bridge to terabithia by katherine paterson a novel study guide

But can Terabithia withstand the direst loss ever possible?īridge to Terabithia is written not only for kids. It is the safe space where children can contain these feelings, the manifestation of their beliefs in something good and wonderful. The story of Terabithia is reflecting the real-life feelings and events of the children: their fight against the bullies, their sudden understanding that bullies aren’t mean just because they were born that way and much more philosophical, adult and even horrifying questions. They become the King and the Queen of Terabithia and rule the fairy-tale inhabitants of it.

To escape from the mundane routine and their problems they create a sanctuary of sort - a special place in the woods over the creek they call their magic country, Terabithia. They develop a bond soon after Leslie enrolls Jess’ school and discover that each of them has internal issues and troubles despite all the bravado they show at school. The story starts from the odd friendship of Leslie Burke - an only child of wealthy family, an intelligent and outgoing tomboy girl - and Jess Aarons, a son of an artist and an outsider of the class, who is bullied and quite jaded and depressed. Deeply inspired by “The Chronicles of Narnia” (this book is even directly mentioned in the story), it is more like “The Neverending Story”, because the troubles and worries of the real life are tightly interwoven with the events in the imaginary kingdom of Terabithia.

Bridge to Terabithia isn’t an average story for kids.

Bridge to terabithia by katherine paterson a novel study guide