The story of an amazing friendship between an 11-year-old boy and a girl, Jesse and Leslie, which helped both of them overcome loneliness, unite and improve many people (including adults) and grow up themselves. Their friendship ends when the girl accidentally dies. Should we write about death in children’s books?
The story of an amazing friendship between an 11-year-old boy and a girl, Jesse and Leslie, which helped both of them overcome loneliness, unite and improve many people (including adults) and grow up themselves. Their friendship ends when the girl accidentally dies. Should we write about death in children’s books? Katherine Paterson believes that it is necessary to talk to children about everything that scares and worries them.
And she does it honestly and respectfully, without leaving the reader alone with hopeless grief. The Walt Disney Company made a film based on this poignant book*, and its author Katherine Paterson was awarded the most honored literary award in the United States — the Newbery Medal.
Narnia Center, 192 p.
* Bridge to Terabithia, USA, 2007, directed by Gabor Csupo.