Children's Book in Feature Film 3: Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Unlike my previous blog posts on children’s books in feature films, the book The Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson is much more descriptive than the movie due to its already long length. In the other two books, information had to be added to make a feature length movie, but in this case, information had to be left out to make the movie.

The book and movie have the same underlying theme, plot, and characters. The main characters, Jess and Leslie, find a place of their own, which they turn into a magical place through their own creative imaginations. The very entrance into Terabithia becomes the most integral part of the movie. Les falls off the rope and drowns while going to Terabithia without jess. The bridge in the title is built by Jess after her death and he and he and his sister, May Belle, keep Terabithia alive for Les.

In the movie, they find the abandoned tree house, but in the book, they build a “castle stronghold.” I envisioned it as a clubhouse. In the book, Les related Terabithia to Narnia, and has Jess read these books to understand how things should be in a magical place. In the book, they discuss their foes such as Janice Avery and how they could never defeat Terabithia, while in the movie these foes come to life, and they did battle with them. Janice Avery was a troll. In the book, there is more emphasis placed on the music teacher and Jess’s attraction to her which leads to him going with her to the art museum. This is the fateful day that Les died which causes him intense guilt. More emphasis is also placed on Jess’s two older sisters, Brenda and Ellie, and his jealousy toward them which leads to his insecurities.

Bridge to Terabithia is truly one of the most heart wrenching books that I have ever read. The relationship between Jess and Leslie is special, and the relationship among Jess and his family was complex. This is an excellent book that deals with jealousy love, and death, and the capability to move on and become stronger through the memory of another person.

As I read this book, I kept thinking of the movie My Girl that I watched when I was a little girl. It reminded me of that movie because of the relationship between the main characters and the death of one of them. That movie defined much of my childhood. It was one of the first times that I realized that young people were not immortal.

Many books by Paterson feature themes of the death of a loved one such as Jacob Have I Loved, Master Puppeteer, and Great Gilly Hopkins.

The description in this book jumped out at me. I can see everything that she wants her audience to see. Also, it is never too early to teach children about death and immortality because it helps them be cautious and helps keep them safe.

References

Patterson, D. (Producer). (2007). Bridge to Terabithia [Motion picture]. United States: Walt Disney Pictures.

Patterson, K. (1977). Bridge to Terabithia. New York: HarperCollins.