I read Bridge for Terabithia for the first time when I was in fifth grade. I don’t remember bawling like I did this time, though I do remember being sad. This story is truly a story of friendship, not only because the book centers on two kids who become friends, but because it brought me closer to my best friend in fifth grade. Her name was Katie also, and our teacher always used to joke that we did everything together. The only time I can ever remember any kind of reading groups in elementary school was when we read this book. Our teacher called us Katie squared, and we were inseparable from that point on through high school. It’s amazing how small moments and comments can shape your future.
To be honest, I held off reading the end for a long time. I knew what was coming and couldn’t bring myself to finish. When I finally did finish, I didn’t want to do anything except sit in my kitchen chair where I had been reading. Unfortunately, I had to go to work soon after and couldn’t sit as long as I wanted. I kept imagining what the movie would be like, knowing the previews were misleading. I was also thankful that David Paterson is part of this project and he approves of the movie. I had Narnia on the brain when I began this book, and was surprised to read all the references to Narnia and King Aslan made by Katherine Paterson. As a young reader, I doubt I made those connections. Over the years all I remembered was "they play in the woods, the girl dies". I had forgotten so much and yet still considered it to be one of my favorites! I had carved a place in my heart for a story I couldn't even remember. Strange how that happens.
I remember liking Leslie's character so much, but while rereading I was hit by the amount of wisdom she had at such a young age. On page 41, Leslie is discussing her family's decision to move, and says " You never know ahead of time what something's really going to be like." Well. isn't she just the most sensible pre-adolescent? That's a life lesson I definitely did not have a firm grasp on when I was 9/10 years old.
I have a soft spot for Jess too. He is a little awkward when he's trying to decide what the 'right' thing to do is, be it in school or with Miss Edmonds or as Terabithia's king. I find it humorus that he grew up surrounded by a house of girls, and then became best friends with another one. Throughout the book, Jess definitely grew the most as a character. By the end he was still a reserved person, perhaps even more so, but he was more confident in what the world had to offer and what he had to offer it: "It was up to him to pay back to the world in beauty and caring what Leslie had loaned him in vision and strength" (p. 161). Jess was more experienced with living, loving, and grieving.
The language Katherine Paterson uses seems so simple and yet chosen carefully. These were some phrases/words/ideas I chose to keep:
"But as a regular thing, as a permanent place, this was where he would choose to be - here where the dogwood and rudbud played hide and seek between the oaks and evergreens, and the sun flung itself in golden streams through the trees to splash warmly at their feet." pgs 50-51 (Please take me with you, Katherine Paterson, I would love to be in this place.)
"He believed her because there in the shadowy light of the stronghold everything seemed possible." pg 52
"They stood there, not moving, not wanting the swish of dry needles beneath their feet to break the spell. Far away from their former world came the cry of geese heading southward." pg 60
"dadgum Twinkies" pg 62 - I just love the word dadgum. I imagine the emphasis on 'gum' to be much heavier.
"He was drunk with color and form and hugeness" pg 127 - Spinning in circles and then suddenly stopping is the only thing I can imagine would come close to this feeling.
"Sometimes like the Barbie doll you need to give people something that's for them, not just something that makes you feel good giving it." pg 160 - Again, an incredible amount of wisdom from someone so young.
This story is so popular because it is real and true - a story of life without a fairy-tale ending. Unfortunately, this scenario is possible. Every day friends are constantly being made and lost. Jess's loss is not sugar coated, but he does find redemption in his little sister, May Belle, someone who loves him no matter what.
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