Bridge to Terabithia

Paterson, K. (1977). Bridge to Terabithia. New York: Crowell. Jess Aarons and Leslie Burke become best friends after Jess loses a race to Leslie. They create an imaginary kingdom across a river to escape their fears and bullying in school. They call name their kingdom Terabithia. Terabithia is a fantasyland that they imagine to be with full of imaginary creatures which they consider to be a tranquil world. One day, tragedy strikes Jess’s world. He received news that Leslie drowned trying to swing across the creek. He blames himself for her death until he realized how to honor Leslie’s memory. Paterson manages to deal with friendship, death and grief in young children. Tragedies may strike at any age and young kids need to be aware that it is okay to wallow in grief. Young readers that deal with peer pressure issues may connect with creating an imaginary world to escape their problem. Even though it may not have anything to do with Mexican culture, this book can be connected to El Día De Los Muertos. In the Mexican culture, they believe that grief and honoring a loved one’s memory leads to acceptance of death. Students may create a mural for a loved one they may have lost and share with the class. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWQPFR0ytzU