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BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA
by Katherine Paterson illustrated by Donna Diamond ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 14, 1977
Paterson, who has already earned regard with her historical fiction set in Japan, proves to be just as eloquent and assured when dealing with contemporary American children—and Americans of very different backgrounds at that. Jess, from an uneducated family in rural Virginia, has been practicing all summer to become the fastest runner at school—a reputation more desirable than his present image as "that crazy little kid who draws all the time." But Jess is beaten in the first race of the fifth-grade year by a newcomer—who is also the first girl ever to invade the boys' part of the playground. Soon Jess and Leslie, whose parents have moved from the suburbs because they're "reassessing their value structure," become close friends. On her lead they create Terabithia, a secret magic kingdom in the woods, and there in the castle stronghold she tells him wonderful stories. . . about a gloomy prince of Denmark, or a crazy sea captain bent on killing a whale. She lends him her Narnia books and lectures him on endangered predators. . . but he teaches her compassion for a mean older girl at school. Indeed Leslie has brought enchantment into his life. Then one morning, with the creek they must swing over to reach Terabithia dangerously swollen by rain, and Jess torn between his fear of the maneuver and his reluctance to admit it, he is saved by an invitation to visit the National Gallery with his lovely music teacher. The day is perfect—but while he is gone Leslie is killed, swinging into Terabithla on their old frayed rope. Jess' feelings range from numb denial to rage to guilt to desolation (at one point the thought occurs that "I am now the fastest runner in the fifth grade")—typical grief reactions, but newly wrenching as Jess is no representative bibliotherapeutic model. By the end, he is ready to think about giving back to the world something of what he had received from Leslie. You'll remember her too.
Pub Date: Sept. 14, 1977
ISBN: 0061227285
Page Count: 180
Publisher: T.Y. Crowell
Review Posted Online: Oct. 26, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1977
CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES
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SEEN & HEARD
CARPENTER'S HELPER
by Sybil Rosen ; illustrated by Camille Garoche ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 16, 2021
Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story.
A home-renovation project is interrupted by a family of wrens, allowing a young girl an up-close glimpse of nature.
Renata and her father enjoy working on upgrading their bathroom, installing a clawfoot bathtub, and cutting a space for a new window. One warm night, after Papi leaves the window space open, two wrens begin making a nest in the bathroom. Rather than seeing it as an unfortunate delay of their project, Renata and Papi decide to let the avian carpenters continue their work. Renata witnesses the birth of four chicks as their rosy eggs split open “like coats that are suddenly too small.” Renata finds at a crucial moment that she can help the chicks learn to fly, even with the bittersweet knowledge that it will only hasten their exits from her life. Rosen uses lively language and well-chosen details to move the story of the baby birds forward. The text suggests the strong bond built by this Afro-Latinx father and daughter with their ongoing project without needing to point it out explicitly, a light touch in a picture book full of delicate, well-drawn moments and precise wording. Garoche’s drawings are impressively detailed, from the nest’s many small bits to the developing first feathers on the chicks and the wall smudges and exposed wiring of the renovation. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)
Pub Date: March 16, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-12320-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021
CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY
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CHARLOTTE'S WEB
by E.B. White illustrated by Garth Williams ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 15, 1952
The three way chats, in which they are joined by other animals, about web spinning, themselves, other humans—are as often...
A successful juvenile by the beloved New Yorker writer portrays a farm episode with an imaginative twist that makes a poignant, humorous story of a pig, a spider and a little girl.
Young Fern Arable pleads for the life of runt piglet Wilbur and gets her father to sell him to a neighbor, Mr. Zuckerman. Daily, Fern visits the Zuckermans to sit and muse with Wilbur and with the clever pen spider Charlotte, who befriends him when he is lonely and downcast. At the news of Wilbur's forthcoming slaughter, campaigning Charlotte, to the astonishment of people for miles around, spins words in her web. "Some Pig" comes first. Then "Terrific"—then "Radiant". The last word, when Wilbur is about to win a show prize and Charlotte is about to die from building her egg sac, is "Humble". And as the wonderful Charlotte does die, the sadness is tempered by the promise of more spiders next spring.
Pub Date: Oct. 15, 1952
ISBN: 978-0-06-026385-0
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Sept. 14, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1952
CHILDREN'S ANIMALS | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES
More by E.B. White
by E.B. White & illustrated by Maggie Kneen
by E.B. White illustrated by Fred Marcellino
by E.B. White illustrated by Garth Williams
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Book Review
Bridge to terabithia.
- Katherine Paterson
- Coming-of-Age
Readability Age Range
- HarperCollins
- Newbery Medal, 1978
Year Published
This review was created by the editorial staff at Thriving Family magazine
This coming-of-age story by Katherine Paterson is published by HarperCollins. It’s written for ages 10 and up. The age range reflects readability and not necessarily content appropriateness.
Plot Summary
Jess Aarons trains to be the quickest runner in fifth grade. During the summer, he wakes up early to train. At Jess’ school, Lark Creek Elementary, being a good runner is the best way for a fifth-grade boy to distinguish himself. Jess is an artist and has previously spent most of his free time drawing, but now he wants to be an athlete.
Jess notices a family moving into a house nearby, and the daughter of the new family stops by for a visit. Leslie Burke is Jess’ age, and she tries to befriend him, but Jess resents Leslie when she beats him in a race at school. His dreams of being the best runner in his grade are dashed when he learns that no amount of practice will make him as fast as Leslie. Jess decides to make friends with Leslie anyway, and he learns that she is a thoughtful and interesting person.
Leslie decides that she and Jess need to invent their own secret country where the two of them can escape from the pressures of their difficult lives. They pick a place in the woods behind Leslie’s farmhouse and dub their new kingdom “Terabithia.” Jess and Leslie visit their land together daily. Jess provides Leslie with support and companionship, and Leslie improves Jess’ world by teaching him new words and telling stories.
Jess and Leslie decide to take revenge on an older girl, Janice, who is unkind to them and who steals things from weaker children. Jess and Leslie fool Janice into thinking she has received a love note from the boy she likes. When Janice tells her friends about the love note, they discover that the note is fake, and Janice is humiliated in front of the whole school.
As Christmas nears, Jess worries about what kind of present he will buy for Leslie. Jess gives her a puppy, and Leslie names it “Prince Terrien, guardian of Terabithia.” Leslie gives Jess a watercolor set. By spending part of Christmas vacation with Leslie, Jess feels less worried about the argumentative atmosphere of his own home. Jess gradually grows closer to Leslie’s parents as he helps the Burkes repair and decorate their farmhouse.
At school, Leslie hears Janice crying in the girls’ bathroom. Jess feels sorry for Janice and asks Leslie to see if Janice needs help. After talking to Janice, Leslie discovers that Janice’s father beats her and that the secret has been spread around school. Leslie comforts her, and the two of them become friends.
In the spring, Jess and Leslie continue to play in the forest, but they are surprised by how much the creek has risen from the spring rains. Jess is afraid of crossing it, but he thinks that he will feel braver after he has taken swimming lessons from Leslie, whose favorite hobby is scuba diving.
Jess’ music teacher, Miss Edmunds, asks Jess to go with her for a one-on-one field trip to the Smithsonian museum and the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. When Jess returns from the trip, his family tells him that Leslie has died. After falling and hitting her head, Leslie drowned in the flooded creek behind her house. Jess is overwhelmed by sadness and disbelief. He does not know how to react to Leslie’s mourning family, and he feels angry with Leslie for abandoning him.
Jess goes into the woods to think about the times he spent with Leslie, but his little sister May Belle follows him. May Belle begins to cross the tree bridge over the flooded creek, but she loses her courage halfway across and yells for Jess to help her. Jess brings May Belle to safety on the shore of the creek and discovers that she was trying to join him so that he would not be lonely anymore.
At school, the other students whisper about Jess, but no one speaks to him. A teacher named Mrs. Myers tells Jess that she is sorry for his loss. Mrs. Myers misses Leslie, too, and she says that she and Jess can help each other through the time of loss. Jess understands that Leslie made his life better just by being his friend, and he does not want to forget her. Jess decides to start playing in the land of Terabithia with his sister to show her some of the affection and affirmation that Leslie shared with him.
Christian Beliefs
The principal at Jess’ school insists that the children in music class sing “God Bless America.” Jess imagines himself and Leslie like God in Genesis, looking at their country of Terabithia and proclaiming it good. Jess makes May Belle swear on a Bible that she won’t follow him anymore.
Mrs. Aarons is angry with the local pastor for unknown reasons, so she and her family have not attended church in three years, except for Easter services. Leslie says she is interested in going to church because she has not been before. Leslie goes to the Easter service with the Aarons family. During the sermon, Leslie happily sings the hymns.
Leslie is fascinated by the story of Jesus. She says that Jesus is like Abraham Lincoln, Socrates and Aslan, because he was someone who had done nothing wrong and yet was killed. Jess says that Jesus’ story is not beautiful and that God made Jesus die because human beings are all vile sinners. Leslie thinks it’s strange that Jess feels forced to believe that the stories about Jesus are true, and yet he hates the stories, while she does not have to believe the Bible but still thinks its ideas are beautiful.
May Belle tells Leslie that God will send her to hell if she does not believe in Him. After Leslie’s death, Jess asks his father if he believes that people really go to hell. Mr. Aarons says that God does not send little girls to hell.
After Leslie’s death, Jess goes into the forest and paraphrases Scripture, saying that he commends Leslie’s spirit into God’s hands.
Other Belief Systems
Jess says he thought the forest behind Leslie’s house was haunted. Leslie says the forest is haunted, but with good spirits. During their playtime, Leslie prays to the spirits of the forests, thanking them for their help in defeating the imaginary armies that have invaded Terabithia. Jess notices that Leslie is more comfortable with magic than with religion. Later, Leslie asks the spirits to help her overcome an unknown evil curse that has come to Terabithia. After Leslie’s death, Jess makes a large wreath in the woods and announces that his offering pleases the spirits.
Authority Roles
Mr. Aarons has a long commute to work and rarely has time to spend with his son. Jess has fond memories of a time when his dad was not so tired, and the two of them would have fun and wrestle with each other. Jess longs to hug and kiss his father, as his little sisters do, but he knows that his father would not appreciate such open displays of affection. Mr. Aarons is also concerned about his son making friends with a girl, because it seems unmanly.
Mr. Aarons is not pleased with his son’s artistic abilities. When Jess was in first grade, he told his father that he wanted to be an artist when he grew up, but his father was angry at the announcement. Jess no longer dares to show his drawings to Mr. Aarons, even though he would like to share his work with his father.
When Jess hears about Leslie’s death, he runs away from home, and Mr. Aarons follows him. Mr. Aarons picks up his son like a baby and carries him. Later, Mr. Aarons offers words of comfort to Jess as he grieves.
Mrs. Aarons needs her two teenage daughters to help with household chores, but she allows the girls to go shopping instead. The girls try to make their mother feel guilty for not letting them have more free time and spend more money than they currently do. Mrs. Aarons angrily gives her daughters the money they request for their shopping trip.
Mrs. Aarons screams at Jess when they are canning beans together. When she is too tired to cook dinner, Jess makes peanut butter sandwiches for himself and his two younger sisters. Mrs. Aarons claims, in front of all her children, that Ellie is the only child who cares whether her mother lives or dies.
Jess has a crush on his music teacher, Miss Edmunds, who is the only person to encourage his artistic ability. Leslie calls her parents by their first names, which shocks Jess. Unlike Jess’ parents, Leslie’s parents enjoy her company and like to have her near them while they work on home improvement projects. Jess finds it strange that Mr. Burke wants to be friends with his own daughter.
Profanity & Violence
God’s name is frequently taken in vain. The words h— and d–n are used. Jess’ sister uses “Christmas” as an interjection. H—hole is used to describe Jess’ house in the summer heat. B–ched is used to mean “complained.” Janice’s father beats her, but details are not mentioned. Jess punches his 6-year-old sister in the face when she repeatedly asks him about whether he has seen Leslie’s dead body.
Sexual Content
Jess’ teenage sister Ellie buys a see-through blouse, and her mother is angry over the indecent purchase. As Jess waits outside the girls’ bathroom for Leslie, he is worried that a teacher will think he is a pervert, trying to peek at the girls inside the bathroom. Jess believes that a girlfriend is a girl who chases a boy on the playground and tries to kiss him. Jess is amused by his 6-year-old sister May Belle’s ugly appearance when she first wakes up, but May Belle misinterprets his gaze and threatens to tell their mother that he’s been staring at her while she’s only wearing her underwear.
Discussion Topics
Get free discussion questions for this book and others, at FocusOnTheFamily.com/discuss-books .
Additional Comments
Alcohol: Jess’ extreme love for drawing pictures is compared to an adult with an addiction to whiskey.
Smoking: Janice, the seventh-grade bully, smokes in the bathroom.
Book reviews cover the content, themes and world-views of fiction books, not their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children. A book’s inclusion does not constitute an endorsement by Focus on the Family.
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Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson | Book Review
Book Review of Bridge to Terabithia The Children’s Book Review
Bridge to Terabithia
Written by Katherine Paterson
Ages 9+ | 320 Pages
Publisher: HarperCollins | ISBN-13: 9780690013597
What to Expect: Friends, Adventure, Grief and Loss, and Fantasy
Bridge to Terabithia won the Newbery Medal in 1978 and other significant awards. It has also been made into two different movies, one was a feature film, and one was a TV movie. This book was inspired by a real tragedy that happened in 1976. When Katherine Paterson’s son David was eight years old, his friend Lisa Hill was struck by lightning and died. Bridge to Terabithia is a poignant story about a new friendship between Leslie Burke, the new girl at school, and Jess Aarons, who wants to be the fastest runner in fifth grade.
Jess has been practicing all summer long by running through the fields surrounding his family’s farmhouse, and he would have been the fastest if, on the first day of school, Leslie hadn’t shown up and outrun everyone, even the boys. While you would imagine the two would not get along, they end up being the best of friends after a slightly uncertain start.
The pair play together in the woods behind Leslie’s house, which happens to be next door to Jess’s, and they use their imaginations and create a magical kingdom where they are the king and queen. They call their secret kingdom Terabithia. The only way to enter the castle in Terabithia is by an enchanted rope that swings over a creek. When they are not fighting off giants and the walking dead, they talk deeply about the kids at school that tease them. Everything is great until Leslie decides to go to Terabithia alone.
You might need a box of tissues at this point in the story because something terrible, real, significant, and immensely sad happens. The writing is beautiful, and readers will willingly soldier on to discover how Jess deals with the most profound sorrow he has ever experienced. While Bridge to Terabithia has great sadness, you will smile, and the entire story is A-plus-mazing!
Buy the Book
About the author.
Katherine Paterson is one of the world’s most celebrated and beloved authors. Among her many awards are two Newberys and two National Book Awards, and she was recently named a “Living Legend” by the Library of Congress. She has been published in more than 22 languages in various formats, from picture books to historical novels.
What to Read Next If You Love Bridge to Terabithia
- The Great Gilly Hopkins , by Katherine Paterson
- Jacob Have I Loved , by Katherine Paterson
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe , by C. S. Lewis
Bianca Schulze reviewed Bridge to Terabithia . Discover more books like Bridge to Terabithia by reading our reviews and articles tagged with Friends , Adventure , and Fantasy .
What to Read Next:
- The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry | Book Review
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Chronicles of Narnia | Book Review
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Caroll | Book Review
- Furthermore, by Tahereh Mafi | Book Review
- X (Twitter)
Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.
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Wednesday 3 April 2013
Review: bridge to terabithia.
greenish bookshelf
reader lives of a bookish reader
[Bridge to Terabithia]: A Review
Hi y’all!
Happy weekend! Hope you get to soak up some spring sun! We definitely will be outside as much as we can except for a trip to our library’s book sale where everything is $1. It’s the best thing ever.
Today I am excited to share a review of Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. I read this book as part of my Newbery Challenge (it won the medal in 1978), and I was lucky to find a copy at the book sale this morning. How gorgeous is this cover of my copy?!
I fell in love with this book from it’s timeless description of childhood and imagination to the way we all overcome grief. It’s a book for everyone, no matter your age or stage in life. This book will touch your heart!
Initial Thoughts:
- This book is powerful. It isn’t a complex story. But it has so much to offer. It feels like an echo of a lost time when childhood was simpler (pre-internet) and imaginative play was timeless, almost idyllic.
- This book is short and easy to get into. A great book for kids to read, to read with your kids, to read to your kids.
- I think I may have seen the 2007 film adaptation. But I’m not positive. I am curious to watch it now and see how well they do in bringing this story to life, especially the way they portray Terabithia on screen (rather than the described imaginative experiences of the kids.
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson tells the coming of age story of Jess, a boy trying to find his place in the world. Goodreads summarizes, “ Jess Aarons’ greatest ambition is to be the fastest runner in his grade. He’s been practicing all summer and can’t wait to see his classmates’ faces when he beats them all. But on the first day of school, a new girl boldly crosses over to the boys’ side and outruns everyone. That’s not a very promising beginning for a friendship, but Jess and Leslie Burke become inseparable. Together they create Terabithia, a magical kingdom in the woods where the two of them reign as king and queen, and their imaginations set the only limits.”
“You never know ahead of time what something’s really going to be like.” “Everybody gets scared sometimes, May Belle. You don’t have to be ashamed.” “It was up to him to pay back to the world in beauty and caring what Leslie had loaned him in vision and strength.” Bridge to Terabithia
Jess and Leslie are easy to love and to easy to cheer for. They seem to embody all the best virtues and deepest fears of childhood. In a timeless way, they are two kids who you don’t expect to be friends. But they need each other. And we need to hear their story. I love Jess and his journey to confidence, imagination, and strength. I love Leslie and her determination, adventure and loyalty. I see myself and my children in each of them. I think that’s why this story resonates with people. We all experience the joys and sorrows of friendship and fitting in. Jess and Leslie are just like us.
The storytelling is simple and rich–giving the readers so much to imagine and connect with. Again, this book isn’t long (under 200 pages) but it creates a story that resonates with people. This is a story of friendship, of escape, of overcoming trials, and of how to face insurmountable sadness. It’s a story that people will recognize and connect with. It’s about trying to fit in, about making friends and about navigating relationships with family. It’s about wanting to feel special and needed, but also about regret and disappointment. I love the message and the storytelling.
“We need a place . . . just for us. It would be so secret that we would never tell anyone in the whole world about it. . . . It might be a whole secret country . . .and you and I would be the rulers of it.” Bridge to Terabithia
I love the simplicity and complexity of Terabithia and all it represents. I think many of us have had a place like Terabithia in our own childhoods. A place we create in our imaginations and spend many happy hours in. For me, it was my first backyard I remember, where my best friend and I would pretend we were in a jungle, a mansion, a circus and more. It was a sanctuary for me. Like Terabithia is for Jess and Leslie. A neat element about Terabithia is the way it probably changes for each reader. The way I imagine their adventures in Terabithia is different than my kids will or even how I did as a child. Terabithia is always changing but it can always be found by those who believe in it.
The ending is absolutely heartbreaking, but it just makes me love the story more. I don’t want to give away the big twist. But let me just say that it is so sad. But somehow it also fits the story. The emotions are deep and intense in this novel. So it feels complete to have a depth of sorrow to match the depth of joy and belonging.
I loved this book! It perfectly captures the struggles and joys of childhood. This story is timeless. A book everyone should read!
What are your favorite books about childhood? Which Newbery winner should I read next?
This was my 7th Newbery Medal book finished as part of my Newbery Challenge to read all 100 Newbery Medal winners by the end of 2022, the year the 100th winner is announced!
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12 thoughts on “ [bridge to terabithia]: a review ”.
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Such a great book, I read it as an adult and totally bawled!
Like Liked by 1 person
A great review! Thanks.
Thanks for reading!!
I love this book so much! It’s one of my favourites. I especially love the ending… What happens AFTER Jesse’s world is turned upsidedown and what he does with the whole bridge to Terabithia bit. It was the perfect ending.
Have you read Katherine Paterson’s other Newbery books? Jacob Have I Loved is a medal winner, and The Great Gilly Hopkins is an Honor book (I think).
I love the ending too! It is so beautiful!
This is my first Katherine Paterson book but I’m excited to read more. Which do you recommend I read first?
My favourite Katherine Paterson books, besides Bridge to Terabithia:
1) The Great Gilly Hopkins (I love this book almost as much as BTT, even though it’s quite different.)
2) Jacob Have I Loved (Note: I did NOT like this book when I first read it (I was about 12). I didn’t get the ending. I re-read the book as an adult. And wow! I’ve come to the conclusion that this is not really a book for kids. However, I saw so much in it the second time around. And I saw the ending in a completely different light!)
If you like historical novels:
3) Lyddie (about the textile mills in Lowell, Mass – I loved this book so much, that on a trip to Boston, I made sure we did a side trip to visit the mills in Lowell!)
4) Jip, his story (a companion book to Lyddie)
5) Bread and Roses, too (about the textile strike in 1912)
Thank you so much for the recommendations!! This was my first Katherine Paterson book–but I want to read more by her! Jacob Have I Loved sounds fascinating! And thanks for the historical recommends as well! I’ve added those to my TBR–they sound so interesting!
I saw the film and I think I read the book but not sure.
I need to rewatch the film now that the book is fresh in my mind 🙂
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Bridge to Terabithia
By katherine paterson.
‘Bridge to Terabithia’ is a fictional children’s book written by American writer Katherine Paterson, inspired by the tragedy of the death of her son’s friend - who got hit by lightening.
About the Book
Article written by Victor Onuorah
Degree in Journalism from University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
‘ Bridge to Terabithia ’ explores the experiences of 10-year-old Jesse Aarons and the life-changing event which transforms his life forever. The book carries a lot of messages bordering on friendship and the determination to discover one’s place in a lonely world.
Key Facts about Bridge to Terabithia
- Book Title : ‘ Bridge to Terabithia ’
- Author : Katherine Paterson
- Publisher : Thomas Y. Crowell Co.
- Publication Date : October 21st, 1977
- Language : English
- Context : 1970s Stagflation USA
- Setting : Virginia, USA
- Genre : Classic Children’s Fiction
- Pages : 208
- Climax : Jesse returns from his Washington, D.C. trip to discover that Leslie has died from hitting her head and drowning in the swamp of Terabithia.
Katherine Paterson and Bridge to Terabithia
‘ Bridge to Terabithia ’ is purely a classic children’s fiction. However, for author Katherine Paterson, the idea for creating the novel came from the true-life event of the death of a child called Lisa Hill, who was close with Paterson’s son, David.
Lisa died as a result of being struck by lightning, and the sad event sparked a while new awakening in the lives of the victim’s family and close friends. Paterson, who had grown familiar with Lisa’s family as a result of the closeness her son shared with Lisa, decided to write a tribute in honor of their friendship.
The stories in Katherine Paterson’s ‘ Bridge to Terabithia’ is inspired by this event, with the climax of the book built to have a close similarity with the actual event – and readers see this with the death of Jesse’s friend Leslie at the swamp of Terabithia.
Aside from mirroring the sad and unexpected event of the death of Lisa, a huge part of Paterson’s interest in writing ‘ Bridge to Terabithia ’ was to help young people such as Lisa and her son David get through challenging and emotionally transformative phases of their lives by drawing from the inspirations proffered in her book ‘ Bridge to Terabithia’ .
Books Related to Bridge to Terabithia
Katherine Paterson’s novel ‘ Bridge to Terabithia ’ is one book that has fundamentally transformed the normal plot type for children’s story books. What this means is that prior to ‘Bridge to Terabithia’, children’s books didn’t really accept or incorporate certain themes such as one related to grief or death of the characters – even in the mildest sense possible.
‘ Bridge to Terabithia ’ by Katherine Paterson would later change this narrative over time, by showing stakeholders how important it was to let children read and know about certain disturbing themes – as it was necessary for their timely maturity and understanding of certain aspects of life as they gradually come of age.
There are a few books that are considered similar to Katherine Paterson’s ‘ Bridge to Terabithia ’, and Frances Hodgson Burnett’s ‘ The Secret Garden ’ is one of such books – this goes for the fact that both books are in the children’s book category and talk about similar themes of abandonment, absent of parental love, grief, and the search for new meaning to life.
The Lasting Impact of Bridge to Terabithia
Katherine Paterson’s ‘ Bridge to Terabithia ’ is an impactful book, and more than forty years after its publication, the impact is still felt in today’s society – especially among young readers.
Written as a tribute to a sad event, ‘Bridge to Terabithia’ takes the nerve to tackle worrying – and often left out – themes, allowing the younger generations to be aware of harsher realities of life thus helping them equip both physically and emotionally.
Although it had a few setbacks during its biggest hay days – as it was banned by several schools for its use of intense themes considered unsuitable for children, ‘Bridge to Terabithia’ shone as it sold several million copies and won the Newberry Medal book award.
Bridge to Terabithia Review ⭐
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Bridge to Terabithia
By Katherine Paterson
| Interest Level | Reading Level | Reading A-Z | ATOS | Word Count |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grades 4 - 7 | Grades 3 - 7 | T | 4.6 | 32888 |
Jess Aarons' greatest ambition is to be the fastest runner in his grade. He's been practicing all summer and can't wait to see his classmates' faces when he beats them all. But on the first day of school, a new girl boldly crosses over to the boys' side and outruns everyone.
That's not a very promising beginning for a friendship, but Jess and Leslie Burke become inseparable. Together, they create Terabithia, a magical kingdom in the woods where the two of them reign as king and queen, and their imaginations set the only limits. Then one morning a terrible tragedy occurs. Only when Jess is able to come to grips with this tragedy does he finally understand the strength and courage Leslie has given him.
Performed by Robert Sean Leonard
Book Reviews (90)
it is really nice and A LOT of detail. I really Really REALLY like this book. I will not say what it is about no spoilers ;) but it is still SUCH A NICE BOOK!
I cried. Then again I cry to a lot of books.... Still this book is so heartwarming and sad.
Wow! I admit this book made me cry the first time I listen to it. But now I love it it’s packed full of feeling, friendship, and love. I love how the characters created their own world and I loved the main character Jesse. I like how he secretly was great at art and how he stood up for his best friend even if she was a girl.
"A amazing book, heartwarming, sad and wonderful in so many ways." Is my words to discribe this beautifully written book. Tradgedy. That is the main theme here, however it's mostly in the end. Jesse Aarons made a new friend, Leslie Burke. They raced together, talked, fought against a common bully, and built the secret, and magical world, Terabithia together. But now, after disturbing news, it's all for nothing. When Ms. Edmunds took Jesse out, he found out that Leslie died. He couldn't believe it at first, but she had hit her head on a rope, and then drowned. Leslie. Gone. Forever. Jesse is so upset, he still can't believe it. But near the end, with help from everyone, he overcomes his grief and sadness. And even though she's gone, she will still be in his heart, giving him advice. She might not be there physicly, but she's there mentally. A wonderful book, and it is very sad, however very well written, Katherine Patterson. I loved this book, 5/5.
The ending really hurted me but still think its the best
OMG! This was an AMAZING BOOK! A very tragic ending but it was still pretty good. There was tons of suspense and detail. I would totally recomend this book to readers who enjoy reading adventure, humor and suspense! :D
This was one of those books that were sad but also good. I loved this book, and some of it was even based on a true story! Jesse Aarons wants to be the fastest runner in his school, so he worked hard to be fast. However, when a much faster girl beats him at the race, he gets upset. Turns out that the girl, Leslie, becomes his new best friend. They share a wonderful imagination and even created Terabithia, their wonderland. They spend hours in there playing, reading, and just hanging out. However, one day an unfortunate incident happen that makes Jesse greive tremendously. What will happen next? Read this book to find out!
The story combines hope and fear to teach how to overcome it. It seems a bit fake, like it won't happen.
Jess Aarons has wanted to be the fastest runner in school for a long time. He has practiced all summer long running up and down his family's farm. So when the races at school begin, Jess knows he is going to win. That is, until Leslie Burke, the new girl in school, beats Jess and all the other boys in the races! Jess and Leslie become friends, despite the way she beat him in the races. Leslie and Jess spend all their free time together, and they create the magical kingdom of Terabithia, where they rule as king and queen. But one day something terrible happens, and Jess feels like it's all his fault. Now he needs Leslie more than ever.
I gave this book a 3 star rating,because it was very interesting because Jesse and i have younger siblings and their behavior is the same they are bad and he wanted to accomplish something that the other kids couldn't beat him at. He wanted to be a fast kid in his class and then something happened.... read this book to find out more information.
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| Spoiler DisclaimerJess Aarons dreams of becoming the fastest runner in the fifth grade. He practices all summer, certain that when school starts again in the fall he'll have no trouble beating the other boys his age, but he didn't count on Leslie Burke moving in next door. On the first day of school, all the boys are itching for recess to come so they can resume their racing games. In a moment of impetuousness meant to put a bossy classmate in his place, Jess invites Leslie to join them, never imagining that a girl would beat them all. Out of this inauspicious beginning, Jess and Leslie develop a deep friendship. Together they secretly build a make-believe kingdom called Terabithia where they are the king and queen. They visit the land of their fantasies as often as they can, and learn much about each other while plotting to vanquish their foes both real and imagined. In spite of their differences, they understand each other in a way that no one else does, but when a terrible tragedy strikes, Jess must discover and call upon all the strength, courage and hope that he never realized Leslie had given him. I hadn't picked up Bridge to Terabithia since I was in fifth or sixth grade when I had to read it for a class assignment. Since that was nearly 30 years ago, I only had vague, fuzzy memories of the story itself and of the book being one that I had liked. I am so glad that I decided to re-read it through adult eyes, because I think I probably appreciated it even more now than I did as a kid. That may be due to me experiencing more loss in the last three decades than I had at the tender age of ten or eleven, which makes the plot resonate with me on a deeper level. As I've said in other reviews, it is rare for a book to make me really cry, but Bridge to Terabithia made my short list of ones that have. The story is a simple one of friendship, tragedy, and coping with loss, but it is layered with depth and complexity that is astonishing for its short length. Katherine Paterson writes with a stark honesty that is utterly beautiful. Her characters are very real and ordinary, yet they touched me in a profound and emotional way. None of them are perfect, but to me that made them all the more genuine in their actions and interactions. Jess' family can sometimes seem harsh, but they were there for him when it counted the most. One of my favorite scenes in the book is near the end, when Jess and his father sit on the bank of the creek and talk. When it comes right down to it, they really don't say all that much, but it was just enough to get the point across and re-establish that father/son connection that Jess had been missing. Jess and Leslie were two kids that I could have easily been friends with when I was their age. Jess can sometimes be rather mean with his sisters and had some rude thoughts about the adults in his life, but I think even the nicest kids do from time to time. What I really liked about him is that underneath it all, it's obvious that he still cares for his sisters, especially May Belle, even though they get on his nerves, and when it comes to the adults, he still outwardly treats them with respect and is a well-behaved child both in school and at home. I also like that Jess has this hidden creative part of himself that no one but Leslie really understands which is what makes them such great friends. Leslie is kind of the oddball who isn't like the other girls in their class, but she has an empathy and understanding of the world around her that is rare in most kids of that age. In addition to connecting with the characters as a whole, another thing that resonated with me is the teasing they endure which was much like things I experienced as well. The only thing that bothered me slightly was when the abuse of a secondary character was revealed and it seemed that the issue would probably be swept under the rug. However, given the culture and time period in which the story took place, it made sense. Jess and Leslie's imaginary kingdom of Terabithia reminded me of games that I played with cousins or friends. The rural setting also brought to mind the area in which I grew up. It was almost like experiencing my childhood all over again, yet aside from a few pop-culture references, it is really a story out of time and space that could easily take place anywhere and anytime. I must say that I'm rather surprised that more than 30 years after its original publication, Bridge to Terabithia is still #28 on the American Library Association's Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books list of the last decade (2000-2009). I believe that one of the biggest complaints are the use of some profanities which are quite mild by today's standards. A few are uttered or thought by the kids, but most were said by the adults in their lives. I admit that as someone who had a pretty strict and sheltered upbringing, I was slightly scandalized when I first read the book as a child, but I can say without a doubt that I was completely unscathed by the experience. Now reading it as an adult, I actually felt that the "bad words" were never meant to be shocking or provocative. Instead, they seemed to be carefully placed to give meaning to the story and in my opinion, also added to the genuineness and honesty of the prose. Admittedly, the subject matter of the book could be upsetting to some kids, but if educators or parents are guiding them through the reading experience they should be fine. I would have absolutely no qualms at all about allowing my fifth grader to read it. In my opinion, there is a strong and beautiful message contained within its pages and the positives to be gained from reading it far outweigh any detractors. I would highly recommend the book to both kids and adults alike. To the best of my recollection, Bridge to Terabithia is the only book by Katherine Paterson that I have ever read, but I am greatly looking forward to exploring her other books. I guess it just goes to show that one is never too old to appreciate a good children's book.;-) Katherine Paterson Latest Reviews
Sensuality Rating Key 1 Heart = Smooching May contain mild to moderate sexual tension and/or possible implications of something more taking place off canvas, but nothing beyond kissing actually occurs within the text. Our take: These books would be appropriate for teen and sensitive readers. 2 Hearts = Sweet May contain moderate to high sexual tension which could include passionate clinches that end in cut scenes and/or extremely mild love scenes with virtually no details. Our take: These books should still be appropriate for most mature teens and sensitive readers. 3 Hearts = Sensuous May contain moderately descriptive love scenes, usually no more than three. Our take: Teen and sensitive readers should exercise caution. 4 Hearts = Steamy May contain a number of explicitly descriptive love scenes. Our take: Not recommended for under 18 or sensitive readers. 5 Hearts = Scorching May contain a number of explicitly descriptive love scenes that typically include explicit language and acts which some readers may find kinky and/or offensive. Our take: Definite adults only material, not for the faint of heart. We always endeavor not to give away endings or major plot twists in either our synopses or reviews, however they may occasionally contain information which some readers might consider to be mild spoilers. Check out our FREE Scavenger Hunt NOW!🚌 FREE Back-to-School Spanish Vocabulary List and Scavenger Hunt HERE !! K and B Life April 8, 2020 · 7 Comments Children’s Book Review: Bridge to Terabithia Oh, you know what else is cool ? It takes place a long time ago (the 1970’s), like when kids used to be able to run off and do anything they would like for long periods of time- with no phones or anything! Can’t do that anymore. So what’s it about?Well, Jesse’s a boy who seems a little lonely and sad until he meets out-going Leslie, who just moved into the neighborhood. She has an imagination and personality that Jesse really admires. They really hit off and together, they build a magical kingdom called “Terabithia”. It’s a place where everything you can imagine comes to life. Jesse’s the King and Leslie’s the Queen of this magical world. Then, their lives change…nothing will ever be the same. Will Terabithia have enough strength to survive? Will it have enough magic to help them get back up? You will have to read Bridge to Terabithia to find out! Read it if…I think you’d like this book if you like friendship type of books and fantasy (magical creatures type of thing). The friendship they have reminds me of some of my good friends and makes me happy. And I love fantasy worlds so it was a good fit for me. **DISCLAIMER!! It. Is. Sad. Days later, when I was writing my book review for school, I cried. However, I also think that’s what makes it so good. You are so into the book that when something unexpected happens, it makes you feel a lot of emotions. Good books are supposed to that, and this is a good book. Give it a try and let me know (leave a comment) if you like this book! I would love suggestions, too! What are you reading? Happy Reading! For more another book review, check out Three Times Lucky or you can go back to Book Talk for other reviews. **This post contains affiliate links- to purchase the book, just click on the pictures or the highlighted book titles. Remember, there’s no extra cost for you, just a little something in it for us to keep the website going if you buy it. Thanks!!** Reader Interactions April 14, 2020 at 11:55 pm A wonderful article that I have shared. How did I make my child love to read: https://bit.ly/2VxFhqh  April 21, 2020 at 5:24 am Enjoyed looking through this, very good stuff, thankyou . “I will do my best. That is all I can do. I ask for your help-and God’s.” by Lyndon B. Johnson.  April 21, 2020 at 5:25 am Hiya, I am really glad I have found this info. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossips and net and this is actually irritating. A good blog with interesting content, this is what I need. Thanks for keeping this web site, I’ll be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can not find it  April 21, 2020 at 5:26 am I believe this website has got some rattling excellent information for everyone :D. “Experience is not what happens to you it’s what you do with what happens to you.” by Aldous Huxley.  August 16, 2020 at 11:11 pm OMG~!!!!! into your huge blog for almost the last hour.|I think the admin of this website is really working a lot. Thanks for posting this up on your blog.  September 10, 2020 at 12:40 pm Looks like a great one! My son is super sensitive so he may cry at the sad parts. My daughter who is younger is not as sensitive so maybe I will read it to her first and see what she thinks about whether it’s too sad for her brother. Great review!  September 11, 2020 at 10:58 am Wonderful illustrated information. I thank you about that. No doubt it will be very useful for my future projects. Would like to see some other posts on the same subject! Leave a Reply Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Don’t forget to grab your FREE Fall Activities!  Common Sense Media Movie & TV reviews for parents
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Based on 75 kid reviews Kid ReviewsIt was phenomenal, report this review, get ready to cry. This title has:
Great book! Sad though.
Awesome book!Only read two chapters, but so far so good.
So Heartbreaking!Really good and important for kids, it was allright, a good type of sad, what to read next.  Number the Stars Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry The Giver, Book 1Movies based on books, book club picks for kids. Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.  Bridge to TerabithiaKatherine Paterson, Robert Sean Leonard, et al | 4.30 | 429,648 ratings and reviews Ranked #7 in Bridge , Ranked #11 in 10-Year-Old — see more rankings . Rankings by CategoryBridge to Terabithia is ranked in the following categories:
Similar BooksIf you like Bridge to Terabithia, check out these similar top-rated books:  Learn: What makes Shortform summaries the best in the world? Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, Book ReviewIntroduction: bridge to terabithia by katherine paterson, harper collins publishers bridge to terabithia, katherine paterson was inspired to write bridge to terabithia when her son’s close friend was killed by lightning. published in 1977, bridge to terabithia by katherine paterson is a children’s book about the friendship between jess aarons and leslie burke. nine year old leslie is an only child. and 10 year old jess is one of five children and the middle child., jess is feeling neglected as the middle child and doing too many chores in the household. his two older sisters are skilled at getting out of performing chores and his two younger sisters, may belle who is six years old and joyce anne who is four are considered to be too young to help out around the home.. The father works very hard. So when he returns home from his long commute from DC, he is too tired and doesn’t pay any attention to Jess. The young boy is feeling like he doesn’t have enough time for himself. And wants a quiet place where he can draw. Continuous learning is a part of life. If you’re not a reader, you can find a synopsis of many books from Readitforme that you can listen to. Click the link to join. This is a great way to learn the latest thinking on many topics. And it is a great way to learn which books to buy and devour.The story: bridge to terabithia by katherine paterson. When Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson starts, it is the summer. And Jess is training because he wants to be the fastest runner in fifth grade at Lark Creek Elementary School. For one day, on April 22nd, when he was in fourth grade, he won and was the hero at his school for a day. Each morning, before Jess does his chores, he runs across the meadows of his family’s small farm in rural Virginia – outside of Washington DC.  One morning while he is racing he notices someone sitting on a fence. But because of the way the person is dressed, and the hairstyle, he has a hard time figuring out if it's a girl or a boy. And that’s the first time he sees Leslie. Jess craves his father’s attention. And it is hope that if he becomes the fastest runner, his father will become proud of him. Leslie’s family recently moved into the old Perkins place, next to their farm. When school opens after the summer holidays, the running resumes during recess. And Jess is confident that he is the fastest runner because he has been training so much. Leslie wants to participate. But the other boys do not want to allow her because she is a girl.Jess stands up for her. And she ends up running faster than all the boys, including Jess, for the entire week. So that’s the end of running because which boy wants to lose a race against a girl? The other children at Lark Creek Elementary do not like Leslie because she looks, dresses and behaves differently from them. Leslie and Jess develop a friendship. And you see the lad transforming into who he might become. Leslie likes him for who he is and doesn’t judge him. Jess’ father does not approve of his artistic abilities, though he is quite good, but his music teacher, Miss Edmunds, encourages him to continue drawing. Leslie and Jess find a secret place, between both properties, where they create an imaginary Kingdom that they name Terabithia. And the two become king and queen. Leslie opens up a new world for him, also telling him about the books she read such as Narnia. Jess’ self-confidence starts to soar. Running is no longer important to him because he has something to look forward to – Terabithia. For Christmas, Jess sees a sign for free puppies and gets one for Leslie’s present, while she gets him a paint set. They name the puppy Prince Terrien.One day, Miss Edmunds takes Jess to some of the museums in DC. But he doesn't get permission from his parents to go. When he returns home, he realizes that something is very wrong. And he learns that Leslie died while he was out. The parents think that he too had died. Jess doesn’t believe that Leslie is dead. But the good thing is that his father is there for him during this very difficult time. In honor of Leslie, who was more like an extension of himself, he makes the trek to Terabithia to hold a ceremony in her honor. “”It's a sign from the Spirits,” Jess said quietly. “We made a worthy offering.” He walked slowly, as part of a great procession, though only the puppy could be seen, slowly forward carrying the queen's wreath to the sacred grove. He forced himself deep into the dark center of the grove and, kneeling, laid the wreath upon the thick carpet of golden needles. “Father, into Thy hands I commend her spirit.” He knew Leslie would have liked those words. They had the ring of the sacred grove in them. The solemn procession wound its way through the sacred grove homeward to the castle. Like a single bird across a stormcloud sky, a tiny peace winged its way through the chaos inside his body.” He also uses the lumber he received from Leslie’s parents to build a bridge to Terabithia. May Belle follows him to see where he is going. And he carefully leads her to meet the imaginary people of Terabithia. If you need help and would like a program that’s already set-up to help you read more books, Join MoreReads: Blueprint to Change the World, click the link to buy .Conclusion: bridge to terabithia by katherine paterson. Although Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson is a children’s book, it demonstrates the power that friends have over each other. It’s often been said that you are the sum total of the five people closest to you, who are you spending your time with? I recommend Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. After you've read the book, you can watch the film, Bridge to Terabithia [Blu-ray] Books by Katherine Paterson UPDATE: First Published April 2015 This article contains Amazon affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and buy any of the books from Amazon, the company will pay me a small commission.  About the Author Avil BeckfordHello there! I am Avil Beckford, the founder of The Invisible Mentor. I am also a published author, writer, expert interviewer host of The One Problem Podcast and MoreReads Success Blueprint, a movement to help participants learn in-demand skills for future jobs. Sign-up for MoreReads: Blueprint to Change the World today! In the meantime, Please support me by buying my e-books Visit My Shop , and thank you for connecting with me on LinkedIn , Facebook , Twitter and Pinterest ! Enjoyed this article?Find more great content here: The Self-Managing Company by Dan Sullivan, SummaryLittle bets by peter sims, 7 lessons and summary, the boy, the mole, the fox, and the horse by charlie mackesy, summary.  Bridge to TerabithiaKatherine paterson. harpercollins, $22 (0pp) isbn 978-0-694-52452-5. Reviewed on: 01/01/2001 Genre: Children's
More By and About this Author chevron_rightFeatured Children's Reviews Book Review: Bridge to Terabithia This book is about two unlikely friends who create an imaginary world with many kinds of animals and beasts. Jess Aarons and Leslie Burke become friends when Leslie moves and becomes Jess’s neighbor. But they really get to know each other when Leslie is the only girl to beat Jess in a running race. One day, Jess and Leslie use a hanging rope to swing over a little river that is nearby, and that’s when they start to rule, as king and queen, the imaginary Terabithia. There, the two friends have adventures as they try to rule over their subjects, and keep peace and order in Terabithia. Some of these subjects include hairy vultures, squogres, and other spirits, both good and bad. Squogres are massive squirrel-like creatures who are constantly growling, and they wear strange golden helmets with a spike on top, like a Triceratops. With this book keeping you imaginative, with some sad and happy parts, I'm going to go with 3/5 stars for The Bridge to Terabithia.
  
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Follow the author Bridge to Terabithia Paperback – May 2, 2017 The 40th anniversary edition of the classic Newbery Medal-winning title by beloved author Katherine Paterson, with brand-new bonus materials including an author's note by Katherine herself and a foreword by New York Times bestselling author Kate DiCamillo. Jess Aarons has been practicing all summer so he can be the fastest runner in the fifth grade. And he almost is, until the new girl in school, Leslie Burke, outpaces him. The two become fast friends and spend most days in the woods behind Leslie’s house, where they invent an enchanted land called Terabithia. One morning, Leslie goes to Terabithia without Jess and a tragedy occurs. It will take the love of his family and the strength that Leslie has given him for Jess to be able to deal with his grief. Bridge to Terabithia was also named an ALA Notable Children’s Book and has become a touchstone of children’s literature, as have many of Katherine Paterson’s other novels, including The Great Gilly Hopkins and Jacob Have I Loved.
 From the Publisher
Editorial ReviewsFrom school library journal. “Set in contemporary rural America, the story is one of remarkable richness and depth, beautifully written.” — The Horn Book “Eloquent and assured.” — Kirkus Reviews 15 Banned Books Every Tween and Teen Should Read — Brightly From the Back CoverJess Aaron's greatest ambition is to be the fastest runner in the fifth grade. He's been practicing all summer and can't wait to see his classmates' faces when he beats them all. But on the first day of school, a new kid, a new girl, boldly crosses over to the boy's side of the playground and outruns everyone. That's not a very promising beginning for a friendship, but Jess and Leslie Burke become inseparable. It doesn't matter to Jess that leslie dresses funny, or that her family has a lot of money -- but no TV. Leslie has imagination. Together, she and Jess create Terabithia, a magical kingdom in the woods where the two of them reign as king and queen, and their imaginations set the only limits. Then one morning a terrible tragedy occurs. Only when Jess is able to come to grips with this tragedy does he finally understand the strength and courage Leslie has given him. About the AuthorKatherine Paterson is one of the world’s most celebrated and beloved authors. Among her many awards are two Newberys and two National Book Awards, and she was recently named a "Living Legend” by the Library of Congress. She has been published in more than 22 languages in a variety of formats, from picture books to historical novels. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.Chapter One Jesse Oliver Aarons, Yr. Ba-room, ba-room, ba-room, baripity, baripity, baripity, baripity-- Good. His dad had the pickup going. He could get up now. Jess slid out of bed and into his overalls. He didn't worry about a shirt because once he began running he would be hot as popping grease even if the morning air was chill, or shoes because the, bottoms of his feet were by now as tough as his worn-out sneakers. ere you going, Jess?" May Belle lifted herself up sleepily from the double bed where she and Joyce Ann slept. "Sh." He warned. The walls were thin. Momma would be mad as flies in a fruit jar if they woke her up this time of day. He patted May Belle's hair and yanked the twisted sheet up to her small chin. "Just over the cow field," he whispered. May Belle smiled and snuggled down under the- sheet. "Gonna run?" Of course he was going to run. He had. gotten up early every day all summer to run. He figured if he worked at itand Lord, had he worked-he could be- the fastest runner in the fifth grade when school opened up. He had to be the fastest-not one of the fastest or next to the fastest, but the fastest. The very best. He tiptoed out of the house. The place was so rattly that it screeched whenever you put your foot down, but Jess had found that if you tiptoed, it gave only a low moan, and he could usually get outdoors without waking Momma or Ellie or Brenda or Joyce Ann. May Belle was another matter. She was going on seven, and she worshiped him, which was OK sometimes. When you were the only boy smashed between four sisters, and the older two had despised you ever since you stopped letting them dress you up and wheel you around in their rusty old doll carriage, and the littlest one.cried if you looked at ther cross-eyed, it was nice to have somebody who worshiped you. Even if it got unhandy sometimes. He began to trot across the yard. His breath, was coming out in little puffs--cold for August. But it was early yet. By noontime when his mom would have him out working, it would be hot enough. Miss Bessie stared at him sleepily as he climbed across the scrap heap, over the fence, and into the cow field. "Moo--oo," she said, looking for all the world like another May Belle with her big, brown droopy eyes. "Hey, Miss Bessie," Jess said soothingly. "Just go on back to sleep." Miss Bessie strolled over to a greenish patch-most of the field was brown and dry-and yanked up a mouthful. "That'a girl. Just eat your breakfast. Don't pay me no mind." He always started at the northwest comer of the field, crouched over like the runners he had seen on Wide World of Sports. "Bang," he said, and took off flying around the cow field. Miss Bessie strolled toward the center, still following him with her droopy eyes, chewing slowly. She didn't look very smart, even for a cow, but she was plenty bright enough to get out of Jess's way. His straw-colored hair flapped hard against his forehead, and his arms and legs flew out every which way. He had never learned to run properly, but he was long-legged for a tenyear-old, and no one had more grit than he. Lark Creek Elementary was short on everything, especially athletic equipment, so all the balls went to the upper grades at recess time after lunch. Even if a fifth grader started out the period with a ball, it was sure to be in the hands of a sixth or seventh grader before the hour was half over. The older boys always took the dry center of the upper field for their ball games, while the girls claimed the small top section for hopscotch and jump rope and hanging around talking. So the lower-grade boys had started this running thing. They would all line up on the far side of the lower field, where it was either muddy or deep crusty ruts. Earle Watson who was no good at running, but had, a big mouth, would yell "Bang!" and they'd race to a line they'd- toed across at the other end. One time last year Jesse had won. Not just I the first heat but the whole shebang. Only once. But it had put into his mouth a. taste for winning. Ever since he'd been in first grade he'd been that "crazy little kid that draws all the time." But one day--April the twenty-second, a drizzly Monday, it had been-he ran ahead of them all, the red mud slooching up through the holes in the bottom of his sneakers.. For the rest of that day, and until after lunch on the next, he had been "the fastest kid in- the third, fourth, and fifth grades," and he only a fourth grader. On Tuesday, Wayne Pettis had won again as usual.. But this year Wayne Pettis would be in the sixth grade. He'd play football until Christmas and baseball until June with the rest of the big guys. Anybody had a chance to be the fastest runner and by, Miss Bessie, this year it was going to be Jesse Oliver Aarons, Jr. Jess pumped his arms harder and bent his head for thedistant fence. He could hear the third-grade boys screaminghim on. They would follow him around like a country-musicstar. And May Belle would pop her buttons. Her brother wasthe fastest, the best. That ought to give the rest of the firstgrade de something to chew their cuds on. Even his dad would be proud. Jess rounded the corner. He couldn't keep going quite so fast, but he continued running for a while--it would, build him up. Product details
About the authorKatherine paterson. Katherine Paterson is the internationally acclaimed author of over 35 books for children and young adults. She has twice won both the Newbery Medal and the National Book Award. She received the 1998 Hans Christian Andersen Medal as well as the 2006 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award for the body of her work, and was the National Ambassador for Children's Literature for the Library of Congress. Two of her best-selling books have been made into feature films - "The Bridge to Terabithia" and "The Great Gilly Hopkins". An active promoter of reading, education and literacy, she lives in Barre, Vermont. She has four children and seven grandchildren, and her beloved dog, Pixie. Visit Katherine Paterson on her web site at www.terabithia.com Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness. Customers sayCustomers say the book is very well written with good details. They find the emotional content deep, touching, and heartfelt. They also describe the characters as well developed, brave, and honest. Readers describe the realism as real, classic, and moving. They say it's a good book for budding young minds. Customers also mention the emotional tone as heart-wrenching, funny, and sad. They describe the storyline as great and the best ending ever. AI-generated from the text of customer reviews Customers find the book absolutely heart-wrenching, sad, and compassionate. They also say it blends vivid imagination with real feelings and is funny. "...The book was bittersweet , but it's written beautiful." Read more "...The book was very heartfelt and touching about the relationship between two very different (at first) but similar 10 year old adolescents going..." Read more "...Treat yourself and your children to an absolutely heart-wrenching , beautiful story of friendship, imagination, and life after loss that will stick..." Read more "...his sisters professed to believe but found the story to be horrible, sad , and gruesome...." Read more Customers find the writing quality of the book very well written, clear, and matter-of-fact. They also appreciate the literary allusions and colloquial speech. Readers also mention that the book has good details and pictures. "...The book was bittersweet, but it's written beautiful ." Read more "This is simply and well written, great for young readers. Definitely memorable...." Read more "...The story not only teaches through literary allusions, but also uses colloquial speech to show the poverty stricken region that Jess lives in...." Read more " Beautifully written . It will always stay with me. Saw the Velshi interview with Ms. Patterson and knew I needed to read it." Read more Customers find the book good for budding young minds, with real life lessons and well illustrated child imagination. They also say it has good themes to explore and a beautiful twist on childhood and loss. Readers also mention that it's great for kids 8-99 and has realistic meaning in the classroom. " Great book for middle schoolers " Read more "This book is a classic classroom must have ." Read more "This is simply and well written, great for young readers . Definitely memorable...." Read more "...I think it's a great read for children , especially those that may be dealing with a loss of a friend or family member." Read more Customers find the emotional content of the book deep, with lessons of change and reality. They say it makes them feel attached to the characters and full of hope. "... This book draws you in and I couldn't wait to finish to see the outcome.I try to collect good books and this is one...." Read more "...This book has adventurous kids and builds up a magical place . It has some tragedy...." Read more "A heartfelt story full of wonder, self-realization , and turns of adventure around every corner...." Read more Customers find the book real, original, and vivid. They also describe it as an inspirational work of art, detailed, and retro. Readers also mention that the shocking event and its aftermath are wisely presented. They say the book has fantasy and real live problems that kids can have. "...The book has a very sweet, innocent, retro vibe to it, yet manages to feel timeless...." Read more "...This book has sense of adventure and a bit of sweet nostalgia (for the grown-ups)...." Read more "...The special effects were good for that time and up to the level of some similar movies...." Read more "...The characters, the plot, the setting... everything was so real to me . I felt like I was right there with the 2 main characters in Terabithia...." Read more Customers find the characters in the book well developed. They also mention that friendship, tragedy, and courage are themes. "This book is a classic for a reason. It is incredibly human ...." Read more "...first read this book at the age of 8; I remember being highly captivated by the characters because of how closely they related to the experiences..." Read more "...It’s easy to forget some characters when you read many books, but then you get a book like Bridge to Terabithia; you have the wind knocked out of you..." Read more "...But I found it beautifully written and the characters very well developed ...." Read more Customers find the storyline touching and great. They also say it has the best ending ever. "...I just don't get it....It's a sweet story about friendship and loss and grief and moving on." Read more "... Outstanding example of young friendship , and a gateway for parents to talk to their kids about loss and grief.4 out of 5 stars" Read more "...and your children to an absolutely heart-wrenching, beautiful story of friendship , imagination, and life after loss that will stick with you forever..." Read more "...The book marries together youthful friendship , perhaps even the love between friends, and tragedy that becomes redemptive in such a compelling way...." Read more Customers find the book beautiful, but slow moving. They also say the text is simple yet moving. "...The text was simple but yet so moving and beautiful, showing us the life as it really is, full of happiness and sorrow...." Read more "... Quick read as well !" Read more "...It was a quick read together , but one we will read again and again to really discuss the feelings of the characters. Great classic!" Read more "I remember reading this book as a young girl and being incredibly moved by it ...." Read more Reviews with images This is a great book for 4th and 5th graders but presents an issue that may be inappropriate.
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Our review: Parents say ( 14 ): Kids say ( 75 ): Among countless books about friendship and loss, this one stands out. It's notable for the tender care the author lavishes on her main characters, and for the honest portrayal of a child's grief and a child's capacity for creating beauty from tragedy. Jesse's life can be a struggle -- especially ...
151 books2,156 followers. Katherine Womeldorf Paterson is an American writer best known for children's novels, including Bridge to Terabithia. For four different books published 1975-1980, she won two Newbery Medals and two National Book Awards. She is one of four people to win the two major international awards; for "lasting contribution to ...
3.9. Bridge to Terabithia Review: Everyone Could Use a Good Friendship. 'Bridge to Terabithia' by Katherine Paterson is a classic children's book that talks about how effective friendship can be in helping children and young people get through their fears, loneliness, and grief. 'Bridge to Terabithia' is packed with life's lessons ...
BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA. by Katherine Paterson illustrated by Donna Diamond ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 14, 1977. Paterson, who has already earned regard with her historical fiction set in Japan, proves to be just as eloquent and assured when dealing with contemporary American children—and Americans of very different backgrounds at that.
Bridge to Terabithia. Katherine Paterson Coming-of-Age; Credits. Readability Age Range. 10 and up Publisher. HarperCollins Awards. Newbery Medal, 1978 Year Published. 1996 Book Review. ... Book reviews cover the content, themes and world-views of fiction books, not their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate ...
This book was inspired by a real tragedy that happened in 1976. When Katherine Paterson's son David was eight years old, his friend Lisa Hill was struck by lightning and died. Bridge to Terabithia is a poignant story about a new friendship between Leslie Burke, the new girl at school, and Jess Aarons, who wants to be the fastest runner in ...
The final chapters of the book are some of the most heartbreaking scenes I have ever read, proving Patterson has an extraordinary knack for true-to-life writing and making Bridge to Terabithia a story that will capture your heart. Title: Bridge to Terabithia Author: Katherine Patterson Publisher: Puffin, $16.95 RRP Publication Date: 1995
My favourite Katherine Paterson books, besides Bridge to Terabithia: 1) The Great Gilly Hopkins (I love this book almost as much as BTT, even though it's quite different.) 2) Jacob Have I Loved (Note: I did NOT like this book when I first read it (I was about 12). I didn't get the ending. I re-read the book as an adult. And wow!
Katherine Paterson's 'Bridge to Terabithia' is an impactful book, and more than forty years after its publication, the impact is still felt in today's society - especially among young readers. Written as a tribute to a sad event, 'Bridge to Terabithia' takes the nerve to tackle worrying - and often left out - themes, allowing the younger generations to be aware of harsher ...
This book focuses on the friendship of a boy and a girl who "share imaginative play," according to an expert review. They create the magical kingdom of Terabithia. The novel also features a child passing away and grief afterwards, which may make some readers start bawling. There's mention of scattering ashes, which may be upsetting for some kids.
Then one morning a terrible tragedy occurs. Only when Jess is able to come to grips with this tragedy does he finally understand the strength and courage Leslie has given him. Performed by Robert Sean Leonard. Bridge to Terabithia has 90 reviews and 88 ratings. Reviewer unlucky_4526789 wrote: "it is really nice and A LOT of detail.
In my opinion, there is a strong and beautiful message contained within its pages and the positives to be gained from reading it far outweigh any detractors. I would highly recommend the book to both kids and adults alike. To the best of my recollection, Bridge to Terabithia is the only book by Katherine Paterson that I have ever read, but I am ...
I wanted to do a book review on Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson because it has really stood out for me as one the best books I have ever read. I read it last year in 4th grade as a literature circle book for class and it continues to be a favorite, even though I have read a ton of books since then.
Only read two chapters, but so far so good! This book was written a really long time ago, but is still really well written. Me, and a lot of other people, can relate to being the fastest kid in the grade. (I was always the slowest) There is a surprising amount of cursing. (On chapter 2, b-tched, d-mn, and hellhole)
Bridge to Terabithia. Mass Market Paperback - July 1, 2008. by Katherine Paterson (Author), Donna Diamond (Illustrator) 4.7 11,228 ratings. Teachers' pick. See all formats and editions. Newbery Medal Winner, 1978. This beloved Newbery Medal-winning novel by bestselling author Katherine Paterson is a modern classic of friendship and loss.
Learn from 429,648 book reviews of Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson, Robert Sean Leonard, et al. With recommendations from world experts and thousands of smart readers. Our Summaries; ... Bridge to Terabithia is ranked in the following categories: #51 in 11-Year-Old #25 in 4th Grade #14 in 5th Grade #53 in 6th Grade #85 in 8-Year-Old
Published in 1977, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson is a children's book about the friendship between Jess Aarons and Leslie Burke. Nine year old Leslie is an only child. And 10 year old Jess is one of five children and the middle child. Jess is feeling neglected as the middle child and doing too many chores in the household.
RevolutionNo352. ADMIN MOD. The beauty and pain interwoven with bridge to Terabithia . Here I am a grown man reading bridge to Terabithia and absolutely sobbing. It's the first time I've cried in years and it feels good to let it all out. This book has not only made me see my own humanity better but has provided such a Beautiful perspective.
Bridge to Terabithia. Katherine Paterson. HarperCollins, $22 (0pp) ISBN 978--694-52452-5. Paterson's Newbery-winning novel becomes an entertaining and dramatic audiobook via Leonard's ...
Review. This book is about two unlikely friends who create an imaginary world with many kinds of animals and beasts. Jess Aarons and Leslie Burke become friends when Leslie moves and becomes Jess's neighbor. But they really get to know each other when Leslie is the only girl to beat Jess in a running race. One day, Jess and Leslie use a ...
In "Bridge to Terabithia," a film based upon the Newbery Medal winning children's book by Katharine Paterson, AnnaSophia Robb cements her cinematic arrival with a performance that is mature, captivating, innocent and complex. Much like "Because of Winn-Dixie," "Bridge to Terabithia" is a bit of a throwback film to the days when plot mattered in ...
Bridge to Terabithia was also named an ALA Notable Children's Book and has become a touchstone of children's literature, as have many of Katherine Paterson's other novels, ... — Kirkus Reviews. 15 Banned Books Every Tween and Teen Should Read — Brightly Read more ...
This book is so beautiful. Its sad, one of the few books that made me cry. It makes me sad that some would avoid this book because of what happens. Its part of life and I think it makes stronger to read stories like this that affirm life and how our impact lasts even beyond our lifetimes. Reply.