Bridge to Terabithia

Patterson, K. (1977). Bridge to Terabithia. New York: Harper Collins.

Jess just wants to fit in. He's the only boy in a large farm family of girls. He wants to be the fastest runner in 5th grade so that he will be noticed. He's also a talented artist; a talent his father doesn't appreciate. The he meets Leslie. She doesn't quite fit in either, but she doesn't let it bother her as much. Her parents are writers and she has moved a lot. She doesn't dress like everyone else, doesn't own a TV, and doesn't attend church.

An amazing friendship develops between these two. The create a magical land called Terabithia where they are the rulers. Together in Terabithia, they both belong and can fight the enemies that threaten their kingdom. Outside of Terabithia, they also learn to fight back against those who try to hurt them, especially Janice Avery, the school bully.


Other than Leslie, the other light in Jess's life  is Miss Edmunds. She is the school music teacher and she sees the talent that lies within Jess. She takes Jess one rainy day to Washington DC to the National Gallery. Jess has the most amazing day with her seeing great pieces of art. Upon returning home, Jess learns what happened while he was gone; Leslie went to Terabithia without Jess. The rope that they would swing on broke, and she fell and hit her head. She has died.

Jess has to deal with the loss of his best friend and the idea that if he hadn't gone to Washington DC, she might still be alive.

This is one of my favorite books to teach. I always use the theme of one choice can change your life forever.  If Jess hadn't gone to Washington, Leslie would never had gone across the creek. Or Jess would have gone with her and been the one to fall. Leslie's one choice changed everything.

There is some mild profanity in this book, but nothing more than students hear on the bus or on TV. I just remind them that the author had a reason for using it, and to see why she chose those words instead of others.