Bridge to Terabithia

Paterson, Katherine.  Bridge to Terabithia. Scholastic, Inc., New York, 1977. 128 pages.  Tr. Pb. ISBN 0590132008

Plot Description:

Jess has spent his summer running, trying to build u speed so he can be the fastest kid in the fifth grade.  On the first day of school all the boys lined up to race, but then the new girl, Leslie Burke asks to race too.  The boys let her, thinking she won’t stand a chance, but then she beats all of them, assuring her place as an outcast among her classmates.  Despite their rough start, Jess and Leslie become best friends, sharing their hopes, dreams, and an imaginary kingdom of Terabithia.  In Terabithia, Jess can be brave and indulge in his imagination.  However, when tragedy strikes Jess is at a loss of how to deal with his emotions, until he realizes that Leslie and their imaginary kingdom of Terabithia have given him all the needs to be brave and face life’s challenges. 

Review:

Bridge to Terabithia is a classic novel about the power of friendship.  Jess is determined not to like Leslie because she is strange and beat him at the recess races, but Leslie is just as determined to have a friend and soon she and Jess are inseparable.  When Leslie dies, Jess is overwhelmed with emotions of grief.  At first Jess is angry and then in denial and then he blames himself, wondering if he had invited her to the city that day would Leslie still be alive?  Paterson’s novel is brief in length, but presents a myriad of powerful emotions.  This is an important novel for any child to read, but certainly any child who is trying to come to terms with losing someone important to them will find themselves in Jess. 

Genre:

Realistic Fiction

Reading Level/Interest Level:

Grades 4-6

Similar Books:

Each Little Bird that Sings by Deborah Wiles

Awards/Honors:

ALA Notable Children’s Book 1978

Newberry Award 1978

Author’s Website:

http://www.terabithia.com/about.html