S.E Hinton- That was then, this is now.

Hi everyone, I tried looking for this under different subreddits but found nothing.

*Spoilers***

In middle school I read all of S.E Hintons’ books . It wasn’t until today while hanging out in a hostel I found “That was then, this is now” tucked between books. A short read, I decided to crack it open and I finished it pretty quickly.

Bryon, the main character, and his mother took 9-year-old Mark into their home after Marks mom and dad got into a “drunk shot out.” Mark was described as being able to get away with anything because he simply did not know right from wrong as a teenager- or ever, Bryon noted looking back.

Mark would pick fights, use alcohol, smoke, sell drugs, fight, Hotwire cars, get girls drunk with the intention (and eventually actually) cutting girls hair, and never think about the consequences or repercussions of his actions on others or anyone around him. After being on probation for hotwiring cars and then selling drugs and being caught, things caught up to him. This ultimately leading him to juvi and eventually state prison.

Now that I am older and have more years behind me, I realized Marks past traumas, lack of boundaries, and actions carried out closely reflects someone with Antisocial Personality Disorder- something I didn’t pick up the first read around.

(At first I thought Mark is stupid how could he turn in his brother for selling pills? Then I realized the bigger picture, Hinton wanted us to understand the value of morality. Bryon turned mark in because he realized their relationship was not authentic. Mark was simply benefiting himself in most situations at Bryons expense- trying to fight the Shepard for example and Bryon chose forgiveness. Mark could simply not understand forgiveness or right from wrong. even when Bryon visited Mark in prison, Mark admitted he could get away with anything anymore and Bryon was no longer a supply to marks unmanaged impulses.)

if anyone has freshly read the book, let me know what you think of mark, the book, or if you thought the same after finishing the book.

Cheers

by Electrical_Cancel619