That Was Then, This Is Now
 First edition cover, 1971 | |
| Author | S.E. Hinton |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Young adult fiction |
| Publisher | Viking/Penguin (hardcover), Dell Publishing, Laurel Leaf Library (paperback) |
Publication date | 1971 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover, paperback), Audiobook (audiocassettes) |
| Pages | 159pp |
| ISBN | 4-400-86520-7 |
| Preceded by | The Outsiders |
| Followed by | Rumble Fish |
That Was Then, This Is Now (published and set in 1971) is a coming-of young adult novel by S. E. Hinton. It follows the relationship between two friends, Mark and Bryon, who are like brothers but find their friendship rapidly changing and detoriating.[1] It was later made into a film starring Emilio Estevez and Craig Sheffer.[2]
Plot summary
The novel is set in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the 1960s. Mark and Byron having been living together as brothers since the death of Mark's parents. The two often spend time hanging out at the local bar and playing pool to earn money. The novel begins with Byron's mother in the hospital getting surgery, which causes financial stress for the family. The boys are forced to look for jobs, but do not have much success. Bryon asks the bartender, Charlie, for a job but is refused because he is underage. Meanwhile, the financial strife at home grows worse and Bryon's mother is hospitalized again. Mark soon begins bringing in suspicious amounts of money at home, but does not tell Byron where the money is coming from.
Connections to other books by S.E. Hinton
The book, like Rumble Fish, takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Hinton's hometown and the setting of her first book, The Outsiders. However, unlike Rumble Fish, Ponyboy Curtis, the main character of The Outsiders, appears in That Was Then, This Is Now and even takes part in the events surrounding the dance and killing spree.
The characters of Tim and Curly Shepard from The Outsiders also appear, as does their sister Angela, who is original to That Was Then, This Is Now. Randy, who was in The Outsiders, also appears as a hippie in this book, which is appropriate to those who have read or seen The Outsiders, as Randy is an affluent kid who feels guilty about the class division and becomes repulsed by it, which is the background and beliefs of many hippies. In Tex, there is a brief description of Mark and Cathy, who are original to That Was Then, This Is Now.