That Was Then, This Is Now

S.E. Hinton’s first novel, 1967’s The Outsiders, is often cited as the book that launched the genre we now call Young Adult. Her 1971, loosely related follow-up is the story of Byron and Mark, two streetwise teenagers coming of age in a tough neighbourhood. They are as close as friends can be, having been raised as brothers since Byron’s mother took Mark in after his parents shot each other during a drunken argument.

Their numerous exploits are recounted with pride by Byron, the story’s not entirely reliable narrator, who, despite the love he has for Mark, knows deep down there is something not quite right about his friend. He pushes these feelings aside and manages to explain away everything until a sequence of tragic events forces him to confront a painful reality and make a decision that will crush them both.

I read this book several times as a teenager and already know how it ends, but that didn’t make those final pages any less devastating now I’m an adult. Does it hold up? Yes, I think it does. It’s very much a product of its time and place, but the issues it tackles outside the boys’ relationship – racism, drug abuse, class and the breakdown of social supports – are sadly still as relevant as ever. For ages 12+.