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The following are reviews of some of my favorite children's books. Many of them have won prestigious awards, and all of them ignite the imagination like a good book should. I hope that you can enjoy these books just as much as I have!

Saturday, September 26, 2015

Bridge to Terabithia

Paterson, K. (1972). Bridge to Terabithia. NY: Crown. 


Summary:

In this novel, Jess and his unlikely friend Leslie create their own magical kingdom in the woods where they can escape from the drudgery of every day life, Terabithia. This creates a bond of unbreakable friendship. Between their experiences at Terabithia, in school, and at home, this unique duo discovers far more than they had imagined about themselves and they grow from each other in unexpected ways.

Notes:
This novel navigates many important themes for young people, such as navigating personal religious faith or lack thereof and dealing with loss and grief. The rich figurative language in this book makes it exemplary for teaching and giving examples of metaphor, simile, symbolism, and foreshadowing to name a few. The distinct setting provides a great opportunity to discuss with students how a setting can work with the plot but not overpower or distract from it.

Extension:
Discussion questions:
1. Jess knew how much his life had changed from his friendship with Leslie. How do you think Leslie's life changed from her friendship with Jess?
2. Why do you think Leslie went to Terabithia alone?
3. What is the significance of the bridge that Jess built to Terabithia?
4. Leslie's parents give Jess her water color paper and paints. What is the symbolic meaning of this gift given to Jess?

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