Title: Bridge to Terabithia
Author: Katherine Patterson
Illustrator: Donna Diamond
Publisher & Year of Publication: HarperTrophy, 1987
Genre: Fiction
Recommended Audience: Grades 3-5
Summary: Jess and Leslie become friends after Leslie moves to town; initially Jess is envious of her because she can out run all the boys on the playground. Jess comes from a lower class family and Leslie comes from a higher class family. The two eventually develop a strong bonding friendship in which they bring out the best in each other. They develop a magical place in the woods called Teribithia where they can escape from their problems and play. When Easter comes Jess takes Leslie to church with him because her family is not religious. Soon after that Jess is asked by Miss Edmunds to go the Washington, D.C. and visit museums. When Jess returns from his day of excitement, he learns that Leslie drowned at Terabitihia in the creek. Jess struggles to overcome his grief, but eventually moves on and names May Belle, his younger sister, the queen of Terabithia.
Evaluation/Reflection: The Bridge to Terabithia is a great chapter book for upper elementary students. Patterson’s language is child friendly but encompasses a variety of topics that draw the reader in. Students will be able to relate to the challenges of young adolescence, friendship and possibly grief of a friend.
Illustrations: The book has a few illustrations, consisting of mostly drawn black and white images.
Review: 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 Terabithia 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. (Kirkus Review)
Promotion Idea: This book could be tied into a STEM lesson on engineering, and creating a bridge. Student bridge projects could serve as display along with the book, A Bridge to Terabithia, for fellow patrons.
Acquisition: Public library or currently available on Amazon for $13.59 (hardcover).
Author: Katherine Patterson
Illustrator: Donna Diamond
Publisher & Year of Publication: HarperTrophy, 1987
Genre: Fiction
Recommended Audience: Grades 3-5
Summary: Jess and Leslie become friends after Leslie moves to town; initially Jess is envious of her because she can out run all the boys on the playground. Jess comes from a lower class family and Leslie comes from a higher class family. The two eventually develop a strong bonding friendship in which they bring out the best in each other. They develop a magical place in the woods called Teribithia where they can escape from their problems and play. When Easter comes Jess takes Leslie to church with him because her family is not religious. Soon after that Jess is asked by Miss Edmunds to go the Washington, D.C. and visit museums. When Jess returns from his day of excitement, he learns that Leslie drowned at Terabitihia in the creek. Jess struggles to overcome his grief, but eventually moves on and names May Belle, his younger sister, the queen of Terabithia.
Evaluation/Reflection: The Bridge to Terabithia is a great chapter book for upper elementary students. Patterson’s language is child friendly but encompasses a variety of topics that draw the reader in. Students will be able to relate to the challenges of young adolescence, friendship and possibly grief of a friend.
Illustrations: The book has a few illustrations, consisting of mostly drawn black and white images.
Review: 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 Terabithia 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. (Kirkus Review)
Promotion Idea: This book could be tied into a STEM lesson on engineering, and creating a bridge. Student bridge projects could serve as display along with the book, A Bridge to Terabithia, for fellow patrons.
Acquisition: Public library or currently available on Amazon for $13.59 (hardcover).