Stay Gold, Atlanta: S. E. Hinton to discuss 'The Outsiders' 50th anniversary

The author looks back at the iconic novel-turned-film half a century after its release.

By Caroline Cox Friday November 18, 2016 06:05 PM EST

Photo credit:

S. E. Hinton was just 18 when she published the coming-of-age novel The Outsiders in 1967. In 1983, the story was adapted into a hit film of the same name, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring big names including Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze, and Diane Lane. It remains one of the bestselling young-adult novels of all time.

In honor of the novel’s impending 50th anniversary, Hinton herself will discuss the iconic story that paved the way for the YA genre at an event hosted by Decatur bookstore Little Shop of Stories and the Georgia Center for the Book at the Decatur Library Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Nov.19. The author will be in town for the National Council of Teachers of English conference in Atlanta the same weekend. “Interest has been very high for this event, and we expect to fill the 200 seat auditorium at the Decatur Library.

“Interest has been very high for this event, and we expect to fill the 200 seat auditorium at the Decatur Library,” says Diane Capriola, co-owner at Little Shop of Stories. “We are so excited to welcome the author of a beloved book that has stood the test of time. It is an important story that we all share — the story of our desire to belong.” S.E. Hinton discusses the 50th Anniversary of The Outsiders. Free (purchase of 50th-anniversary book edition required to enter signing line). 7-9 p.m. Sat., Nov. 19. Georgia Center for the Book at DCPL. 215 Sycamore St. 404-370-3070. georgiacenterforthebook.org.