That Was Then, This Is Now Group at eNotes

Mark is on probation for car stealing, and has been sentenced to meet...

Tue, 1 Dec 2009 14:13:27 PST

Mark is on probation for car stealing, and has been sentenced to meet with his probation officer once a week during his lunch hour at school. The problem is, Mark has no way of getting downtown for his weekly appointment, as the buses are not running at that hour and there is not enough time to walk. Ever practical, Mark, an expert at hot-wiring, "borrows" the principal's car every week, drives down to see his probation officer, and...

Why did Mark steal the principal's car in That Was Then, This Is Now?

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:42:09 PST

Why did Mark steal the principal's car in That Was Then, This Is Now?

Bryon says that "...a lady-killer should never remind a girl of her...

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:43:33 PST

Bryon says that "...a lady-killer should never remind a girl of her gawky age when she was skinny and ugly, or fat and ugly, or short-haired with a mouth full of metal". Bryon fancies himself as being good with the ladies, however, he is caught off-guard when he runs into Cathy at the hospital cafeteria. Bryon had known Cathy when they were both quite a bit younger, and had not seen her for many years since she went away to school. Both...

Mark and Bryon hitch a ride to the hospital to see Bryon's mom. They...

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:48:41 PST

Mark and Bryon hitch a ride to the hospital to see Bryon's mom. They are picked up in a Volkswagen bus by "hippie with long hair and a beard". The driver introduces himself as "Randy", and says that he is attending college in town, majoring in English. Bryon entertains the thought that the guy must be "pretty brave". Mark and Bryon are dressed, as usual, "like tough guys - the kind who go around jumping hippies", which they actually...

According to Bryon in the book That Was Then, This Is Now, what is it...

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:16:00 PST

According to Bryon in the book That Was Then, This Is Now, what is it that a "lady-killer" should never do?

How do Mark and Bryon get to the hospital to see his mom in That Was...

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:15:47 PST

How do Mark and Bryon get to the hospital to see his mom in That Was Then, This Is Now?

M&M is called M&M every where he goes. The only two other...

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:58:38 PST

M&M is called M&M every where he goes. The only two other nicknames he goes by is "Baby Freak" and "The True Flower Child"

how did Charlie show that he had confidence in bryon?

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:20:26 PST

how did Charlie show that he had confidence in bryon?

In reply to #1: I feel the most sympathy for Mark. He was thrusted into...

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 08:42:09 PST

In reply to #1: I feel the most sympathy for Mark. He was thrusted into the family situation of living with Bryon and Mom because of the death of his parents. He was victim of his circumstance, his big mistake was selling illegal stuff and having Bryon find out about it. Bryon somewhat believed that Mark's actions could have been linked to M&M's issue

i personally think this was a very good book. it showed all the dangers...

Wed, 7 Oct 2009 09:34:30 PST

i personally think this was a very good book. it showed all the dangers of being a teenager in a "hood" town. there are a lot of kids even in these days that get into trouble for selling to help out thier family. there are even drug problems all around the U.S. just in my town i can say i know more then ten kids that smoke cigs or pot. also being on drugs can also influence fights and stealing like the kids did in the book. im sure kids all...

They needed money for family, Mark ends up selling drugs and going to...

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 08:34:32 PST

They needed money for family, Mark ends up selling drugs and going to jail for it.

Personally, I feel pretty bad for Mark. At the end he hadn't changed for...

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:02:15 PST

Personally, I feel pretty bad for Mark. At the end he hadn't changed for the better. He was bitter and cold toward Bryon who only had everyone, including Mark's, best interest in mind and he just doesn't see it. All he sees is his best friend ratting him out to the cops and putting him in jail. He doesn't understand that what he did was wrong and it was HIS actions that got him where he was. He isn't completely at fault though as he was never...

There are many ways a teenager can relate to this novel given the way...

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:55:32 PST

There are many ways a teenager can relate to this novel given the way someone who reads this story grows up. I am a young teacher (26) so I remember high school quite vividly. I grew up in an urban area and went to the high school known for a lot of crime. We had the gang wars, the booze, the drugs and I could really relate to how Bryon grew up. He rrealized it was all rote and began thinking for himself. The kids who are like Mark can read...

Newspaper Assignment

I will assume you are wanting clarification on the three main conflicts....

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:38:23 PST

I will assume you are wanting clarification on the three main conflicts. I have my student examine the conflict of Bryon realizing that the world is more than chicks, booze and fighting. He grows up a lot during the story. A big turning point for him is when he is jumped by the Shepherds for Mark cutting Angela's hair and doesn't want Mark to retaliate. He also is understanding romantic relationships in a more mature way by realizing he loves...

The talent that Mark had was the ability to hot wire anything with...

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:26:42 PST

The talent that Mark had was the ability to hot wire anything with wheels. He was a car thief and as a direct result was on probation. This is pointed out further when he got into more trouble after having stolen the Principal's car in order to go meet with his parole officer because he had no other way to get there. Some how though, Mark always inevitably finds himself in someones good graces and doesn't really get into as much trouble as he...

You can't ask for exact page numbers because most prints are different....

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:21:32 PST

You can't ask for exact page numbers because most prints are different. As far as locating a simile or a metaphor in the book, Bryon is constantly comparing Mark to a lion using both similies and metaphors. Check your first chapter and when he introduces and begins to describe Mark, he makes references to his eye and hair color and compares him to a lion. He also does this when describing M&M as well.

What are the 6 major events?

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 12:43:13 PST

what is the 6 major events in that was then this is now by s.e hilton. im doing a report and i need to know your opinion's.

in that was then this is now, what even starts the action and how is...

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 07:34:08 PST

in that was then this is now, what even starts the action and how is the main problem solved?

. How is the problem, or main problem solved?

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 14:50:19 PST

. How is the problem, or main problem solved?