What is the main idea of The Outsiders? Provide details about the main points the author was trying make.Include a main idea and 3-5 background...

Susan E. Hinton's teen novel, The
Outsiders, was unique for its time. It proved to be one of the most realistic
adolescent novels ever written, combining a grittiness of street life (virtually unknown
in previous such young adult books) with real-life problems that many teens encounter.
Several important themes are discussed, particularly that of class conflict, which is
obvious in the differences seen in the Socs and greasers. The search for personal
identity is another theme that most of the characters experience, be they greasers or
Socs. Loyalty is another theme on which the novel focuses, since most of the boys have a
dysfunctional family life and lean on their friends for support and encouragement.
Another aspect which few teen novels of the time addressed was that of death. The Curtis
brothers have already suffered the loss of their parents, and later in the book, they
experience the death of their most loyal friends as well.