The '60s: The novel takes place circa 1965-66.The Sociopath: It's implied at the end that this is what Mark became without Bryon's influence to keep him in check any longer.

Sharpdressed Man: Mark is said to always know what to wear even though he doesn't seem to care.Angela appears for the first time in this book. Sailor Earth: Tim and Curly Sheppard had appeared in The Outsiders, with no mention of a sister.Pervert Dad: Angela's husband's dad 'slaps her bottom'.He completely disregards all authority and is unfeeling and unmoved by things happening. Lack of Empathy: Part of the reason Mark can get away with so much is because he does not care about anyone but Bryon.Foreshadowing: Early on, Bryon says in his narration that Angela would look beautiful even with all her hair cut off-as Mark actually does later.Bryon is left wondering if he did the right thing and where he's going to go from here. Mark goes to prison and become a sociopath due to being betrayed by the only person he loved. Downer Ending: Bryon turns in Mark to the police.The Cameo: Ponyboy ( The Outsiders) makes a cameo in the book.The boys do exactly that to her as revenge when she's passed out. Be Careful What You Wish For: When Angela is drunk, she expresses a wish to cut off her prized long hair.A film adaptation was made in 1985, directed by Christopher Cain and starring Emilio Estevez (who also wrote the screenplay) as Mark and Craig Sheffer as Bryon. The book gives a darkly realistic portrayal of greaser culture in 1960s Tulsa, Oklahoma. Hinton, the acclaimed author of The Outsiders and Rumble Fish. That Was Then, This Is Now is a 1971 coming-of-age novel by S. Should Bryon turn in someone closer than a brother to him? Worst of all, Mark has turned out to be a completely different person than Bryon had estimated him to be. Drugs show their effect on a child once intelligent and sensitive. An innocent guy gets beaten half to death. The owner of the bar where they hustle pool at is shot. Over the year that passes, they come to see just how rough life treats the poor kids like them. Mark can get away with anything, and Bryon can lie about anything. Both are sixteen-year-old greasers- pool hustlers, hoods. Mark and Bryon are best friends, the closest thing to a brother either of them has ever had. 'You know what the crummiest feeling you can have is? To hate the person you love the best in the world.'

That was then this is now novel