Books on Screen: Bridge to Terabithia

After being completely disgusted with the movie version of Eragon, I was very hesitant about the movie version of Bridge to Terabithia. I had recently read the book aloud to Natalie, so I knew having the book so fresh in my mind would color what I thought of the movie.

I am very glad to say that I was completely thrilled with the movie. The director followed the story almost exactly and the minor things that were changed mattered nothing to the story. I still think that the previews that were shown on TV were very deceiving, though. The previews made it seem like another pure fantasy movie, akin to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. That’s not the case.

Bridge tells the story of Jess Aarons, a 12-year-old boy growing up in a poor family. Jess has four sisters and a father and mother so weighed down by financial concerns that they’re unable to be affectionate to Jess. He escapes through his art, drawing page after page of whatever his imagination conjures up.

Then Leslie Burke moves to town. Leslie is unlike anyone Jess has ever known, and they become fast friends. One afternoon, by swinging across a stream with a rope, Leslie and Jess find a place just for themselves, a place where they can let their imaginations take them out of their lives and be truly free. They name the place Terabithia.

Spoiler warning: Don’t read any farther if you don’t want to know how the movie ends!

Jess has never known a friend like Leslie, and she teaches him how to rise above his circumstances. When they are in Terabithia, anything is possible: giant trolls, monster squirrels, and fairies. Unfortunately, even Terabithia is not impervious to the tragedies of real life.

One Saturday, while Jess is off visiting an art museum with his music teacher – a once in a lifetime kind of trip – Leslie tries to cross to Terabithia by herself. The rope breaks, Leslie hits her head, and drowns. Jess is overcome with guilt. He had thought of inviting Leslie to go to the museum, but had wanted the experience to himself.

Katherine Paterson wrote the book Bridge to Terabithia after her son’s best friend died the summer they both turned eight. She mentions in the special features that she was left to try to make sense of something for her son that made no sense at all. Jess is left trying to do the same. His father, finally able to show Jess some love during his time of grief, explains to Jess that Leslie will remain alive in the special things she brought to his life. He introduces his sister Maybelle to Terabithia, and finds someone else to share his imagination with.

I was most impressed with the fact that the scene where Leslie accompanies Jess’s family to church was left in the movie. Leslie finds something interesting and beautiful in the story of Jesus, which she had never heard before.

I recommend this movie, with one reservation. Noah and I both sobbed through the last half-hour. If your kids aren’t old enough to deal with a story of loss and grief, you might want to wait. But I also think that this movie is a realistic introduction to what it is like to lose someone you love.

Carrie Kitzmiller is a homeschooling mom of four and a freelance writer in her “spare” time. When she’s not correcting grammar and math papers, reading aloud, scaling mountains of laundry, keeping her house clean (enough), or writing, you can find her with her nose in a book.

You can read her blogs at Mommy Brain and Books and Movies.