Is Ponyboy Curtis in That Was Then This Is Now
Ponyboy Curtis does not appear as a character in That Was Now, This Is Then. The novel follows Bryan and Mark, two brothers whose lives diverge after a traumatic event, and Ponyboy is not part of the main cast. S.E. Hinton created Ponyboy for The Outsiders, and he remains central to that story but not to this companion novel. The two books share a fictional universe and some references, but Ponyboy’s role is limited to background mentions rather than direct participation in the plot. For more on S.E. Hinton’s works, see the official S.E. Hinton page at sehinton.com.
Readers often ask whether Ponyboy appears in That Was Then This Is Now because of the shared setting and themes with The Outsiders. While Ponyboy does not have a chapter or storyline in this book, his name and legacy as a greaser from Tulsa are referenced in ways that tie the novels together. The absence of Ponyboy as a main character means the narrative focuses on Bryan, Mark, and their circle, while still echoing the social dynamics explored in The Outsiders. This distinction is important for fans tracking character appearances across Hinton’s bibliography.
Character and Plot Connections Between the Books
That Was Then This Is Now centers on Bryan and Mark, best friends who grow up on the same Tulsa streets as Ponyboy and the Greasers. The story examines how their friendship fractures when Mark turns to crime, forcing Bryan to choose between loyalty and the law. Although Ponyboy is not a named character in the main events, the novel references the broader greaser culture and the aftermath of the events from The Outsiders, creating a sense of shared continuity.
The plot of That Was Then This Is Now is driven by Bryan’s internal conflict and his relationship with Mark, rather than by Ponyboy’s actions. Bryan struggles with poverty, identity, and the consequences of violence, themes that resonate with The Outsiders but are explored through a different protagonist. The book does not feature Ponyboy in any scene, but it uses his world as a backdrop to show how the cycle of gang life and social tension continues in the same community.
Why Ponyboy Is Not a Main Character in That Was Then This Is Now
S.E. Hinton designed That Was Then This Is Now as a standalone story with new central characters, even though it exists in the same universe as The Outsiders. Ponyboy’s absence as a lead character allows the novel to explore different perspectives on loyalty, loss, and growing up in Tulsa. The narrative choice reflects Hinton’s approach to expanding her fictional world without repeating the same protagonist across every book.
The lack of Ponyboy as a main character in That Was Then This Is Now is a deliberate structural decision by Hinton. By focusing on Bryan and Mark, the novel provides a complementary but distinct view of the greaser experience, showing how the same environment can shape different paths. This separation helps each book stand on its own while still rewarding readers who recognize the subtle connections to The Outsiders and its iconic protagonist.