Product Description

Jess Aarons wants to be the fastest boy in the class. He's been practising all summer and he's sure he's going to win. But when a girl named Leslie Burke moves into the neighbouring farm his life changes forever. Not only does Leslie not look or act like any of the girls in school, she also turns out to be the fastest runner in the year. After getting over the humiliation of being beaten by a girl, Jess begins to think Leslie might be okay - she's clever and funny and not a bit soppy. It is Leslie who invents Terabithia, the secret country on an island across the creek. Here Jess could forget his large, quarrelsome family, his father who thought it was ummanly to love drawing, and his little sister May Belle, who was always tagging after him. Here he could be strong and unafraid. The only way to reach Terabithia is by rope-swing where Jess and Leslie become King and Queen, defeating giants, sharing stories and dreams, and plotting against their enemies. They are invincible - until tragedy strikes. It is more dreadful than anything Jess had ever dreamed of, but as he struggles to cope with his grief and anger, he finds that his family value him more than he'd thought and that, still King, he could even save Terabithia for the future.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27454 in Books
• Published on: 2006-05-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
The story starts out simply enough: Jess Aarons wants to be the fastest boy in the fifth grade--he wants it so bad he can taste it. He's been practising all summer, running in the fields around his farmhouse until he collapses in a sweat. Then a tomboy named Leslie Burke moves into the farmhouse next door and changes his life forever. Not only does Leslie not look or act like any girls Jess knows, but she also turns out to be the fastest runner in the fifth grade. After getting over the shock and humiliation of being beaten by a girl, Jess begins to think Leslie might be alright.

Despite their superficial differences, it's clear that Jess and Leslie are soul mates. The two create a secret kingdom in the woods named Terabithia, where the only way to get into the castle is by swinging out over a gully on an enchanted rope. Here they reign as king and queen, fighting off imaginary giants and the walking dead, sharing stories and dreams, and plotting against the schoolmates who tease them. Jess and Leslie find solace in the sanctuary of Terabithia until a tragedy strikes and the two are separated forever. In a style that is both plain and powerful, Katherine Paterson's characters will stir your heart and put a lump in your throat.

About the Author
Katherine Paterson was born in China in 1932 - she was the middle of five children. Her parents were missionaries and during her childhood the family travelled extensively. After graduating she was a teacher in Virginia and later she travelled to Japan where she lived for four years. She now lives in Vermont, USA and loves to teach, read and cook. Katherine Paterson is twice winner of the Newbery Medal: in 1978 for BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA and in 1981 for JACOB HAVE I LOVED.

Customer Reviews

Not Fantasy but Reality Well Worth Reading
Jess is the middle child. Not only that, but he's the only boy and has four sisters. While his older sisters rule his house, he gets stuck with the chores. Things aren't much better at school where he really has no friends and just tries to survive the day.

Jess has decided that this year, he's going to be the fastest kid in fifth grade. He practices all summer, only to see his dream evaporate when his new neighbor wins the race. Worse yet, she's a girl.

But Leslie isn't like the other kids. Almost despite himself, Jess begins to open up to her and they quickly become inseparable. Together, they create a mythical kingdom on the edge of their properties where they rule and conquer all. But tragedy is on the horizon. What will happen when it strikes?

First a word of warning. This book deals with heavy subjects. While they are handled in a sensitive way, parents may want to read this book with their child. It should open up lots of good discussions.

Because this book should be read. While the story moves slowly in the beginning, the characters are fascinating. Ms. Paterson captures the world of fifth graders expertly both at school and at home. And when the story does get going, it packs a wallop. I, a grown man, was crying at the conclusion. Okay, so I cry at lots of stuff. While the story is sad, the ending is truly bitter sweet. Very little time is spent in Terabithia. Instead, we see how its creation affects Jess and Leslie in their daily lives.

This book deals with a sensitive subject in a powerful manner kids can relate to. Deserves to be read and discussed.

A Fantastic book which has great and Fantastic times
I think the author has done a brilliant job of building up the story. Saying how Jesse's first impresion of Leslie(which was not the best of impresions), how Leslie worked hard to make Jesse like her and when Jesse finaly clicked how they made Teribithia.

When Leslie arrived in Lark Creek Jesse didn't want to know about her espesialy after she beat him in the running race which Jesse had been training hard for. I think Jesse respected Leslie because she was like Miss. Edmunds one Jesse's teacher's who Jesse loved. In the book it even quotes that Jesse sat by May Belle his annoying sister to avoud Leslie. But however Jesse cracked and became Leslie's very best of friends while singing a song in Miss Edmund's class.

Also throughout the whole of the story Jesse is expected to like rough sports by his dad and he feels left out because he dosn't get a hug of his dad when he gets home and his sisters do.Jesse was a good artist as well but was afraid that his dad might go mad at him if he shows him his picturs

That's where teribithia comes in after school on the Friday after Miss Edmund's class they ran in the fields and into the woods where nobody went and thats where thy built Teribithia there imagenary land. Jesse was King Leslie was the Queen of Teribithia.

Then Christmas came Jesse didn't know what to get for Leslie for Christmas. He searched everywhere for the suitible presant and finaly found it on the way home from school. A sign that said 'Free Puppies'. He quikly got of the bus and that's when Prince Teribithia was born P.T for short..This book is fantastic and would help anyone who has lost a member of their family or a friend.

Extraordinarily mature and also enjoyable
I agree with the other reviewers and will try to add something without repeating what they have said.

In contrast with the various forms of escapism that are popular in children's literature today, Bridge to Terabithia has the rare quality of being about ordinary people with ordinary lives (ordinary, that is, apart from the tragedy that is central to the story) and at the same time offering a read as compelling and enjoyable as Harry Potter. I read it aloud to a group of children who were so spellbound that they listened from the beginning for 2 hours without a break. No other children's book I have read has obtained such a reception.

You may not get the most out of Bridge to Terabithia if you go into it expecting to enjoy a story full of sunshine and goodness. This is realism at its toughest with tough lives and tough relationships. The positive spirit that emerges, like the sun through gaps in the clouds, is all the more uplifting.

I particularly liked the description of the boy's response to the loss of his friend near the end: a brilliant evocation of a child's grief.

I also recommend The Great Gilly Hopkins by the same author, which is equally rewarding.