Penguin Young Readers Group will release S.E. Hinton‘s The Outsiders as an eBook for the first time.

Hinton (pictured, via) published The Outsiders in 1967 while completing her first year in college. This digital version celebrates the 45th anniversary of the controversial young adult book’s release.

Here’s more from the release: “Today, with more than fourteen million copies in print, and translated into more than 30 languages, the book is the best-selling young adult novel of all time. The book was also made into a film in 1983, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and featuring such future stars as Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon and Rob Lowe.”

Since debuting with The Outsiders, Hinton has written more novels for young adults and adults. She recently appeared at the 2012 Children’s Choice Book Awards gala to present the award in the “Teen Book of the Year” category to Mortal Instruments author Cassandra Clare.