Rob+D.

**That was Then, This is Now** **By: S.E. Hinton**

1. Bryon and Mark are 16 year olds that are not brothers, but to them, it feels like it. Mark has lived with Bryon and his mom every since his parents killed each other in a fight. They have been together since and have always stood by each other; through fights, when Bryon's mom is sick in the hospital, when they are hustling people while playing pool, etc. These two friends are always together.

2. First, Bryon meets Cathy, who later becomes his girlfriend, at the hospital snack bar. Then he meets Mike Chambers. He was ruffed up after he tried to help a black girl get home. He was badly injured and taken to the hospital.

3. Bryon and Charlie almost have a brotherly relationship. Charlie would protect and help Bryon like an older brother would. He also lets some of the money he owes him slide because they are good friends.

4. Angela Shepard, an old girlfriend of Bryon, had told another guy to beat up a friend of Mark and Bryon's, Ponyboy Curtis. However in the middle of all the action, Mark gets seriously injured and has to be taken to the hospital.

5. Bryon realizes that the two are growing apart because Bryon is maturing and growing older, but Mark continues to get in trouble like a little kid.

6. After Bryon hustled these guys in pool, they confront Mark and Bryon in an alley with guns. Right on time, Charlie, the owner of the pool bar, Comes out with his shotgun and saves them. While they're inside the bar, the guys, who they call the Texans, come in and fire a shot at them. Then mark picks up the shotgun on the floor and fires back. When everything stops the Texans leaves and everything apears good, but then Bryon soon realize that the man shot Charlie in the head and he had died.

7. Cathy and Mark don't really like each other. Bryon knows this beacuse Cathy thinks Mark might be a bad influence. Bryon also sees that Mark is jealous of him beacuse he spends alot of his time with Cathy.

8. To get back at her for all the trouble she has caused him, Mark cuts Angela's hair off after she had passed out drunk in their car. Then they leave her in her front yard and drive off.

9. He discovers that Mark thinks they are growing apart and thinks Bryon has changed. Mark also says that you can't keep asking your self "If". Mark explains that he wanted to come live with Bryon because he couldn't take his parents fighting.

10. While Bryon is waiting at Terry Jones's house for them to return, Tim and Curly Shepard, Angela's brother question Bryon and he admits to cutting her hair off. Then Tim and Curly beat up Bryon and he passes out. Mark finds him and takes care of him and takes him to the hospital the next day. Bryon changes because he is tired of fighting and getting even.

11. M&M runs away from home and gets addicted to drugs that make him lose his mind. When Bryon finds him, he is distraught and is feeling as much pain as Cathy and all of M&M's family.

12.Bryon discovers that Mark is selling drugs and is beside himself. Then he calls the police on Mark and he is arrested. This changes both of their lives forever.

13. Bryon changes by doing better in school, had a job, wasn't getting into trouble or fights. This amy have been affected by Mark because he was always known for causing trouble.

14. Bryon, at the end of the story, feels sorry for losing his best friend, but he contiues his life strong, grown up, and happy.

15. This was on of the best books I have read in a while and I would recommend it to many teen readers. I believe this story teaches that live can change on you in a heartbeat, you just have to live strong and deal with it. Also, with great family bonds and unbreakable friendship you can get through anything.