BRIDGE
TO
TERABITHIA
BY
KATHERINE PATERSON
Dr. Betty Powers
READING RIGHT
© 2005,
1989
BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA
Synopsis
Jess is a lonely boy who believes he must be in the wrong family because he
doesn’t seem to fit.
Leslie is the new girl in school who also is different. She likes to wear pants,
and she can beat all the boys at racing. These two come together to form a
close friendship. They also create a secret kingdom in the woods where nothing
can defeat them.
Life in their imaginary world seems to be perfect until Leslie has a fatal
accident. Jess is left to deal with the undeserved guilt, and the pain of losing
his best and only friend. He finally discovers that Leslie has left him the magic
as a legacy, and it now fall on him to pass it along.
BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA
Lesson 1
Chapters 1-3
1.
Where does Jess Live?
A. In the city
B. In an apartment
C. On a farm
2.
What does the word “grit” mean?
3.
Jess’s sister talked their mother into giving her some money. How
does Jess feel about this?
4.
How do you feel when someone in your family whines until he (or she)
gets his (or her) way? Explain your answer.
5.
Why does Jess hide his drawings?
6.
How does Jess feel about himself in relation to his family?
7.
Why are all the boys mad at Leslie?
BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA
Lesson 2
Chapters 4-5
1. What was the reason Jess decided to change his mind about Leslie?
2. Where in the school is Jess when he decides that he and Leslie can be
friends?
3. What item doesn’t Leslie’s family own that everyone is teasing her about?
4. How does Jess say that he knows Leslie is just a friend and not a
girlfriend, even though his friends tease him?
5. If a new student came into our class and seemed different, would you try
to include him (or her) in your circle of friends? Explain.
BLACK AND BLUE MAGIC
Lesson 3
Chapters 6-8
1.
Why did exchanging gifts with Leslie make Jess happy, whereas
Christmas morning with his own family made him feel unhappy?
2.
After Christmas Leslie has less time for Jess. Why is that?
3.
Jess is feeling left out. When Leslie realizes this, what does she
suggest he do?
4.
Have you ever felt left out? What did you do or could you have done
to change it?
5.
Why is Jess’s mother unsure about Leslie going to church with the
family at Easter?
BLACK AND BLUE MAGIC
Lesson 4
Chapters 9-11
1.
What has happened to the creek they like to swing over due to all the
rain?
2.
What is it Jess thinks he was born without?
3.
Jess’s music teacher called to take him to the art museum. Why did
she think Jess would like that?
4.
Why had Jess been so glad to go to the museum?
5.
What does Jess think he could have done differently that would have
saved Leslie?
6.
Is Jess at fault or to blame because Leslie died?
BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA
Lesson 4
Chapters 9-11
1. What has happened to the creek they like to swing over due to all the
rain?
2. What is it Jess thinks he was born without?
3. Jess’s music teacher called to take him to the art museum. Why did she
think Jess would like that?
4. Why had Jess been so glad to go to the museum?
5. What does Jess think he could have done differently that would have
saved Leslie?
6. Is Jess at fault or to blame because Leslie died?
BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA
Lesson 5
Chapters 12-13
1.
Why does Jess decide to let his sister come over to his magical land?
2.
Explain how you think you would feel if you lost someone close to you?
3.
List three qualities that make a good friend.
4.
List a quality that you think makes you a good friend.
5.
Choose a character from the story that you think you are most like.
Tell how you are the same.
BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA
Answer Key
Lesson 1
1. C
2. Grit means courage or guts.
3. Jess is frustrated that his mother keeps giving his sister money for no
reason while he does all the work and doesn’t get any money.
4. Answers will vary. Most people do not like others that whine to get their
way.
5. Jess hides his drawings because his dad says that boys who draw are sissies
and also because his sisters tease him about them.
6. Jess feels that he is out of place in his family, like he doesn’t fit in.
7. All the boys are mad at Leslie because she beat them all in the races.
Lesson 2
1. Jess decides to change his mind about Leslie because he realizes while
singing a song that everyone doesn’t need to be the same.
2. Jess is at his music class when he decides that Leslie and he can be friends.
3. Everyone is teasing Leslie because her family doesn’t own a television.
4. Jess says that he knows Leslie is just a friend because she never tries to
kiss him and girlfriends chase you and try to kiss you.
5. Answers will vary. Students idealistically think that they would include a
new person in their circle of friends but in reality they usually don’t.
Lesson 3
1. Jess was happy when he was exchanging gifts with Leslie because they were
both excited with each other’s present. He felt lousy Christmas morning with
his own family because everyone was complaining about the presents they had
received and quarreling.
2. Leslie had less time for Jess after Christmas because she was helping her
dad fix up their home.
3. When Leslie realizes Jess is feeling left out she suggests that he can help
her father and her.
4. Answers will vary. Most people have felt left out at some time or other.
There are several things that a person can do to turn those feelings around.
Some people ignore those that may make them feel left out; others talk to the
people and try to work it out.
5. Jess’s mother is unsure about Leslie going to church with them because she
thinks that she might embarrass them or may not wear a dress.
Lesson 4
1. Due to all the rain, the creek that Jess and Leslie like to swing over is
running over the banks.
2. Jess thinks he was born without guts.
3. Jess’s music teacher called to take him to the art museum because she knew
that he liked to draw.
4. Jess had been glad to go to the art museum because he liked art but more
importantly, then he wouldn’t have to tell Leslie, who was a girl that he didn’t
have the nerve to swing over the high creek.
5. Jess comes up with two things he thinks that might have done that would
have saved Leslie. One was that he could have asked her to go with them to the
art museum. The other was that he could have stayed home and been with
Leslie when she went to the river.
6. Answers will vary slightly but all readers should come to the realization that
it was not Jess’s fault that Leslie was killed. He was not with her and you
cannot be responsible for all the people around you even when you are not with
them.
Lesson 5
1. Jess probably had several reasons for bringing his younger sister over to the
magical land of Terabithia. One was he missed Leslie and as he looked around
he noticed that his younger sister was more like him and wanted someone to be
her friend. Secondly he realized that Leslie had given him something special
and he knew that if he passed it on to someone else that somehow that would
make it better.
2. Answers will vary but the main idea is that a person would probably feel sad
or lonely if they lost someone close to them.
3. Answers will vary but look for three positive statements that describe a
good friend.
4. Answers will vary. The reader should have noted a positive statement about
himself that he thinks makes him a good friend.
5. Answers will vary. They should be able to tell at least one way in which they
and a character in the book are alike.