Bridge to Terabithia

Paterson, K. (1977). Bridge to Terabithia. NY: HarperCollins

     Jesse Aarons starts 5th grade with one goal, he wants to be the fastest kid in the school. This is finally his year and he's worked all summer to make sure he's faster than anyone else. Little does he know that his new neighbor Leslie, a girl who doesn't look or act like any other girl he's met, is about to derail his plans. Jesse's life is not easy. His parents are struggling financially, his house is overrun with sisters, and he seems to be the only child required to help around the house and farm. Despite his best efforts to be cold to Leslie, he finds himself with a new best friend and a new secret world to share with her. The two create the magical land Terabithia and it is there that their friendship grows. Jess finds a kindred spirit in Leslie as they share a passion for creativity, something that Jess's father doesn't appreciate. Leslie's lack of fear worries Jess while he struggles to understand his own excess of fear. Ironically, this leads to tragedy and Jess has to face the reality of loss, confusion, and healing. 

Textbook Assignment #3

Evaluation Criteria #1 - Setting

   Jesse and Leslie’s lives, set out in a remote area, offer the perfect setting for these two friends to explore, find seclusion, and create the world of Terabithia. It is there that Jesse finds a kindred spirit in Leslie and where the two find true friendship. The setting plays an integral role in the plot and we first see this through Jesse’s desire to be the fastest kid in the school. The hours spent running in the open field outside his home showcase his determination. This is also where Jesse first glimpses his new neighbor Leslie, who eventually ruins his quest to be the fastest kid. While the story shifts to school and back home, the characters and the plot develop in the time spent in Terabithia. It is ultimately the landscape and force of nature that concludes this story in a tragic way.    

Evaluative Criteria #2 - Plot

    The storyline involving Jess and Leslie is told logically and in a believable way. When Jess chastises himself for being selfish, it comes across as appropriate for a 10 year old boy who is old enough to know he shouldn’t only think of himself. Leslie is an extraordinary girl who is wise and full of a spirit of adventure. It is the pairing of these two kids that creates a realistic plot full of situations that many ten year olds will understand. They team up to survive the school bully, entertain themselves during the long afternoons at home and fill the voids left by their families. With the exception of one minor foreshadow, the plot twist near the end is just as unexpected for the reader as it is for the characters in the story.

Lesson Plan:

http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/exploring-friendship-with-bridge-981.html?tab=4#tabs

Book Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WA8-hRFs50