THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW
S.E. HINTON
Steve HelmeciPeriod 7
Main Charaters: BryonMarkCathyM&MBryon’s Mom
MAIN CHARACTERS
Inner City
SETTING
Bryon sees Cathy Mark and Bryon meet Mike and learn his
story Mark gets hurt in a fight/ Bryon and
Cathy’s first date Charlie is killed M&M runs away
SUMMARY
FAVORITE PART“Outside I spotted M&M at the corner. There
were three guys trailing him. When you see something like that around here you know
right away somebody is about to get jumped…. The whole side of M&M’s face
was bruised, but he gave us one of his rare, wistful grins. ‘Thanks you guys’”
(Hinton 21-22).
At Home:LovingTrustingPoorLack of Money
Outside Home:RoughViolentInner City
BRYON’S CULTURE
Beginning of the Novel:Always With MarkHeartbreakerPool HustlerBad Boy“face like a St. Bernard puppy”
End of the Novel:Grows apart from MarkMellowsThinks more of morals and past behaviorThinks “What if….”
BRYON’S IDENTITY
His friendship with Mark His relationship with Cathy M&M’s well being Family (his Mom) The Little Money his family brings in
BRYON’S VALUES
“ ‘Bryon, you got even with Mark for Cathy, then you got even with Cathy for Mark.
When are you going to stop getting even with yourself?’ “ (Hinton 156).
MOST RELEVANT LESSON
Despite the melancholy ending, I really enjoyed That Was Then, This is Now and would recommend it to any classmate looking for a good book.
RECOMMENDATION
But, if one wallows in the past, they throw their future away as well.
NOT EVERYTHING IN LIFE IS FAIR….