That Was Then - This Is Now

I was thinking about some of the books that I've read over the years and one in particular was memorable from my childhood. The author was S.E. Hinton, and the book was titled "That Was Then - This Is Now" . I remember my teacher, Ms. Langelle, had assigned us this book to read as part of our classwork in Grade 9 at St John's Jr High. I also remember being reluctant to pick it up and read it, but then once I did start turning the pages, it was hard to put down. I'm not sure why I enjoyed this particular story so much but it did leave an impression on me.

To give you a bit of background on Hinton's novel:

It is a story about best friends - Byron and Mark - and their time growing up together as teens. Byron and Mark were inseparable until they were 16, sharing many nefarious deeds and enjoying the thrill ride that life offered them. Byron started to grow in a different direction though, maturing, finding love, and not being so reckless. Mark, however, still lived for the moment. One day Byron would discover a secret about Mark that would change their friendship forever.

The story has all the classic elements of teen angst - juvenile delinquency, drugs, sex, and rebelling against authority. Perhaps that's what captured my interest, given that I was such a nerd in Junior High (and still am in many respects). I suspect that in some way, I wish that I had done a bit more rebelling in my youth, and enjoyed life more when I was a kid. I wonder how relevant this book is today? It was first printed in 1971 almost 40 years ago. I was probably about 15 when I read it, and it was already on the shelves for over a dozen years by that time. When we studied this book in our English class, it still had moments of truth and revelation for us even back then. I suspect that it is still being taught in English classes today.

Did you read any books in your youth that has left an impact on your life even now? I'm curious to know... feel free to leave a comment. :)