That Was Then, This Is Now
That Was Then, This Is Now is a young adult novel SE Hinton published in 1966, two years before The Outsiders, focusing on friendship and social change between two teenage boys in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The book follows Bryon Douglas and Mark Jennings as they navigate shifting loyalties, drug use, and violence during the late 1960s, and it was adapted into a 1985 film starring Patrick Duffy and Emilio Estevez. The novel is widely taught in U.S. schools and is cited by publishers as one of the titles that helped define the YA genre alongside works by Judy Blume and S.E. Hinton, with Penguin Random House continuing to distribute print and digital editions through its Puffin Books imprint Penguin Random House.
The story draws on Hinton's own experiences growing up in Tulsa during a period of cultural tension, and its realistic portrayal of teen issues such as drug experimentation and family instability contributed to its lasting presence on school reading lists. According to the American Library Association, the book has appeared on lists of frequently challenged works, reflecting its candid treatment of social issues American Library Association.
Rumble Fish
Rumble Fish is a 1975 novel by SE Hinton that centers on Rusty-James, a teenage gang leader trying to live up to the legend of his older brother, Motorcycle Boy, in a small Oklahoma town. The book explores themes of identity, brotherhood, and the desire to escape a cycle of violence, and it was adapted into a 1983 film directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Matt Dillon and Mickey Rourke. Hinton's concise, fast-paced prose in Rumble Fish has made it a staple in high school English curricula, often paired with discussions of juvenile delinquency and coming-of-age pressure Scholastic.
The novel's title refers to the Siamese fighting fish that Motorcycle Boy keeps, a symbol of beauty and fragility amid aggression. Publishers note that Rumble Fish remains in print and is frequently recommended for readers who connect with gritty, character-driven YA stories, and it is listed among Hinton's core body of work by literary reference databases and school library catalogs.
Tex and The Outsiders Companion Works
Tex, published in 1979, is a SE Hinton novel following 14-year-old Tex McCormick as he navigates poverty, family instability, and his relationship with his brother Mason in rural Oklahoma. The story addresses themes of class, responsibility, and growing up, and it was adapted into a 1982 film starring Matt Dillon, the same actor who starred in Rumble Fish. Tex is often compared to Hinton's other works for its unflinching look at economic hardship and its focus on the bond between brothers IMDb.
Beyond her major novels, Hinton has contributed to the broader body of YA literature that includes companion-style stories and short works exploring similar themes of adolescence and social dynamics. Her books are frequently grouped together by educators and librarians as a core set of realistic YA fiction from the 1960s and 1970s, and they continue to be reprinted by major publishers and recommended in reading lists for middle and high school students across the United States.