Book Review: Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

“Sometimes it seemed to him that his life was delicate as a dandelion. One little puff from any direction, and it was blown to bits.”

Katherine Paterson, Bridge to Terabithia

Review:

I avoided this book and the movie like the plague as a kid, even though I was weirdly obsessed with behind-the-scenes footage of the movie and the whole idea of Terabithia. Even though by now I’ve read much heavier books, I still put it off and had to force myself to pick it up. Honestly, I think my younger self could have handled it, and I think it would have had a positive impact on me back then. 

With this book’s reputation, I don’t think I’m spoiling anything by saying that this is a story about grief. In particular, it’s a story about grief through a child’s experience, which young readers who might have experienced similar situations may find consoling. It’s also a story about friendship and imagination. Put it all together, and you can find yourself in Terabithia. 

I had imagined the fantastical elements being far more vivid just going by what I remember of the movie trailer growing up. I can see how a child may latch onto that element more than an adult reading the book, which is actually something the author talks about in an interview at the end of the audiobook edition. In my present state of life, I narrowed in on the emotional experiences the characters were going through, which I found to be impactful on its own even without being able to immerse myself in Terabithia as I was able to as a kid. 

I sincerely regret not reading this book when I was younger. The movie unfortunately came out during the peak of my reading aversion years, and knowing the themes of the book, there was no way sensitive little me was going to voluntarily subject myself to it. I’m glad I was still able to get something out of reading it as an adult. 

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• How the book handles grief, specifically from a child’s perspective.
• The focus on friendship and imagination.

What I didn’t like:

• The pacing was jagged.

Afterthoughts:

Maybe one of these days I’ll finally watch the movie…

Where to buy the book: