Bridge to Terabithia

Paterson, K. (1977). Bridge to terabithia. New York, NY: Thomas Crowell Company.

Newbery Medal Winner, 1978

In Bridge to Terabithia, Jesse Oliver Aarons, Jr. is a fifth grade farm boy who wants nothing more than to be the fastest runner in his grade.  But after practicing in the cow pastures all summer, Jess is surprised when the new girl Leslie Burke wins the first race of the school year.  Leslie is a smart and outgoing tomboy, and she and Jess quickly become close friends.  One of their favorite things to do is visit the enchanted forest kingdom they created, Terabithia, of which they are the king and queen.  The only way to gain entry into their kingdom is to cross over the dry creek bed, using a crab apple rope.  But one day after the water level in the creek has risen, Leslie attempts to cross over the creek alone in the rain and she hits her head on a rock and dies.  Jess is in shock at first, but he eventually comes to terms with her death and realizes that “before Leslie he had been nothing.  She had taken him from the cow pasture into Terabithia and turned him into a king” (Paterson, 1977).  Jess’ life is transformed by Leslie, and in Terabithia, he was able to grow strong.  In the end, Jess invites his little sister May Belle to be the next queen of Terabithia, possibly in an attempt to fill the void Leslie’s passing left and possibly so that her life will be changed in Terabithia as his was. 

Katherine Paterson’s story is utterly captivating.  The reader cannot help but fall in love Jess and Leslie and want to visit their magical kingdom.  Though this book has been placed on the Challenged Books list because of death being a part of the plot, it teaches children the value of friendship and to make the most of one’s life because no one knows long it will be.