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July 31, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Screen & Stage • Book

Bridge to Terabithia

Bridge to Terabithia is a children's novel by Katherine Paterson, first published in 1977.

Updated July 31, 20261 min readCited sources

Bridge to Terabithia is a children's novel by Katherine Paterson, published in 1977. It follows fifth-graders Jess Aarons and Leslie Burke as they create an imaginary kingdom and deal with loss.

What it is

The story centres on Jess Aarons, an artistic boy from a working-class family, and Leslie Burke, his new neighbour and friend. They invent the fantasy kingdom of Terabithia, which they reach by crossing a creek into the woods. Together, they navigate school, family pressures, and childhood fears.

Why it matters

The novel is widely noted for its themes of friendship, imagination, courage, grief, and coping with loss. It won the Newbery Medal in 1978 and remains a key text in North American classrooms, including Canadian schools and libraries, for its emotional treatment of death and resilience.

Adaptations

Bridge to Terabithia has been adapted for screen, most notably a 2007 film. These adaptations have helped keep the book prominent in children's literature, introducing its story of friendship and loss to new generations.

In short

  • Jess and Leslie create the imaginary kingdom of Terabithia.
  • The story explores friendship, imagination, grief, and personal growth.
  • Leslie dies in an accident, and Jess learns to cope with loss.
  • The novel won the Newbery Medal in 1978.
Canadian angle

The novel is part of the English-language children's literature commonly read in Canadian schools and libraries, and it is also relevant to Canadian readers through its broad presence in North American classroom curricula.

Quick questions

Who wrote Bridge to Terabithia?
Katherine Paterson wrote Bridge to Terabithia.
When was Bridge to Terabithia published?
It was first published in 1977.
What award did the book win?
It won the Newbery Medal in 1978.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_to_Terabithia_(novel)
    Supports: Basic plot details, main characters, and publication context.
  2. LitCharts — https://www.litcharts.com/lit/bridge-to-terabithia/summary
    Supports: Terabithia origin and plot summary.
  3. Study.com — https://study.com/learn/lesson/bridge-to-terabithia-katherine-paterson-summary-themes-analysis.html
    Supports: Themes including friendship and imagination.
  4. Audible — https://www.audible.com/blog/summary-bridge-to-terabithia-by-katerine-paterson
    Supports: Newbery Medal mention, plot, themes, and Leslie's death.
  5. Goodreads — https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40940121-bridge-to-terabithia
    Supports: Plot summary and grief after Leslie's death.
  6. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398808/plotsummary/
    Supports: 2007 film adaptation and fantasy-world premise.