Paterson, Katherine. (2006). Bridge to Terabithia. New York, New York: Harper Entertainment.
Brief Annotation: Jess and Leslie become friends when Leslie moves to the farmhouse next door. They create their own magical kingdom in the woods, Terabithia, where they are king and queen, and their friendship, and Jess's confidence, grow as they inhabit this secret realm. Their experiences in Terabithia help Jess and Leslie take on school bullies, difficult teachers, and families that don't completely understand them. Then, when Jess goes on a trip with a favorite teacher, Leslie goes to Terabithia alone and a tragedy occurs. Jess is left to deal with the tragedy, and Terabithia, on his own.
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction Novel
Grade Level: 3-7
Readers who will like this: Readers who like well-written novels, readers who like reading about kids their age and their experiences at home and at school, readers who can handle a sad ending
Response/Rating (1-4): 4. I've always loved this book, and even on this rereading the ending makes me cry yet feel hopeful all at the same time.
One question you would ask before a read aloud: Do you have a special place you go to get away from your "real life"?
Reading Strategies Connection: I would use the "Dramatic Response" from Yopp and Yopp, p. 113-114. Different groups of students could choose different key scenes in the book (part of the challenge here would be choosing what constitutes an important scene in the novel) for the rest of the class. They would write their own short scripts, and have to discuss the emotions of the characters in the scenes as they write and act out the scenes. One important scene a group could act out is the scene where Leslie comforts Janice Avery. A group of students could write the dialogue for Jess, Leslie and Janice, discuss the emotions and motivations of the characters, and then act it out for the rest of the class.
Brief Annotation: Jess and Leslie become friends when Leslie moves to the farmhouse next door. They create their own magical kingdom in the woods, Terabithia, where they are king and queen, and their friendship, and Jess's confidence, grow as they inhabit this secret realm. Their experiences in Terabithia help Jess and Leslie take on school bullies, difficult teachers, and families that don't completely understand them. Then, when Jess goes on a trip with a favorite teacher, Leslie goes to Terabithia alone and a tragedy occurs. Jess is left to deal with the tragedy, and Terabithia, on his own.
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction Novel
Grade Level: 3-7
Readers who will like this: Readers who like well-written novels, readers who like reading about kids their age and their experiences at home and at school, readers who can handle a sad ending
Response/Rating (1-4): 4. I've always loved this book, and even on this rereading the ending makes me cry yet feel hopeful all at the same time.
One question you would ask before a read aloud: Do you have a special place you go to get away from your "real life"?
Reading Strategies Connection: I would use the "Dramatic Response" from Yopp and Yopp, p. 113-114. Different groups of students could choose different key scenes in the book (part of the challenge here would be choosing what constitutes an important scene in the novel) for the rest of the class. They would write their own short scripts, and have to discuss the emotions of the characters in the scenes as they write and act out the scenes. One important scene a group could act out is the scene where Leslie comforts Janice Avery. A group of students could write the dialogue for Jess, Leslie and Janice, discuss the emotions and motivations of the characters, and then act it out for the rest of the class.
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