Book Review of Bridge to Terabithia
The Children’s Book Review
Bridge to Terabithia
Written by Katherine Paterson
Ages 9+ | 320 Pages
Publisher: HarperCollins | ISBN-13: 9780690013597
What to Expect: Friends, Adventure, Grief and Loss, and Fantasy
Bridge to Terabithia won the Newbery Medal in 1978 and other significant awards. It has also been made into two different movies, one was a feature film, and one was a TV movie. This book was inspired by a real tragedy that happened in 1976. When Katherine Paterson’s son David was eight years old, his friend Lisa Hill was struck by lightning and died. Bridge to Terabithia is a poignant story about a new friendship between Leslie Burke, the new girl at school, and Jess Aarons, who wants to be the fastest runner in fifth grade.
Jess has been practicing all summer long by running through the fields surrounding his family’s farmhouse, and he would have been the fastest if, on the first day of school, Leslie hadn’t shown up and outrun everyone, even the boys. While you would imagine the two would not get along, they end up being the best of friends after a slightly uncertain start.
The pair play together in the woods behind Leslie’s house, which happens to be next door to Jess’s, and they use their imaginations and create a magical kingdom where they are the king and queen. They call their secret kingdom Terabithia. The only way to enter the castle in Terabithia is by an enchanted rope that swings over a creek. When they are not fighting off giants and the walking dead, they talk deeply about the kids at school that tease them. Everything is great until Leslie decides to go to Terabithia alone.
You might need a box of tissues at this point in the story because something terrible, real, significant, and immensely sad happens. The writing is beautiful, and readers will willingly soldier on to discover how Jess deals with the most profound sorrow he has ever experienced. While Bridge to Terabithia has great sadness, you will smile, and the entire story is A-plus-mazing!
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About the Author
Katherine Paterson is one of the world’s most celebrated and beloved authors. Among her many awards are two Newberys and two National Book Awards, and she was recently named a “Living Legend” by the Library of Congress. She has been published in more than 22 languages in various formats, from picture books to historical novels.
What to Read Next If You Love Bridge to Terabithia
- The Great Gilly Hopkins, by Katherine Paterson
- Jacob Have I Loved, by Katherine Paterson
- The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, by C. S. Lewis
Bianca Schulze reviewed Bridge to Terabithia. Discover more books like Bridge to Terabithia by reading our reviews and articles tagged with Friends, Adventure, and Fantasy.
