Bridge to Terabithia: A Newbery Medal Winner―A Beloved Children's Classic About Friendship, Imagination, and Coping with Loss

Bridge to Terabithia is a beautifully written story about friendship, imagination, and the deep impact people can have on one another. Jess and Leslie’s bond is genuine and heartfelt, and the imaginary world they create in Terabithia is a place of wonder and escape. The book takes an emotional turn that will leave you thinking long after you finish it. It’s a perfect blend of adventure, emotion, and life lessons. A timeless read for both kids and adults, and an unforgettable story about love and loss.

Ideal for Young reader.

This book is a classic for a reason. It is incredibly human. Jess and Leslie playing outside and creating a world reminded me of my sister and I who did the same thing (we just entered "Narnia" however rather than making our own name). To Jess and Leslie, the entrance into the world was swinging on a rope, to my sister and I the entrance was swinging from a tree swing and jumping off as high as we could down a hill. Although we didn't experience tragedy like in the book, sadness, pain, and death are also deep parts of being human. I especially liked the chapter "Easter" and reading Leslie's thoughts on going to church for the first time, how it was "better than a movie" and how she thought the story of the Gospel was so beautiful even though she wasn't sure about her belief in it. Yet, Jess and his sisters professed to believe but found the story to be horrible, sad, and gruesome. It reminded me of the famous conversation between Tolkien, Lewis, and Dyson about the Gospel being a myth like other myths working on us with the critical difference that it really happened. We can't lose sight of the fact that the Gospels are presented as a story, a beautiful story, first and foremost, not a series of doctrinal statements. As important as doctrine is, it comes later, and should always be secondary to telling the story. As the old hymn goes, "I heard an old, old story, how a Savior came from glory, how he gave his life on Calvary to save a wretch like me." Jesus is the True Balder who entered into History ("he suffered under Pontius Pilate), whom all creation did weep for (Romans 8:22), and who did rise again.

BACKGROUND: "Bridge To Terabithia," by Katherine Paterson, saw its debut publication in 1977; it was awarded the Newberry Medal for children's literature the following year. I 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 most kids feel around that age. I will admit that, at the time, this didn't end up being on my list of `all-time-super-awesome books'--but I this was due to the fact that this was one of the first books I read dealing with realistic issues; thus, it wasn't as `entertaining' as "The Adventures of Captain Underpants." In adulthood, I've reread this novel on several occasions; each time, I gain more and more appreciation for the impact this story had on my childhood. Katherine cites a personal experience as her inspiration for the novel. On August 14, 1974, Katherine, her 8-year-old son David, and David's best friend, Lisa, were visiting a beach in Delaware when Lisa was struck by lightning; she died immediately. Paterson dedicated the book to David and Lisa. Descriptions of the settings throughout the book were likely influenced by Paterson's then-home in Takoma Park, Maryland. Most notably, Sligo Creek probably served as inspiration for the dried creek bed "which someone had long forgotten (p.58)." Further confirmed by Leslie's mentioning of "The Chronicles of Narnia (p.59)," the name of the imaginary kingdom, "Terabithia," is an homage to the Narnian island of Terebinthia which appears in both "Prince Caspian" and "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" by C.S. Lewis. [Lewis had likely derived the name "Terebinthia" from the Bible's Terebinth tree.] 2008 EDITION: (13 chapters; 191 pages) Something neat about this edition is the "Bridge to Terabithia" Reader's Guide found in the back of the book. The Reader's Guide provides 13 Discussion Questions--one to follow each chapter--that can be used as an introduction for young readers to literary analysis while also prompting a more interactive reading experience. A 9-part Q&A with author Katherine Paterson serves to finish the book. I wish these features had been available in the edition I read as a kid because, at a young age, I had only a tentative grasp on the relationships that occur between authors and their stories. I think that having a means of direct contact between young readers and real-world authors helps to not only put an author's inspiration into perspective, but also to entice appreciation for the art that is literature. SUMMARY: All summer, Jesse Aarons has coped with what he deems to be an `unfair' home-life by channeling his energy into becoming the fastest kid in the fifth grade. When the new school year rolls around, Jesse finally gets the chance to show off his speed--only to be beaten by his new neighbor, Leslie. Things just can't get any worse for Jesse; not only does he feel burdened at home by his family's farm and his annoying sisters, but now there's just one more reason for him to be bullied at school. As Jesse gets to know Leslie, he realizes that he's no longer alone in his troubles. The two develop a strong bond, leading to the creation of Terabithia--an imaginary kingdom where Jesse and Leslie can feel important and free. The subject of bullying recurs throughout the course of the book. In one situation, Jesse and Leslie reap revenge against a girl named Janice; the two eventually realize that everyone has feelings, and sometimes a bully is the one most in need of a friend. The bond between Jesse and Leslie gains ever-increasing strength as they endure such experiences, not alone, but together. When Jesse is invited to accompany Miss Edmunds for an art exhibit, Jesse gets so excited about his own opportunity that he forgets to tell his family where he's going, and, more importantly, he leaves Leslie alone in Terabithia. As Jesse returns home from his trip, he undergoes an abrupt shift back to reality; Leslie had been swinging on the old rope by the creek when it suddenly snapped, propelling her into the water and leaving her to drown. Jesse initially struggles to understand the tragedy. He has lost his counterpart and best friend, leading him into a deep self-reevaluation. He begins to see that all the little things that used to frustrate him are now insignificant; it was the time he spent with Leslie that taught him the meaning of life and what to appreciate. As time passes, Jesse and his younger sister, May Belle, discover that a tree has fallen across the old creek; in a moment of clarity, Jesse realizes that the death of the strong, glorious tree has given it another chance at life as the new bridge to Terabithia. "Bridge To Terabithia" Copyright © 1977 by Katherine Paterson ISBN: 978-0-06-073401-5 Revised paperback edition, 2008

I read this book as a 37 year old woman who watched the movie years and years ago without knowing. I read the book because I know how often movies just cannot touch on all of the emotions and unexplained pieces. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, it reminded me of my own childhood for various reasons and had me thinking of other "characters" in my life and what their internal dialogue might have been saying a times. I love the friendship and magic, and the obnoxious sibling banter. I ugly cried for obvious reasons but also for reasons that are specific to my own story. And I loved the ending, because my feelings were already out and raw, I cried more but sweetly.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson is a heart-wrenching and beautifully written story about friendship, imagination, and loss. The emotional journey this book takes you on is unforgettable, but let me be clear: it wasn’t Leslie’s death that hit me the hardest. It was the ending—the culmination of Jess’s growth, the way he cherishes the memory of Terabithia, and the gentle, painful reminder of how life keeps moving even when we want to stay in our perfect, fictional world forever. And, honestly, forget this book for making me care so deeply about a world created by a couple of kids. I didn't expect to get so emotionally tangled up in a fictional kingdom that was literally the product of their imaginations. But here I am, with feelings, crying over a place that doesn’t even exist. Katherine Paterson has a gift for making the most personal, emotional moments feel universal, which makes this book sting in a way you don’t expect from a middle-grade novel. Overall, this book was powerful, emotional, and completely wrecked me in the best (but painful) way. I’m still salty about it, but that’s a sign of how much it affected me. I highly recommend it, but be warned—you’ll need tissues and maybe a good outlet to process all the emotions afterward.

Excellent choice.

Good