S. E. Hinton facts for kids

Susan Eloise Hinton (born July 22, 1948) is an American writer. She is famous for her young-adult novels (YA). These books are often set in Oklahoma. Her most well-known book is The Outsiders (1967). She wrote this book while she was still in high school. Many people say Hinton helped create the young adult book style.

In 1988, she won the first Margaret Edwards Award. This award is from the American Library Association. It honored her for all her books written for teens.

Becoming a Famous Writer

Hinton became very famous as a teenager. This was because of The Outsiders. It was her first and most popular book. The story takes place in Oklahoma in the 1960s. She started writing it in 1965.

The book was inspired by two rival groups at her school. These were the Greasers and the Socs. She wanted to understand the Greasers better. So, she wrote the story from their point of view. She was only 16 when she finished the novel. It was published in 1967. Since then, over 14 million copies have been sold. In 2017, her publisher said the book still sells over 500,000 copies each year.

Hinton's publisher suggested she use her initials, S. E., instead of her full name, Susan Eloise. They thought male book reviewers might not take the book seriously if they knew a woman wrote it. After The Outsiders became a hit, Hinton kept using her initials. She wanted to keep her private life separate from her public writing life.

Her Life Outside of Books

Hinton has said in interviews that she is a private person. She does not often make public appearances. She loves to read books by authors like Jane Austen. She also enjoys taking classes at a local university. Horseback riding is another one of her hobbies. Hinton has also shared that she likes writing fan fiction.

She lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her husband, David Inhofe, is a software engineer. She met him in college.

Movies Based on Her Books

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

• The Outsiders (1983)
• Rumble Fish (1983)

Both of these movies were directed by Francis Ford Coppola. Hinton even helped write the movie script for Rumble Fish.

Other movies based on her books include:

• Tex (1982)
• That Was Then... This Is Now (1985)

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

Awards and Special Honors

Hinton won the first Margaret A. Edwards Award in 1988. This award is given by 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 yearly award honors one author whose books are loved by young adults for many years. The librarians said Hinton's books have a "real voice." This voice helps teens understand their feelings and experiences. They also noted that in her novels, young adults can learn about being independent. They can also learn about being loyal and caring for others.

In 1992, she joined a special honor society called Phi Beta Kappa at the University of Tulsa. In 1998, she was added to the Oklahoma Writers Hall of Fame. This is at the Oklahoma Center for Poets and Writers.

Her Books

Young Adult Novels

These five books were her first published works. They are her most widely read books. All of them are set in Oklahoma. They also share 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, with pictures by Alan Daniel (1995)
• The Puppy Sister, with pictures by Jacqueline Rogers (1995)

Books for Adults

• Hawkes Harbor (2004)
• Some of Tim's Stories (2007)

Autobiography

• Great Women Writers, with Rita Dove and Maya Angelou (1999). This is a DVD video where the three authors share stories about their lives.

See also

In Spanish: Susan Eloise Hinton para niños