That Was Then, This Is Now

That Was Then, This Is Now is a novel for young adults by the American writer S. E. Hinton, first published in 1971. It was her second book, and it was adapted for film in 1985.

The story is set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and it is told by Bryon, who has lived with Mark as a brother since Mark's parents died. The two of them spend their time at the local bar, playing pool for money, in the company of a strange boy named M&M, and the arrangement works because they are used to depending on each other.

The novel begins with Bryon's mother in hospital for surgery, which puts the household under financial pressure and sends the boys out looking for work they cannot easily find. As they get older their interests separate, and Mark begins selling drugs, which puts Bryon in a position where he has to decide whether to report his brother to the police. The book is a coming-of-age story about the end of a friendship rather than about a crime.