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What makes that was then this is now a coming of age story

Author

Rachel Hunter

Published Mar 28, 2026

Humility, Responsibility, and Coming of Age.

What is the moral of the story to that was then this is now?

Humility, Responsibility, and Coming of Age.

What happens at the end of the book that was then this is now?

At the end of the story, when Bryon finds the drugs Mark has been selling, he realizes that ‘Mark had absolutely no concept of what was right and what was wrong; he didn’t obey any laws, because he couldn’t see that there were any.” Bryon thinks about Cathy, M&M, and the pain her family is going through, and he feels …

What is the main theme in that was then this is now?

Violence is a major and dominant theme in Hinton’s novel, “That Was Then, This is Now”. Violence is so common in Bryon’s life because it serves a variety of purposes, and is very useful to him. It serves as diversion for bored or drunken teenagers and as a means of delivering justice.

What is the problem in that was then this is now?

Bryon’s internal conflict impacts his personality throughout the book – he becomes a person of insanity and he loses his confidence. The story revolves around both conflicts. There is one side of the story, which is Bryon battling his feelings. Then, there is him fighting with Cathy and Mark.

How is Mark described in that was then this is now?

Mark is Bryon’s 15-year-old best friend. … Due to his golden hair and eyes, Bryon often describes Mark as a lion, which speaks to Mark’s wildness and underlying predatory nature.

Why is Mark on probation that was then this is now?

Despite their bond, Bryon and Mark have distinctly different ethical systems; Mark is on probation for hot-wiring cars, yet he ironically steals the principal’s car each day in order to meet his probation officer.

Bryon Douglas is the narrator of the story, in which he tells how he and his foster brother, Mark, grew apart and how he made the decision to turn Mark in for dealing drugs. When they are kids, Bryon and Mark are inseparable troublemakers and

How old is M&M in that was then this is now?

What is the genre of that was then this is now?

Who are the characters in that was then this is now?

M&M is Bryon and Mark's friend and Cathy's younger brother. Bryon describes 13-year-old M&M as trusting, intelligent, serious, and “a little strange.” His nickname derives from the fact that he is obsessed with M&M's candy.

How old is Bryon Douglas?

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Bryon is the protagonist of the novel. When the story opens, he's 16 years old and lives with his mother and his best friend, Mark.

What was Mark’s opinion of Mike who else had this opinion of Mike?

What was Mark's opinion of Mike? He was dumb/stupid.

What caused Bryon to drift apart?

What caused Bryon to drift apart from Mark? Mark was taking Cathy away from Bryon. What created a strain in the formerly friendly relationship between Mark and Cathy? He put his arm around her and then punched someone in the face, they did it

Is that was then this is now a sequel to the outsiders?

Hinton's 1967 novel has become a mainstay of middle-school English classes. S.E. Hinton, author of coming-of-age novel The Outsiders, promised she'll never write a sequel to the book or participate in a remake of its movie version.

What was Bryon’s problem at the bar how did he solve it?

Bryon's problem at the bar was he already had 3 dollars worth the Coke charge. Bryon solved this problem by giving Charlie the following day. Mark lives with Bryon and his mother because when Mark was little his parents killed each other and

Why is Mark on probation?

Mark is on probation for car stealing, and has been sentenced to meet with his probation officer once a week during his lunch hour at school.

What happens in chapter 6 of that was then this is now?

Once the Texans have been caught, Mark and Bryon testify in the trial—The Texans are sentenced to life in prison. Bryon thinks that he doesn't really care what happens to them, because Charlie is dead and nothing can change that.

What happened in chapter 11 of that was then this is now?

At the end of August, Bryon visits Mark at the reformatory. Bryon sees that Mark has lost weight; his “sinister innocence” is gone, and instead he has a more “sinister knowledge.” He gives off the impression of a dangerous caged lion. Mark ex

How is Cathy described in that was then this is now?

Bryon describes Cathy as very honest and sensible. At the beginning of the story, Cathy returns to Tulsa from a private school because she ran out of money to pay for it, and soon after, she and Bryon start dating. ... When M&M runs away

How does Bryon describe the relationship between him and Mark?

How does Bryon describe the relationship between him and Mark? He says that they are like brothers. Describe M&M. He is a hippie type, with long hair, an army jacket, and a peace medallion around his neck.

What animal is mark compared to why this was then this is now?

Then, after Bryon turns Mark in to the police and visits Mark in jail, he describes Mark as a “dangerous, caged lion.” Accordingly, Bryon feels that Mark would be willing to kill him for his betrayal.

What was unusual about SE Hinton being the author of the outsiders?

HINTON WROTE THE OUTSIDERS WHILE SHE WAS STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL. Susan Eloise Hinton was only 15 when she began writing the novel and was just 17 when it was first published. Hinton felt compelled to write after she became frustrated with the l

Is ponyboy in Rumble Fish?

The Outsiders' main character, and the narrator of Hinton's novel, is Ponyboy Curtis, an adolescent “greaser” who is being raised by his older brother, who is just past teenage-hood himself. ... Rumble Fish, the book, is also narrated by a teenage b

Who is the main character in the book that was then this is now?

Bryon Douglas: He is the sixteen-year-old narrator and the protagonist of the novel who lives with his mother and his best friend, Mark, in Oklahoma.

Who is Curtis in that was then this is now?

Curtis is a classmate of Bryon and Mark. Initially, Bryon dislikes Curtis because Bryon's ex-girlfriend Angela broke up with him in order to pursue Curtis. Curtis ignores Angela, however—and one night at a party, Angela convinces a kid to bea

Who is the antagonist in that was then this is now?

Curly Shepard is a major antagonist of S.E. Hinton's 1971 novel That Was Then, This is Now, and its 1985 adaptation of the same name. He is Angela and Tim's brother as well as Bryon and Mark's archenemy.

Is Rumble Fish a sequel to The Outsiders?

Rumble Fish is not the sequel to The Outsiders. Both books were written by S.E. Hinton and both have to do with teenagers who have issues and difficulties with the police. However, the characters are not the same and Rumble Fish does not cont

What is Bryons moms name in that was then this is now?

Bryon's Mother Character Timeline in That Was Then, This Is Now. Emanuel, Lizzy. "That Was Then, This Is Now Characters: Bryon's Mother." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 10 Aug 2020.

Where do Bryon and Cathy find M&M?

They finally find M&M in a hippie house, where he has overdosed on LSD. Bryon and Cathy take M&M to hospital, where he recovers. Bryon finds out Mark has been selling drugs to earn money. Bryon calls the police and tells them about Ma

What is Byron’s family situation in that was then this is now?

Bryon and Mark often hustle pool. Their families are poor, and Bryon's mother is in the hospital. Their financial troubles often lead to violence. The boys struggle to negotiate their social situation.

Why did Bryon and Mark act tough?

Bryon and Mark acted tough because they thought that it was necessary to be aggressive and violent in order to survive in their rough neighborhood. 3. When Bryon was thirteen, he was beaten by two policemen for drinking alcohol and wandering

Where does Byron go when Mark goes to the boy across the hall?