What is That Was Then, This Is Now by S.E. Hinton about?

That Was Then, This Is Now by S.E. Hinton follows two teenage boys, Bryon and Mark, whose brotherly bond fractures as they navigate the harsh realities of growing up in 1960s Tulsa. The novel explores themes of friendship, betrayal, and moral awakening as Bryon discovers Mark's involvement in drug dealing, leading to a heart-wrenching decision that destroys their relationship. It's a coming-of-age story about the painful transition from childhood innocence to adult responsibility.

Who should read That Was Then, This Is Now?

That Was Then, This Is Now is ideal for young adults and mature teens grappling with questions about loyalty, identity, and moral choices. The book resonates with readers interested in social realism, youth subcultures like Greasers and Socs, and the complexities of adolescent relationships. It's particularly valuable for those who enjoyed The Outsiders but want a darker, more psychologically complex exploration of friendship and betrayal.

Is That Was Then, This Is Now worth reading?

That Was Then, This Is Now is widely considered S.E. Hinton's darkest and most emotionally devastating work, making it essential reading for fans of young adult literature. The novel delivers a powerful examination of how people grow apart and the consequences of moral compromises. Its exploration of substance abuse, violence, and the loss of innocence remains hauntingly relevant decades after its 1971 publication.

Who is S.E. Hinton and why is she significant?

S.E. Hinton (Susan Eloise Hinton) revolutionized young adult literature when she wrote The Outsiders at age 15. She published That Was Then, This Is Now in 1971 as her second novel, further cementing her reputation for authentic portrayals of teenage life. In 1988, Hinton became the first author to receive the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in young adult literature.

What are the main themes in That Was Then, This Is Now?

That Was Then, This Is Now explores friendship deterioration, moral awakening, and the painful loss of childhood innocence. The novel examines how drug addiction and violence destroy relationships, forcing characters to confront difficult ethical choices. Hinton weaves in themes of nostalgia versus reality, showing how clinging to idealized pasts prevents growth, and how betrayal—even when justified—creates irreparable emotional damage.

How does Bryon betray Mark in That Was Then, This Is Now?

Bryon betrays Mark by turning him in to police after discovering Mark's drug dealing operation. Despite their brotherly bond since Mark's parents' deaths, Bryon's growing moral awareness makes him recognize the harm Mark causes. This devastating decision severs their relationship permanently, with their final encounter described as "devoid of emotion while simultaneously brimming with intensity," featuring "burning hatred cautiously fighting with undying love."

What happens to Charlie in That Was Then, This Is Now?

Charlie, a friend of Bryon and Mark, dies in a violent incident that serves as a turning point in the novel. His death forces Bryon to confront the real consequences of the dangerous lifestyle he and Mark have been living. Charlie's death catalyzes Bryon's moral awakening and contributes to the growing tension between the two main characters as they process grief differently.

How does That Was Then, This Is Now compare to The Outsiders?

That Was Then, This Is Now is darker and more psychologically complex than The Outsiders, focusing on internal moral conflict rather than class warfare. While The Outsiders centers on Greasers versus Socs gang dynamics, That Was Then explores friendship betrayal and personal complicity in destructive behavior. Both novels share S.E. Hinton's Tulsa, Oklahoma setting and authentic teenage voice, but That Was Then offers a more emotionally devastating and morally ambiguous narrative.

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That was then, this is now

S.E. Hinton

Relationship Personal Development Society Fiction

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S.E. Hinton's darkest masterpiece follows foster brothers torn apart by drugs and betrayal. This 1971 coming-of-age classic earned the prestigious Margaret A. Edwards Award and became a 1985 film starring Emilio Estevez. Can friendship survive when loyalty demands impossible choices?

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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

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That was then, this is now

S.E. Hinton

Relationship Personal Development Society Fiction

Aperçu

Points Clés

Auteur

Questions Fréquentes

Explorez Votre Façon d'Apprendre

Résumé Rapide8min

Ressentez le livre à travers la voix de l'auteur

Approfondissement42min

Transformez les connaissances en idées captivantes et riches en exemples

Fiches mémo10 idées

Capturez les idées clés en un éclair pour un apprentissage rapide

Fun22min

Profitez du livre de manière ludique et engageante

Meilleure citation de That was then, this is now

That was then, this is now.

Dans le même genre

East of Eden

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Points clés

Brothers in a Broken World

00:00

In the gritty streets of an unnamed Oklahoma town, sixteen-year-old Bryon Douglas and his best friend Mark navigate a precarious existence. They hustle pool at Charlie's Bar to scrape together enough money to survive, their bond forged in childhood and cemented when Mark's parents killed each other in a drunken confrontation years ago. Mark found sanctuary with Bryon's family, creating a brotherhood deeper than blood. Bryon, tall and dark-featured, possesses an uncanny ability to manipulate his appearance, while Mark moves with a dangerous grace, his golden eyes and lion-like grin masking the trauma of his past. Their world is harsh but predictable until the arrival of thirteen-year-old M&M - a peace-loving, candy-munching anomaly in their hardened environment. When Bryon begins questioning the morality of their lifestyle and falls for M&M's sister Cathy, the first cracks appear in what once seemed an unbreakable bond.

The Price of Protection and Growing Up

Death Changes Everything

The Search for Innocence

The Breaking Point

The Cost of Growing Up

When Brotherhood Breaks

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BeFreed rassemble une communauté mondiale de 1,000,000 esprits curieux

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"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

Cree par des anciens de Columbia University a San Francisco

BeFreed rassemble une communauté mondiale de 1,000,000 esprits curieux

Decouvrez comment BeFreed est discute sur le web

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

1.5K Ratings4.7

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Dans le même genre

Points clés

Brothers in a Broken World

The Price of Protection and Growing Up

Death Changes Everything

The Search for Innocence

The Breaking Point

The Cost of Growing Up

When Brotherhood Breaks

Mode Résumé Rapide - Lisez ou écoutez le résumé de That was then, this is now en 8 minutes

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Telecharger That was then, this is now PDF

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Dans le même genre

Points clés

Brothers in a Broken World

The Price of Protection and Growing Up

Death Changes Everything

The Search for Innocence

The Breaking Point

The Cost of Growing Up

When Brotherhood Breaks