S.E. Hinton

Susan Eloise Hinton (born 1948) is an American writer who is credited with pioneering the modern young adult (YA) novel. She began writing The Outsiders at the age of 15 and published it in 1967 at 19, under the name S.E. Hinton. She chose to use her initials rather than her full name at the suggestion of her publisher, who believed that male reviewers might not take the book seriously if they knew a woman had written it, especially one so young.

Hinton's writing style is known for its realism, tackling difficult subjects like gang violence, class warfare, and death with a direct, uncompromising voice. Her decision to focus on the authentic emotions and struggles of teenagers was revolutionary at the time and paved the way for the development of the YA genre as we know it today. She has written several other acclaimed novels, including That Was Then, This Is Now and Tex, all set in Oklahoma and dealing with similar themes of adolescence and social struggle.