Bridge to Terabithia (rack)

Rating:
Summary: Destined to be a children's classic!
Review: BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA opens after Jess has spent his summer preparing himself for the races he and his classmates run during recess at their rural school. More than anything in the world, Jess wants to win, and he intends to do so. What he doesn't expect is to be outdistanced by a girl, especially one who has just moved in down the road. Yet Leslie doesn't care that she has beaten all the boys in fifth grade, she just wants a friend. Jess realizes that he wants this,also. The two ten year olds become inseparable and create a wonderful fantasy world across the creek called Terabithia. They get there by swinging across the creek on a vine. Here, they can forget the trying real world they leave temporarily behind. This exquisite, lyrical story was written by the author in tribute to a loved one. The story is timeless and endearing, as is demonstrated by its longevity. A book to be loved. A story to be remembered. Once you have read this book, whenever you see the title, it will tug at your heart. If you are an adult who doesn't read children's books, try this one.

Rating:
Summary: THERE'S NO POINT TO THIS BOOK!!!!!!
Review: I read this book 15 years ago, and I still get teary-eyed when I think about it. This book ranks up with Where the Red Fern Grows. I can't wait until my children are old enough for me to be able to share this wonderful story with them,

Rating:
Summary: Deliciously sad!
Review: This book is hard to describe. I read it before buying it for my niece a few years after it was first published. I thought it was excellent, especially at depicting the mind of a pre-adolescent boy and how he confronts tragedy. Everything about the book struck me as honest, true and insightful at the time. Though looking at it now, some of the author's messages seem to lack subtlety. But how much subtlety do you want in children's literature? Still, I'm sure the author would be offended to hear me call this "children's literature." The fact is it's a great and enjoyable read that will keep your child thinking for a long time. But it's also a book that any adult can enjoy and will also have them thinking as well. If you don't own this one, buy it today.

Rating:
Summary: Bridge to Terabithia
Review: This is a great book. It is easy to see why Katherine Paterson won the Newberry Medal for it. I think children as well as adults will enjoy this book, even though it deals with death.

Jesse's main ambition is to be the fastest kid in the fifth grade. He practiced all summer, only to have a girl beat him. The girl is Leslie. At first Jesse refuses to be friends with Leslie, but after he sees how much they have in common they become best friends. Leslie is a very intelligent and imaginative girl who teaches so many things about life to Jesse, an average farm boy. They build a secret and magical kingdom called Terabithia. The only way to enter this magical kingdom is by swinging across the gorge on a rope.

One day, when Jesse returned from a trip to Washington D.C. with a teacher, he learns of Leslie's death. The rope broke as Leslie was swinging over the gorge into Terabitha. At first, Jesse refuses to accept her death. Then he almost feels happy because he is now the fastest kid in the fifth grade. He finally comes to terms with Leslie's death as he goes to Terabitha to perform a funeral ceremony. He then builds a bridge across the gorge so his sister can come and enjoy the magical kingdom of Terabitha.

Paterson develops the characters so well that they seem real. She gives an accurate description of their lives and of the events that occur on the playground. The reader can relate to the things that happen to Jesse and Leslie and how they handle these things. Paterson shows the reader that a boy-girl friendship can happen and that it can be a great one. She does an excellent job of making this story come alive for the reader.