Alternative Book Cover

Stay Gold

         A majority of the past book covers for The Outsiders have featured nothing more than a group of rough looking boys, making the book seem to revolve around gangs and looks all around malecentric.  However, the Greasers are more of a family than some mean spirited group of kids, set in a life course that society has deemed they should go.  That's where Ponyboy changes things, he doesn't fit into the Greaser role, he's smart and kind and shows potential to move forward and be free of the constraints of the Greaser life.    
        In this book cover we attempted to show the hope of the future that is so important to all the characters in the story. The prevalent symbolism of the sunrise and sunset used by Ponyboy and Johnny gives a clear image of looking toward the future, to something beyond their slated place in life.  This symbol was most poignant when Ponyboy and Johnny are watching the sunrise in the old church as life as they knew it would be forever changed, that life in the hood was no longer an option.  Johnny sees the potential in Ponyboy to step out of the dismal fate of the Greasers and tells him to stay gold, to move forward and be the good person he is meant to be.