Bridge to Terabithia
by Katherine Paterson
- Paperback: 128 pages
- Publisher: Trumpet Club Special Edition; First Scholastic Printing 1996 edition (1996)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0439366771
- ISBN-13: 978-0439366779
1978 Newbery Medal-winner
Summary
Jess Aaron’s greatest ambition is to be the fastest runner in fifth grade.He’s been practicing all summer and can’t wait to see his classmate’s faces when he beats them all.But on the first day of school, a new girl crosses over to the boys’ side of the playground and outruns everyone.
That’s not a very promising beginning for a friendship, but Jess and Leslie Burke become inseparable.Leslie has imagination.Together, she and Jess create Terabithia, a magical kingdom in the woods where the two of them reign as king and queen, and their imaginations set the only limits.Then one morning a terrible tragedy occurs.Only when Jess is able to come to grips with this tragedy does he finally understand the strength and courage Leslie has given him.
My Review
Our teacher recommended the book to us for winter break. The story happens during recent time around a farm area.
Jesse Oliver Aarons, Jr., a ten-year-old boy, one of the main characters, is a middle child in a family of four sisters. Jesse’s parents are desperately poor and not well educated and he was stolen from his real family.The story started when Jess exercised hard before his morning chores trying to become the fastest runner in fifth grade.
Leslie Burke, the other main character, entered the story as a new girl in 5th grade. She easily won all the dash races and became Jess’s best friend. Leslie was from the city and her parents were well educated writers. Leslie’s life experience,imagination and her creativity forever changed Jesse's life and the attitudes of the students at Lark Creek Elementary School.
I like the book because it feels real. Even though I don’t grow up in a rural area, I can relate to the troubles the children have in book. The characters in the book feel very real to me. There’s no absolutely good or bad people. They’re all multi-faceted people that taught us what life is and how friendship meant to be.
The death of Leslie brought a lot of emotions to me while reading: shocked, doesn’t want to accept the fact, regret, etc. I almost felt I lost a friend because we got so close to her! Jesse went through a similar process of denial to acceptance, and to his “new” life.
This book well deserves the Newbery Medal Award! I would gladly give this book 5 stars.
