S. E. Hinton facts for kids

Susan Eloise Hinton (born July 22, 1948) is an American writer. She is famous for her books for young adults, often called YA novels. Many of her stories are set in Oklahoma. Her most well-known book is The Outsiders, which was published in 1967. She wrote this book when she was still in high school. Many people say S. E. Hinton helped create the young adult book genre. She studied at the University of Tulsa.

In 1988, she received the first Margaret Edwards Award. This award is given by the American Library Association. It honors writers who have made a big difference in books for teens.

Writing Career

How The Outsiders Began

S. E. Hinton became very famous when she was still a teenager. This happened because of her first book, The Outsiders. It is her most popular novel. The story takes place in Oklahoma in the 1960s. She started writing it in 1965.

The idea for the book came from two groups at her high school. These groups were called the Greasers and the Socs. Hinton wanted to show what it was like to be a Greaser. She wrote the book from their point of view. She was 16 years old when she wrote it. The book was published in 1967. Since then, it has sold over 14 million copies. In 2017, her publisher said the book sells more than 500,000 copies each year.

Why She Uses Initials

Hinton's publisher suggested she use her initials, S. E., instead of her full name, Susan Eloise. They thought that male book reviewers might not take the novel seriously if they knew a girl wrote it. After The Outsiders became a big hit, Hinton kept using her initials. She did not want to lose the name that was already famous. This also helped her keep her private life separate from her public life as a writer.

Personal Life

S. E. Hinton has said in interviews that she likes to keep her life private. She is an introvert and does not often make public appearances anymore. She enjoys reading books by authors like Jane Austen. She also likes taking classes at her local university. Horseback riding is another one of her hobbies. Hinton has also shared that she enjoys writing fan fiction.

She lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her husband is David Inhofe. He is a software engineer. They met in a biology class when they were in college.

Book and Film Adaptations

Many of S. E. Hinton's books have been made into movies.

• The Outsiders became a film in March 1983.
• Rumble Fish was made into a movie in October 1983.

Both of these films were directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Hinton helped write the script for Rumble Fish with Coppola.

Other books that became movies include:

• Tex (July 1982), directed by Tim Hunter.
• That Was Then... This Is Now (November 1985), directed by Christopher Cain.

Hinton helped find places to film these movies. She also had small acting parts, called cameo roles, in three of them. In The Outsiders, she played a nurse. In Tex, she was a typing teacher. In Rumble Fish, she appeared as another character. In 2009, Hinton played a school principal in a film called The Legend of Billy Fail.

Awards and Honors

Margaret A. Edwards Award

In 1988, S. E. Hinton received the first Margaret A. Edwards Award. This award comes from the American YA librarians. It recognized her first four young adult novels. These books were published between 1967 and 1979. They were also made into movies from 1982 to 1985.

This award is given each year to one author. It honors books published in the U.S. that young adults have loved for many years. The award looks for an "authentic voice" that helps teens understand their feelings and experiences. The librarians noted that Hinton's books help young adults explore important ideas. These include wanting to be independent and also needing to feel loyal and belong. Her books also show the need to care for others and to be cared for.

Other Honors

In 1992, the University of Tulsa welcomed her into Phi Beta Kappa. This is a very old and respected honor society. In 1998, she was added to the Oklahoma Writers Hall of Fame. This honor is given by the Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers.

Her Books

Young Adult Novels

These five books were Hinton's first published works. They are her most widely read books. All of them are set in Oklahoma. They also take place in the same story world.

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

Children's Books

• Big David, Little David, illustrated by Alan Daniel (1995). This is a picture book.
• The Puppy Sister, illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers (1995). This is a chapter book.

Adult Fiction

• Hawkes Harbor (2004), a novel.
• Some of Tim's Stories (2007), a collection of short stories.

Autobiography

• Great Women Writers (1999), a DVD video. This features autobiographical stories from S.E. Hinton, Rita Dove, and Maya Angelou.

See also

In Spanish: Susan Eloise Hinton para niños