1971 young adult novel by S. E. Hinton
That Was Then, This Is Now is a coming-of age, young adult novel by S. E. Hinton, first published in 1971. Set in the 1960s, it follows the relationship between two brothers, Mark Jennings and Bryon Douglas, who are foster brothers, but find their relationship rapidly changing and deteriorating. The book was later adapted into a 1985 film starring Emilio Estevez and Craig Sheffer.[1][2]
Plot
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. Byron 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 in The Outsiders, appears in That Was Then, This Is Now and even takes part in the events surrounding the dance.
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. In Tex, Mark and Cathy appear, who are original to That Was Then, This Is Now. Smokey, who is original to Rumble Fish, is mentioned by Mark.
Mark later appears as a hitchhiker, who has recently escaped from prison and killed multiple people. He forces Tex and Mason to drive him to the state line, holding them at gunpoint; he is killed soon after by the police.
Cathy appears as Tex's English teacher at school, Ms.Carlson. When Mark dies, she goes to his funeral, which makes Tex wonder why. When he asks her, Cathy says that they weren't exactly friends, but she knew him for a long time and they shared a past.
