Bridge to Terabithia*

Title: Bridge to Terabithia

Author: Katherine Paterson

ISBN: 0690013590

Award: Newbery Medal 1978

Summary
Jesse Aaron, fifth grader boy, had practiced so hard during the summer to become the fastest runner of all fifth grader. He was disappointed because a new student, Leslie Burke. She is the fastest runner in fifth grader. Jesse is the only boy in his family, and Leslie is the only child in her family. They become close friends. One day they wondered around the woods near their homes and founded a swing-rope over a creek. They create an imaginary kingdom, named Terabithia. They were the king and Queen of Terabithia. Terabithia is the place Jesse can face his fears of the real world. They spent days in Terabithia after school. They also spent time outside of Terabithia, such going to church on the Easter Sunday. The school asked Jess to go to the National Gallery of Art. Jesse did not ask Leslie to go with them. A tragedy happened during the visit to Gallery.

Review
It was so touching the Jesse can found a friend that understanding him so much. It was heartbreaking that their friendship is so short. Even though Leslie might not be with him anymore, she will always lives inside of Jesse. Beside the sadness, the story is also entertaining that eager tweens to use his to her imagination. This helps their development in tween stage. The incident happens in the end might be too much a fifth grader, but he or she have to face it someday. Jesse has set a great example that he was not sunken by sadness and moved on. It is a classic.