Bridge to Terabithia Mass Market Paperback – July 1, 2008

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson is a heart-wrenching and beautifully written story about friendship, imagination, and loss. The emotional journey this book takes you on is unforgettable, but let me be clear: it wasn’t Leslie’s death that hit me the hardest. It was the ending—the culmination of Jess’s growth, the way he cherishes the memory of Terabithia, and the gentle, painful reminder of how life keeps moving even when we want to stay in our perfect, fictional world forever.And, honestly, forget this book for making me care so deeply about a world created by a couple of kids. I didn't expect to get so emotionally tangled up in a fictional kingdom that was literally the product of their imaginations. But here I am, with feelings, crying over a place that doesn’t even exist. Katherine Paterson has a gift for making the most personal, emotional moments feel universal, which makes this book sting in a way you don’t expect from a middle-grade novel.Overall, this book was powerful, emotional, and completely wrecked me in the best (but painful) way. I’m still salty about it, but that’s a sign of how much it affected me. I highly recommend it, but be warned—you’ll need tissues and maybe a good outlet to process all the emotions afterward.

This is a great book, so I gave it to my great niece for Christmas. She really enjoyed it. If I had another relative her age I would get it again for that relative.

I saw this book on the banned book list and wondered why it was banned in school libraries. I read it and it was a wonderful story. As a parent & grandparent I would want my child to read this book. It includes many topics that children deal with in school & within their own family. It makes you laugh & cry.

Jess has spent all summer working to be “the very best” runner in the 5th grade, but when a mysterious girl named Leslie kills that dream, she opens up a whole new world for him (2). Leslie leads Jess into Terabithia, where they reign as king and queen and Leslie works to, “push back the walls of his mind” (160). Paterson is doing the same thing to her readers as Leslie does to Jess; she is expanding the walls of our minds. Leslie makes allusions to many literary works which in turn teaches new vocabulary. For instance, she uses the word “regicide” and then gives context by mentioning Hamlet (67). Not only does this section teach readers a new word, but it also introduces them to Shakespeare. The Newbery Medal is given based on the text of the book, and when reading The Bridge To Terabithia, one can see why it won the honor. The story not only teaches through literary allusions, but also uses colloquial speech to show the poverty stricken region that Jess lives in. While Jess’ uses of “Lord” is controversial and one of the reasons the book is placed on banned lists, it gives the feel of life in the Appalachians. The book would not be as powerful if it were not true to life, and the language creates this truthfulness. Paterson is working to give her readers a larger world view (again, pushing back the walls of our minds). Through Jess teaching Leslie and Bill how to fix their house, they learn about rural living. Both children teach each other about their respective ways of life, and subsequently the reader learns as well. It shows how friendships between people from different backgrounds can push each other beyond themselves. Leslie taught Jess about the academic world, and Jess taught Leslie to be kind to others who don’t deserve it (such is the case with Janice Avery). Paterson shows how special people can make you become better. Many children (and adults) in today’s society gravitate towards those who are like themselves. The popular kids hang out with each other, the band nerds stick together, the honor students spend time together, etc. Paterson is showing children how diversity can be a highly rewarding factor in a friendship. Controversies aside, this book is an excellent tool for teaching children an array of lessons and is a joy to read.

This book is so emotional and beautiful, I just love it so much thank you so much to the author of this book!🤩🥳😃

Brought me back to growing up on a farm and letting my imagination create my reality and coming to grips with death.

I remember losing a classmate in 6th grade. This story hits home. He seemed like a boy that was invincible. I mean he rode bulls at that age! This story was so good and refreshing to hear.

This book, even to this 36 year old man, invoked feelings in me that I was unaware I had left to share. I mourned for this boy, this family, but most importantly; I mourned the loss of someone who hasn’t existed. I began to imagine Terabithia as my own place of solace. A place where my marriage thrived, my family lived completely. A place where magic wasn’t fiction, but rather an expression of our feelings that we transferred one another. Leslie Burke’s passing was symbolic to me as I envisioned the ending of marriage. People die, literal deaths as impressed upon us in this book. Leslie wasn’t real. She was a collection of hope, enthusiasm, youthful naivety, and mostly importantly, she was a representation of innocence and genuine compassion. That would be my correlation to my life. My marriage, albeit not a living thing, was very much Leslie. It breathed life into me, and like Jess, I hadn’t realized what it impressed upon until its untimely demise. This book pulled feelings out of I had otherwise stopped feeling. I still believe that the bridge to Terabithia is laid steadfast across this creek. That in that forest, all the magic is still there. I dare not travel there again. I am no longer the King, but I will always bestow the wonderful and regaling stories to my children. Thank you again, Mrs.Paterson. You helped a broken heart not feel so broken.