BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA by Katherine Paterson

Bibliography: 

Paterson, Katherine. 1977. BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA. Ill. by Donna Diamond. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 0690013590

Plot Summary:   

Jess is looking forward to his fifth grade year as he prepares to be the fastest running boy.  His plans quickly change when he meets his new neighbor, Leslie.  True friendship grows over time, and with Leslie’s vast imagination they find themselves the rulers of an imaginary world called Terabithia.  As king and queen of Terabithia, the two learned to conquer giants from both worlds.  

A spur of the moment chance at a trip leads Jess out of town for the day, only for him to return and for nothing to ever be the same again.  Without Leslie, the magic seems to be gone from Terabithia.  His real life is lonely and unfamiliar as he deals with the shock of her absence.  In the end, Jess finds his way back to Terabithia, and builds a bridge for future generations to experience the magic Leslie introduced him to during their short time together.     

Critical Analysis:   

This wonderful classic will keep readers reading with its engaging plot and characters that are easy to identify with.  Readers will care about what happens to the main characters as they read May Belle’s haunting words, "What if you die?" that echo at the foreshadowing affects that are soon to come.  

The plot is believable from the beginning as the author firmly grounds the story in reality that any young reader can connect to.  As the story progresses, it gradually moves into the imaginary world young readers will love.  The themes of friendship and coming of age are clear as Jess conquers his fears and facing the world around him, real and imaginary.  Overcoming loss is the other clear theme for this classic fiction story.     

The profanity was surprising each time it appeared within the story.  Though it seemed appropriate for the story and the events they each appeared in throughout the story, educators will want to address each as they appear.  For educators who are simply reading the story aloud to students, they can easily edit or omit words. For educators using class sets of novels during reading, a short discussion about such words will keep the snickering at bay.  

Even though this book is targeted for younger readers (ages 8 and up), I would not read this to students younger than 5^th grade due to the sad nature the main character is faced with as he suddenly loses his best friend, and the profanity seen throughout the book. 

Reviews/Awards:   

·        1977 ALA Notable Children’s Books

·        1978 Newbery Medal

·        1978 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award

·        Barnes & Noble:  “…Bridge to Terabithia records the blossoming of the unlikely friendship between Jess Aarons and Leslie Burke and its tragic aftermath.  Katherine Paterson’s graceful intertwining of fantasy and realistic psychology has touched readers ever since the book’s 1977 release.”

·        Children’s Literature (Valerie O. Patterson):  “Written by the author for her then young son whose best friend was killed by lightning … moves the heart and spirit with its beautiful writing, wrenching honesty, and hopeful ending.” 

Connections: 

Age Level:  8 and up

Reading Level:  6.0 
Pages:  208 
Genre:  Realistic Fiction / Classics 

·        Writing prompt:  Write about a time when you had to overcome a fear. 

·        Art Connection:  Reread the sections in the novel that describe Terabithia.  Students illustrate Terabithia as they imagine it in their mind based on the book’s details.

·        Discuss foreshadowing and Flashback:  Reread sections of the book that foreshadow drowning throughout the story.

·        Vocabulary:  Discuss unfamiliar words prior, during, and after reading to clarify confusion and enhance reading comprehension. 

·        Heart Map: 

o   Create a Heart Map displaying the things and people that mean the most to Jess at the beginning of the book.   

o   Create another Heart Map at the end of the book that shows how Jess has changed over the course of the story. 

o   Compare both maps and discuss what events that led to Jess’ change in what he cared about most.

·        Watch Movie:  Compare and contrast the book and movie

Educator Notes:

·        Profanity:

o   Chapter 2  (“bitched” - once)

o   Chapter 8  (“damn” - 3 times; “hell” - 3 times)

o   Chapter 9 (“damn” – once)

o   Chapter 10  (“damn” – once)

o   Chapter 12  (“damn” – once; “hell” – 4 times)