Title: Bridge to Terabithia
Author: Katherine Paterson
Illustrator: Donna Diamond
Publisher: Harper Collins
Year of Publication: 2007
Genre: Science Fiction - Fiction
Kirkus Reviews rating:
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. 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.
Summary:
This is the story of a boy named Jess. He trained all summer because he wanted to beat the fastest kid in his grade. However, when the school started there was a new girl in his 5th grade class. Her name was Leslie. She was not the typical girlie girl. She didn't like to wear dresses like the other girls, she only wore pants. Leslie beat Jess at the race, but they became the best of friends. In fact, they both created in their imagination a land called, "Terabithia" their own magic kingdom, where he was the king and she was the queen of Terabithia. Leslie enjoyed making up stories and one of her magical stories where about giants. Leslie and Jess had many magical adventures in Terabithia.But, when it started the rainy season, waters by the bridge were too high to go across. Jess became scared and didn't want to go to Terabithia anymore. At the same time, Jess had a crush on his music teacher Ms. Edmund. One day, Ms. Edmund invited him to take a field trip to Washington to visit a National Gallery and its surrounding. He accepted and he had the time of his life. Yet, when he came back from his trip, Jess received the worst news...
Summary of Professional Reviews CLCD:
Jess aims to distinguish himself as the fastest runner in the fifth grade until Leslie, the new tomboy next door, unexpectedly beats all the boys in the school. But Leslie's precocious abilities only label her an outcast in their small rural community. Soon the two develop an extraordinary friendship, taking refuge in the imaginary kingdom of Terabithia--never dreaming that their safe haven will ultimately bring disaster.
Review by B. Elizabeth Harclerode:
Jess a boy full of energy, yet compassionate especially with his little sister May Belle. The author is able to convey through his writing the emotions each character was facing. However, The family moved there to reassess their lives and concentrate more in the family. However, one fact that I did not appreciated was that the mother continued working when she should have spent more time with Leslie especially when they moved there to concentrate more in their lives, but mother was not too present in the story. I did notice that the author made references about famous books. For example, Moby Dick, Hamlet, and Narnia. There is also a reference to Star Trek. I appreciated how the author play with the characters by making them being really mean, but then somehow they turned out to be good people. For example, the giant was Janice Avery. She was not a bad kid, but she was being abused by her father and she was just acting out. The drawings in the book were black and white. I appreciated the way the illustrator portrayed Leslie since I was not sure exactly how would she look like even though the author's description. In conclusion, I really enjoyed reading this book because it had flow and the author's descriptive language helped for one to imagine the magic kingdom of Terabithia. I commend the author for unpredictability since I did not expect what happened at the end of the story.
This book would be useful when teaching…
This book would be useful for instilling in children the use of their creativity. Also, this book may be useful to teach children about the loss of a friend. I would have the students make groups and have them discuss if they could build an imaginary place, what would it be?
Author: Katherine Paterson
Illustrator: Donna Diamond
Publisher: Harper Collins
Year of Publication: 2007
Genre: Science Fiction - Fiction
Kirkus Reviews rating:
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. 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.
Summary:
This is the story of a boy named Jess. He trained all summer because he wanted to beat the fastest kid in his grade. However, when the school started there was a new girl in his 5th grade class. Her name was Leslie. She was not the typical girlie girl. She didn't like to wear dresses like the other girls, she only wore pants. Leslie beat Jess at the race, but they became the best of friends. In fact, they both created in their imagination a land called, "Terabithia" their own magic kingdom, where he was the king and she was the queen of Terabithia. Leslie enjoyed making up stories and one of her magical stories where about giants. Leslie and Jess had many magical adventures in Terabithia.But, when it started the rainy season, waters by the bridge were too high to go across. Jess became scared and didn't want to go to Terabithia anymore. At the same time, Jess had a crush on his music teacher Ms. Edmund. One day, Ms. Edmund invited him to take a field trip to Washington to visit a National Gallery and its surrounding. He accepted and he had the time of his life. Yet, when he came back from his trip, Jess received the worst news...
Summary of Professional Reviews CLCD:
Jess aims to distinguish himself as the fastest runner in the fifth grade until Leslie, the new tomboy next door, unexpectedly beats all the boys in the school. But Leslie's precocious abilities only label her an outcast in their small rural community. Soon the two develop an extraordinary friendship, taking refuge in the imaginary kingdom of Terabithia--never dreaming that their safe haven will ultimately bring disaster.
Review by B. Elizabeth Harclerode:
Jess a boy full of energy, yet compassionate especially with his little sister May Belle. The author is able to convey through his writing the emotions each character was facing. However, The family moved there to reassess their lives and concentrate more in the family. However, one fact that I did not appreciated was that the mother continued working when she should have spent more time with Leslie especially when they moved there to concentrate more in their lives, but mother was not too present in the story. I did notice that the author made references about famous books. For example, Moby Dick, Hamlet, and Narnia. There is also a reference to Star Trek. I appreciated how the author play with the characters by making them being really mean, but then somehow they turned out to be good people. For example, the giant was Janice Avery. She was not a bad kid, but she was being abused by her father and she was just acting out. The drawings in the book were black and white. I appreciated the way the illustrator portrayed Leslie since I was not sure exactly how would she look like even though the author's description. In conclusion, I really enjoyed reading this book because it had flow and the author's descriptive language helped for one to imagine the magic kingdom of Terabithia. I commend the author for unpredictability since I did not expect what happened at the end of the story.
This book would be useful when teaching…
This book would be useful for instilling in children the use of their creativity. Also, this book may be useful to teach children about the loss of a friend. I would have the students make groups and have them discuss if they could build an imaginary place, what would it be?