Week 7: YA Fantasy Novel

 Bridge to Terabithia

By Katherine Patterson

    This was one of my favorite movies growing up, but the book is always better than the movie! Bridge to Terabithia, is a touching novel that explores the themes of friendship, imagination, and loss. The story centers around a fifth-grade boy named Jesse Aarons, who lives in a rural area who feels overshadowed by his four sisters and yearns to be the fastest runner in his school. His life changes when he becomes close friends with Leslie Burke, a new girl in town who is imaginative, adventurous, and not afraid to be different. Together, they create an imaginary kingdom called Terabithia in the woods, where they reign as king and queen in order to escape from the pressures of the real world they live in. Their friendship deepens as they share their dreams and support one another through various hardships. However, one day tragedy strikes when Leslie dies in an accident while visiting Terabithia alone, leaving Jesse devastated. Through grief, Jesse learns to cope with loss and finds comfort in the strength of the bond they shared with each other. Ultimately, he honors Leslie's memory by passing on the legacy of Terabithia to his younger sister, May Belle, ensuring that the magic and friendship they once created together lives on. 

 

In the Classroom: 

    Bridge to Terabithia is a great book to have in an upper to middle school classroom library due to its rich exploration of complex themes such as friendship, imagination, grief, and resilience. Its relatable characters and emotional depth can help students to develop empathy and understand different perspectives. Using this book in the classroom, educators can foster discussion about coping with loss, the importance of friendships, and the power of imagination. Activities could include creative writing assignments where students create their own imaginary worlds explaining them in detail, group projects to build a model of Terabithia, or art projects that express their interpretations of the story's themes. Additionally, guided discussions and reflective journaling can help students process their own feelings about the book's events and relate them to their own lives. You may even allow the students to watch the movie and compare the text with the film. This multifaceted approach can not only enhance literacy skills but can also support emotional and social learning as well, making Bridge to Terabithia an enriching and impactful educational tool.