Product Description

Another Hinton classic available in a great new package.

Companion to The Outsiders, That Was Then, This is Now is S. E. Hinton’s moving portrait of the bond between best friends Bryon and Mark and the tensions that develop between them as they begin to grow up and grow apart. Now, it too is available in this great new package featuring the larger trim size, eye-catching new cover art, and all-new bonus material. And, like The Outsiders, the new edition will also maintain the same pagination as the previous edition—making it ideal for continued classroom use.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10079 in Books
• Published on: 1998-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Amazon.com Review
Ever since Mark's parents died, he has been living with Bryon. The boys are more like brothers than mere friends. They've been inseparable--until recently. Something seems to be changing between them, and Bryon can't figure it out. Is it Cathy, Bryon's new girlfriend? Is Mark jealous? Bryon is also tired of the street fighting, but Mark seems unable to quit. And where is Mark getting all of that money? In That Was Then, This Is Now, one of her most admired novels, S. E. Hinton paints a richly textured portrait of two boys at a crossroads in their friendship. With careful, intimate strokes, Hinton reveals a boy struggling over whether to protect his best friend or whether to follow his own beliefs about right and wrong. The ending will surprise readers, challenging them to puzzle over Bryon's dilemma in their own hearts.

Review
“A mature, disciplined novel which excites a response in the reader....Hard to forget.” —The New York Times

From the Publisher
"Byron, who tells the story...feels Mark is his brother. But when he sees the effect of drugs on a gentle, friendly, young boy and discovers that Mark is a pusher, he calls the police. He hates himself for the betrayal of his friend but he's been a tough kid on the fringe of delinquency and he's aware of what happens beyond the fringe."--Saturday Review. An ALA Notable Children's Book, An ALA Best of the Best Books for Young Adults.

Customer Reviews

excellent service
The book was sent to me way before the expected time and I really appreciated that.

that was then this is now
That Was Then This Is Now

Bryon is a strong, 16 year old teenager in the book That Was Then This Is Now by S.E. Hinton. Bryon has a very special talent which is hustling people in pool. He has been doing this since he was 12 years old. Bryon lives with his mom in a little town in Oklahoma. His best friend Mark is living with him.
There's a reason why Mark is living with him. That reason is that his parents died when he was nine. Mark's parents were drunk and they were arguing that night. His dad got mad at his mom. Then his dad shot his mom and she fell to the ground. Then his mom shot his dad back. They both bled to death. Then Mark went to live with Byron and his mom.
Byron and Mark have been friends since they were very young. They grew up together in the same little town. Byron says there like brothers. Byron is big, tall, and strong. Mark is short and strong. They like to get in fights a lot. Mark hot wires cars to get around town. He has done that since he was twelve.
But they also have a problem. As they grow up they are growing apart from each other. Bryon starts going out with Cathy. Mark starts to get jealous of Cathy because Bryon is spending more time with Cathy. Then Mark starts acting a little weird and Byron notices it. He starts to look a little different. Then his attitude was changing about everything. He starts to talk back to Bryon and he has never done that before. Then Byron figures out why he is acting strange. Mark has a big secret. But you have to read the book to find out what it is.
If you like books about love, growing up, and a little action then this book is for you. This book is very interesting. I think it was very interesting when they protect their friend M&M from the guys who jumped him. I think the author wrote this book so kids won't get in gangs. They won't get a bad life or future. If you read the back it makes you want to read it. I wanted to know what kept them apart so I read the book at home for an hour each day until I got to the end. I was amazed by the ending. The book has 159 pages in all. Its reading level is 4.6.

"If you have two friends in your life you're lucky...
...If you have one good friend you're luckier."

I loved most of this book. There are a lot of quotes i can relate to and a lot of the emotions the characters go through i have gone through myself. SE Hinton is my absolute favorite young adult writer of all time. Its not quite as good as The Outsiders but i don't think any book could have topped that. I enjoyed reading the book and it gives you a new perspective on things.

My only problem with it (the reason i didn't give it 5 stars) was i didn't understand the ending. I have a vague idea but i don't know why Bryan did what he did.

I think it's a good short read obviously for young adults, but really for anyone who likes a good story.