobookAce of Spades
Devon and Chiamaka have almost nothing in common. They go to the same school, they are two of only a handful of Black students, and they are having their secrets revealed and being targeted by an anonymous texter who calls themselves Aces. Other than that, complete opposites. This book uses technology to illustrate bullying in a really smart way that is perfect for readers who have had their whole lives online since they were born. A thriller with unanticipated twists and turns, Ace of Spades adds necessary layers to the bullying conversation with technology and racism.
View eBook View AudiobookDear Martin
Justyce McAllister thinks he’s escaped the gang life by attending a fancy private school and aiming for the Ivy League. He might have traded one type of gang for another. To try to make sense of his opposing worlds, he starts a journal of letters to Dr. Martin Luther King to sort out his feelings. This book works for readers who want a fish out of water story. Justyce has to deal with race, class, and family prejudice. Stone has written in letters and exposition to keep the format of the book just as interesting as Justyce’s story. Readers will tear through this one, especially when they get to the twist in the middle.
View eBook View AudiobookSix of Crows
Have you been looking for a heist book where the crew has powers, some supernatural some extraordinary skill, and is set in a different world? I have the perfect fantasy for you. Six of Crows tells the story of a ragtag, young adult crew who scrape by on the streets of Ketterdam with their cunning. When they are hired for an impossible job with unbelievable rewards, it’s easy to see that these misfits are more family than friends. A romp through another world full of wonders and adventure, this book will not only entertain you, but entrance you with the diverse characters you can’t help but root for.
View eBookCover photo by Warner Bros.