Bridge to Terabithia

A beautiful story about death, love, and making your family where you can find it. The imagination sequences in the book paint a very accurate picture of the coping mechanisms that children will use in order to deal with their everyday problems. Jesse and Leslie use Terabithia as their realm of escape. Only they can access it because only they can share in their adolescent troubles. The ending was particularly touching as Jesse introduces his sister to terabithia.

I read this for the first time, last year. I cried at 28. I cried at the movie. Call me a sissy if you like, this was a beautiful story.

So sad. Read this book either when you have a lot of time to be sad or when you have something to distract you after you read it so you get over it quickly.

Another excellent childrens book, its heart renching. A story about growing up amidst poverty, where a fantasy world takes over Jess and leslies lives.

Bridge to Terabithia is a simple and beautiful story about a cherished and authentic friendship between a boy and a girl. The fact that the relationship was wholesome, lacking any underlying suggestive measure, made it all the more emotive and tender.

Katherine Paterson shares with us the importance of artistic expression, standing up to ones fears and the certainty that knowledge is to be shared. Loneliness is a running theme that we watch diminish through two outcasts who forge a bond, first, through competition, then, imagination.

Sadly, there is no happy ending to this tale, but it does approach mortality and the stages of grieving in a very honest and delicate way. I am of the belief that even though we try to shelter our children from heartache wherever possible, they should be aware of some of the harsh realities in life, as well as how they should deal with the feelings that arise from such tragedies. The ability to inform them of these truths only better prepares them for the sometimes cruel world ahead.

This was the only time I ever read a book twice hoping it would be different the second time. Excellent story but sad - really really sad.

I loved this book. It reminds me of how important brothers, sisters and friends can be and how amazing they make childhood dreams.

I read this with Timothy and we were touched together. Sydnee will enjoy it as well soon.

I appreciate a book that speaks to death in such a touching way. It is not a familiar topic for children's books and most folks don't want to discuss the fact that children and death do intersect let alone speak to it with their own children.

I found this book provided the space that Tim and I needed to talk about the deaths that we've all endured and how other folks find ways of coping.

I've watched the movie and enjoyed the imagination parts and the idea of keeping your mind WIDE OPEN.

Nothing Crushes us is a great motto to live by. I can only hope to remind myself to live by it each day.

I read it thinking this is a fantasy book, because it's among recommended fantasy books on a website. Although it's not, I love this book very much. it reminds me a lot about when it was fun to play pretend. But this book brings more. It tells me a lot. And the story, so beautiful, so sad. And yet, so great. First book I ever gave five stars (maybe).

I know this book is for children, but I love watching movies and comparing them to their books. So with that in mind, I actually kind of enjoyed it. Compared to the movie, I was slightly disappointed with how little of Terabithia that Paterson actually includes. I expected to see more of it. But just reading the bookk for the book and ignoring that there is a movie, the book was cute and sad all at the same time.

I read this book for the first time when I was in 4th grade (I'm now 34). It had a profound affect on me then and it remains one of my favorite books. I have since shared it with my two oldest children and look forward to reading it with my youngest when she's a bit older.

Good for close study and discussion of important themes like coming to terms with human mortality and bereavement. May be dated but recent movie may help in classroom situation.