Bridge to Terabithia ~ Katherine Paterson

Bridge to Terabithia was one of my choices for this year, based on the fact that I have seen the movie countless times and never, until recently, knew about the book.

It’s safe to say that I love the movie (although I have to be in the right frame of mind to watch it), so I added the book to my list and eagerly awaited the Amazon delivery.

I knew Bridge to Terabithia was a children’s book, but I was surprised at how short it was, just over 170 pages with large font. How was this beautiful, expansive, Narnia-like world that I fell in love with, supposed to fit in this little book?

Turns out, it doesn’t, not really. Terabithia is mostly left for our own interpretations and for a kids’ book that’s perfectly fine and understandable. I was just hoping to read more in depth about this magical world.

I knew this was going to be an emotional read and I was surprised that the book was aimed at primary/elementary school aged children with such a heavy subject. In that regard, Katherine Paterson has done a marvellous job at making death and grief accessible to those so young. And the ending, whether page or screen, never fails to make me shed a couple of tears.

As for the characters, both Jesse and Leslie feel real and as if they are the kids that live just down the road from you. Both have the incredible childhood bravery but paired with those mature pre-teen fears. The balance is struck perfectly. Leslie, as the catalyst for Jesse’s character growth, is subtle enough that it’s extremely realistic and an accurate depiction of childhood best friends.

Overall, I enjoyed the plot but was disappointed in the lack of description of Terabithia. Furthermore, the ending just wasn’t as satisfying as I had hoped. I give Bridge to Terabithia 3.5 stars.

If I had the read the book first, my opinion might be different, but unusually, I actually preferred the movie to the book.

C🌙