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megelizabeth's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
"And it was worth it. This one perfect day of his life was worth anything he had to pay."
The 2007 movie adaptation of this book is one of my all-time favourite films, so I'm really glad I finally got around to reading the book. I absolutely adored it, and of course it completely devastated and broke me. It portrays dysfunctional family life and difficult relationships so vividly, and I loved the moments of joy and wonder throughout it all; Jesse's developing relationships with Leslie and with May Belle are wonderful to see.
This wasn't quite a five-star read for me; this was because Terabithia itself never felt like it quite came alive enough, and also because the ending felt a little abrupt (though it is a short book). There are also a few remarks which, while probably reflective of the time period in which the book was written, were still quite uncomfortable to read. I'm still, though, so glad that I read this and I can see it being one I go back to, because I just adore the characters so much and their story will just always have my heart.
The 2007 movie adaptation of this book is one of my all-time favourite films, so I'm really glad I finally got around to reading the book. I absolutely adored it, and of course it completely devastated and broke me. It portrays dysfunctional family life and difficult relationships so vividly, and I loved the moments of joy and wonder throughout it all; Jesse's developing relationships with Leslie and with May Belle are wonderful to see.
This wasn't quite a five-star read for me; this was because Terabithia itself never felt like it quite came alive enough, and also because the ending felt a little abrupt (though it is a short book). There are also a few remarks which, while probably reflective of the time period in which the book was written, were still quite uncomfortable to read. I'm still, though, so glad that I read this and I can see it being one I go back to, because I just adore the characters so much and their story will just always have my heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Child abuse and Fatphobia
lonely_leafairy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
It's a very good book, it's emotional and creative, and really shows creativity and the author really can see through those kids eyes.
The fact that it doesn't really have a happy ending with Leslie dying at the end is pretty great, because I have read far too many books with happy endings.
I'm sorry if I haven't wrapped the spoiler tag properly, by the way!
The fact that it doesn't really have a happy ending with Leslie dying at the end is pretty great, because I have read far too many books with happy endings.
I'm sorry if I haven't wrapped the spoiler tag properly, by the way!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gore
mandi4886's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Sexism and Classism
Minor: Child abuse
chicken_flakes's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Death
kibbles15's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Death, and Grief
lilifane's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I enjoyed reading most of the book. It's a short and quick read, so there is not much time to flesh out all characters equally. But I really liked the two protagonist. It was easy to care for them and I loved their friendship a lot.
There are some really questionable things in the book though, mostly due to its age, I guess. So I wouldn't really recommend it for children these days. The way fat shaming is used, or child abuse is handled, are harmful in my opinion.
I also didn't love the ending, I've definitely seen better examples of handling this topic. But it did make me emotional (although I saw it coming because the movie makes people sad).
There are some really questionable things in the book though, mostly due to its age, I guess. So I wouldn't really recommend it for children these days. The way fat shaming is used, or child abuse is handled, are harmful in my opinion.
I also didn't love the ending, I've definitely seen better examples of handling this topic. But it did make me emotional (although I saw it coming because the movie makes people sad).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Death, and Fatphobia
Minor: Child abuse
iris_parsons's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death and Death
wolfiegrrrl's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Bridge to Terabithia is a story about two kids bullying everyone they don't like, choosing fat people as their prime target. For the majority of the book, I kept hoping that this was going to be part of their character development, but the resolution is weak. Instead of learning to actually care about other people's feelings, they only give characters who are suffering other hardships a pass while continuing to body shame the characters they haven't deemed worthy of their kindness. Sympathy for people suffering is of course a good message, but "fat people don't deserve sympathy unless they're suffering" is just not right.
The grandest statement the author makes is that boys can like drawing and girls can wear pants. That's weak feminism even for the time because she still actively cuts down fat women and girls at every opportunity. It's excessive and unnecessary. Furthermore, she sends a bad message to victims of child abuse. This book's advice to kids suffering from an abusive home life is to "not mix personal life with school life" because "everyone will laugh at you and think you betrayed your parents" and "if your parents beat you up, get over it! it's not a big deal! it happens to everyone!"
This book had promise to it. There's a story in there about Jess learning to be more confident and processing his fears, then losing his friend and having to process that grief. Maybe there's even a story in there about learning to understand other people as well as yourself, but it's so fumbled by the attitudes of the author and the time period it was written in. As it stands, the ending is the most well-written part of this book.
The grandest statement the author makes is that boys can like drawing and girls can wear pants. That's weak feminism even for the time because she still actively cuts down fat women and girls at every opportunity. It's excessive and unnecessary. Furthermore, she sends a bad message to victims of child abuse. This book's advice to kids suffering from an abusive home life is to "not mix personal life with school life" because "everyone will laugh at you and think you betrayed your parents" and "if your parents beat you up, get over it! it's not a big deal! it happens to everyone!"
This book had promise to it. There's a story in there about Jess learning to be more confident and processing his fears, then losing his friend and having to process that grief. Maybe there's even a story in there about learning to understand other people as well as yourself, but it's so fumbled by the attitudes of the author and the time period it was written in. As it stands, the ending is the most well-written part of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Violence
Minor: Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Car accident, Death of parent, and War
alyssakaluf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death
Minor: Fatphobia
pagesbycaroline's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death