Katherine Paterson's Bridge To Terabithia

In the novel, Bridge to Terabithia, the author illustrates a theme that will move the reader. The author tells a story of a young boy, Jess, who stumbles across one of the most powerful friendships he will receive in his life. Through this exquisite story, the reader goes on a journey of ups and downs that Jess and his friend, Leslie, share. Although this friendship is tragically ended, it will be a relation that Jess will remember forever. Throughout the story the author uses craft in her writing to convey the theme and show the reader the strong emotions of the characters. In Katherine Paterson’s novel, Bridge to Terabithia, readers learn that sometimes the most true and powerful relationships are torn apart by fate.

During this lovely journey

“Your girlfriend's dead and Momma though you was dead too. Something whirled around in Jess’s head. He opened his mouth, but it was so dry and no words came out. He jerked his head from one person to another for someone to help him” (Paterson 102-103). Katherine Paterson puts short sentences into her writing to show the flow of thoughts running through Jess’s head as he realizes that Leslie is dead. This shows the reader the theme because Jess is dwelling on the fact that Leslie has died. If Jess was just an acquaintance of Leslie-and not her best friend-yes he would be sad, but definitely not as sad as this scene tells him to be. Additionally, the author adds hyperboles to display what Jess was feeling like in the moment. This reveals the theme because the reader sees how much Leslie ment to Jess by how he is responding to this devastating event. When Paterson puts craft in her writing it makes the reader more involved with the characters and understand the extent to how they are feeling. Therefore, the reader can grasp the theme because they are involved in the

When Jess becomes friends with Leslie, he thinks that he will have her companionship for the rest of his life; however that idea was crushed when Leslie dies a tragic death. This leads some readers to believe the theme of the story is that you shouldn’t take the little things in life -like friendship- for granted. Although this theme is true for the few scenes where this disaster is taking place, the whole story does not apply this theme. Jess does not take his relationship with Leslie for granted; in fact, he is definitely loves and appreciates the friendship between Leslie and himself. A better theme for the whole story is sometimes the most powerful and true friendships are torn apart by fate. If having a powerful friendship means never forgetting the memories you make with one another, then Leslie and Jess a friendship that is very powerful. This theme goes along with the time they are becoming friends, the ups and downs of their relationship, and when Leslie passes away. Therefore, since it applies throughout the whole story and not just parts of the story, it is the best theme for the