Bridge to Terabithia~By Katherine Paterson Illustrated by Donna Diamond

HaperCollins Publishers: New York, NY

1977

 

**Friendship and Tragedy**

Summary:

"Bridge To Terabithia" is about a young boy by the name of Jess Aarons who's dream is to be the fastest running in the fifth grade.  Before the new school year starts he meets his new neighbor Leslie Burke, who he becomes bestfriends with and they create an imaginary place called "Terabithia".  In the end tragedy stricks that changes everything.

Evaluation by genre:

This book is both fantasy, classics, and realistic fiction.  Jess and Leslie's imaginary place Terabitia is what makes this book have the genre fantasy.  It is also realistic fiction because there are things that happen in this book that might be untrue, could actually happen in real life.

Personal Comment:

This book was enjoyable to read.  I was not expecting what happened in the end of the story.  I think this is a great book to use in a classroom setting for Literature Circles.  I really like how the author mixed fantasy and realistic fiction all througout the book.  Leslie and Jess friendship is what I think a lot of us want to have in our lives. 

Author Background Information:

Katherine Paterson was born October 31, 1932, in QIng Jiang Jiangsu China with her parents George and Mary Womeldorf.  Her father was a missionary in China where she lived till the day they were evacuated and moved to North Carolina.  She speaks Chinese (first language), Japenese, and English. 

Katherine Paterson married John Barstow Paterson, who is a Presbyterian minister, and they have four children.  Two of their children are adopted Lin and Mary. She is also a grandmother of two.  Being a foster mother inspired writing "The Great Gilly Hopkins".  Katherine was inspired to write Bridge to Terabithia after her son's best friend died from being struck by lighting.

She also wrote:

The Sign of the Chrysanthemum   1973            Of Nightgales That Weep   1974
The Master Puppeteer   1977                                Angel and Other Strangers   1979
Jacob Have I Loved   1980                                      Consider the Lilies   1986
Park's Quest   1988                                              The Mandarin Ducks   1990
Lyddie   1991                                                       The Angel and the Donkey
Come Sing, Jimmy Jo   1985                               The Crane Wife   1981
Flip-Flop Girl                                                        The King's Equal
A Clear Night                                                       Rebels of the Heavenly Kingdom
The Smallest Cow in the World                           The Tongue-Cut Sparrow   1987
Who Am I?                                                            Gates of Excellence   1981
The Spying Heart                                                 JIP   1996

Motivational Activities & Readers Response Questions:

Student will draw a picture of a scene that happen in the story.

Student (s) will draw a picture of what they think Terabithia looks like.

Have students write a diary from either Leslie's or Jess point of view.

What makes Jess and Leslie so compatible?

How would you describe their friendship?

 

Biographics:

http://www.hobart.k12.in.us/kuyachich/la/bridge/background.bridge

Paterson, Katherine. Donna Diamond. 1977. Bridge to Terabithia. HaperCollins Publishers: New York, NY