Bridge to Terabithia

Title: Bride to Terabithia
Genre: Newbery
Author: Katherine Paterson
Awards: Newbery (1978)
Age Group: 9 to 11-year-olds

Teacher Evaluation: As a teacher, I think this book would best fit a fifth-grade class. The book has highly relatable situations throughout the story but also has a serious concept of death. I think because of the death concept mentioned in the book, it would be wise to talk to parent's about the book to let them in on what their child will be reading in class.

Summary: This book is about Jesse Aarons. Jesse is the only boy in his family with 2 older sisters and 2 younger sisters. The book begins with Jesse waking up early to practice running so he will be the fastest 5th grader. Jesse has many chores and responsibility in his family, so when his younger sister May Belle comes out to get him he realizes that he should've milked the cow already. Later that day, May Belle comes out to tell Jesse as he milks the cow that they are getting new neighbors. The next thing to happen in the book is that Jesse finally meets one of his neighbors, a girl his age, Leslie Burkes. Jesse and Leslie have a short conversation before Jesse returns to work. When school begins, Jesse is still set on being the fastest kid in the fifth grade, but after standing up for Leslie to be allowed to race with the boys he finds out that he is not. Jesse and Leslie aren't immediately friends, but soon after in the book the two do become friends. After school one day they decide to go off to do something, they discover a part of the woods with a hanging rope. The kids use the rope to get across to the other side and here is where they make their imaginary land of Terabithia. Terabithia is a secret place only Jesse and Leslie know about and where they rule the land. The two begin to bond more, going to Terabithia often and become great friends. The story goes on into more detail like the two friends dealing with the school bully, learning about each other's families, and giving each other Christmas gifts. The story takes a turn near the end when it starts to rain hard and Jesse doesn't want to go to Terabithia. Before Jesse can tell Leslie he doesn't want to go he gets a call from a teacher he admires dearly, inviting him to join her on a museum trip. Jesse has a wonderful time on the trip but when he returns, he returns to the news that his friend Leslie died. Jesse denies that Leslie dies at first and it isn't until after he goes to pay his respects at her house that he breaks down revealing to his dad he is mad at Leslie for dying. The book goes on detailing how Jesse's life continues without Leslie. After Leslie's family moves, Jesse uses some of their plywood to make a bridge to Terabithia, after creating the bridge, he allows his young sister May Belle, whom always wanted to go with Leslie and Jesse to come. The book ends with Jesse telling her she is the new queen of Terabithia and can't she see all the terabithians trying to see her.