Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Winner, 1978 Newbery Award
Quick Summary
A 10-year-old boy in rural Virginia befriends the new girl in class and together they create an imaginary kingdom.
Favorite Quote
It was Leslie who had taken him from the cow pasture into Terabithia and turned him into a king.
About the Author
Katherine Paterson is the author of a number of award-winning books for children, including Jacob Have I Loved, which won the Newbery Award in 1981. Bridge to Terabithia was inspired by her young son who lost his best friend when she was struck by lightning. The author thought she made up the word "Terabithia" but later realized that C.S. Lewis wrote about an island called Terebinthia.
My Project
For my project, I knew I wanted to use painting since Jesse is a painter. I decided to create the background of the forest using shades of green and brown acrylic paint and black ink. The blue sky is watercolor. I added two crowns to the foreground to symbolize the two main characters and their royal roles in their imaginary kingdom of Terabithia. Both are pewter, but I painted one with metallic gold. My goal was to create a quiet, reflective mood.
Final Thoughts
I first read this book as a kid. While I didn't remember too many specifics about the plot, I did remember how this book made me feel. It was probably the first book I read where a child character had died. It's definitely the first where it happened in a sudden, unexpected way. I remember as a kid reading that section over and over thinking that there must have been some kind of mistake. How could the author have let that happen?
If you read this book, I'd love to hear what you think in the comments.