S.E. Hinton is an American author known for her influential young adult novels, including "The Outsiders", "That Was Then, This Is Now", and "Rumble Fish". She began writing "The Outsiders" at the age of 15 and it was published when she was 18, making her one of the youngest published authors in history. Hinton's novels often deal with themes of adolescence, identity, and class conflict, and are beloved by readers of all ages. Her works have been adapted into several successful films and continue to be celebrated as classics of young adult literature.