http://books.moonsoar.com/archives/20... ( )

My review may be tainted by years of nostalgia and bitterness, but Bridge to Terabithia was always a stark, frank story about how children view and accept life, death and change. Individual images stand out to me to this day (painting a sun-soaked room gold to make the entire room glow) and the form is competent, but nothing really absorbed me from the text itself - such is "competent's" core, to tell the story and little more. May be due for a re-read as an adult. Still, well-intentioned and well-written for the intended audience, an excellent way for kids and adults both to relearn the idea of their first significant loss in life. ( )

This book is about Jesse Aarons and Leslie Burke. It all starts when Leslie moves in next to Jess's house. He had been working all summer on becoming the fastest fifth grader, and then Leslie comes along and she beats everyone. He finds himself becoming very good friends with Leslie and she teaches him about different books. Leslie and Jess make their own world in the woods next to their house. They call it Terabithia. You must cross the creek on a rope to enter the wonderful world of Terabithia where Jess and Leslie are king and queen. Leslie teaches Jess about the wonders of the world and she inspires him to learn more around him. When a tragedy happens, Jess realizes how much courage Leslie really had.

This was such a good read. I read it in one day. I loved the language and descriptions. When Leslie passes away, I was crying my head off. It was such a neat book about friendship and about why people are the way they are. It was about differences coming together to make something great. It was so good. I loved this book. I can't wait to see the movie now!

I don't know if I would acutally use this book in my class. There are some cuss words and I don't know how parents would react to me reading this book aloud. Although, I could skip some of the words to use the book. I think this would be a good book to talk about hardships and have the students talk about something hard they have had to go through and compare it to the story and how Jess handles his hardships. I think it would be good to go through this type of book to help students who are having difficulty fitting in or adjusting to something different. ( )

I couldn't put this book down at all. The mortal of it really caught my interest.
It was imaginative and creative. But I was really sad at the end of the story. But it was a loss that didn't go with a purpose.
It made Jess stronger and more open to his sister.

In the end, I really can't put into words how beautiful the book was. When I saw the movie, I was equally touched. I almost started crying. The movie really amazing, just like the book. ( )

Jess Aaron wants to be the fastest runner in the fifth grade. He practiced all the time during the summer and can't wait to show his classmates up and see their faces.But,on the first day back to school he meets Leslie who races with the boys and beats every boy on the playgroud including Jess. Throughout the story Jess and Leslie become attatched at the hip they did everything together.Leslie's familiy have a lot of money but no t.v. so she has quite the imagination and together Jess and Leslie make up Terabithia, a magical kingdom in the woods where they pretend they are king and queen. Then one morning while Jess goes on a feildtrip with his favorite teacher Leslie stays behind and playing in their magical kindom alone and something terrible happens. She decides to cross the stream and slips loses control and hits her head on a rock and this is the end of Jess and Leslie's friendship. Finally when Jess comes to grips with this terrible tradgedy he realizes the strength and courage that Leslie has given him.

This book is Great and full of excitement and suspension

Ask your students to draw a picture of what they think Terabithia looks like or maybe get into groups with playdough and make a imaginary place of their own.