Extras

Bridge to Terabithia Covers

Although Bridge to Terabithia was first published in 1977, there have been other variations of its book covers over the years. Here is the first edition:

Interesting facts about Bridge to Terabithia

• The content of Bridge to Terabithia has been frequently targeted by censors. It is listed as #8 on the American Library Association list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books for the decade 1990-2000. The challenges are derived from death as part of the plot: Jesse's frequent usage of "Lord" outside of prayer. Other critics have alleged that "the book promotes secular humanism, New Age religion, occultism, and Satanism: and for use of offensive language" taking into account May Belle's use of words like "God will damn you to hell" when she admonishes Leslie to believe in the Bible ("Bridge to Terabithia (novel)" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_to_Terabithia_(novel), 2016, retrieved 08/05/16).
• In addition being commonly read to older elementary age students (fourth through sixth grade), Bridge to Terabithia is read and "studied in English classes in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States." ("Bridge to Terabithia (novel)" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_to_Terabithia_(novel), 2016, retrieved 08/05/16.)
• Bridge to Terabithia has been adapted twice as a screen film: First as a 1985 PBS TV Movie and second as a Disney/Walden Media feature film in 2007 ("Bridge to Terabithia (novel)" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_to_Terabithia_(novel), 2016, retrieved 08/05/16). David Paterson, Katherine Paterson's son for who the Bridge to Terabithia is dedicated to, wrote the screenplay as a tribute to his friend, Lisa Hill, who at eight years old was struck and killed by lightning in 1974 (Paterson, D., Official Movie Companion, 2007).
• Bridge to Terabithia was also made into a musical stage adaptation ("supported by a lyrical score") entitled The Bridge to Terabithia "is listed for sale by Stageplays.com, credited to Paterson and Stephanie S. Tolan, another children's writer. "It was cataloged by the Library of Congress in 1993, with primary credit to Steve Liebman for the music, as Bridge to Terabithia: a play with music ("Bridge to Terabithia (novel)" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_to_Terabithia_(novel), 2016, retrieved 08/05/16)
• Terabithia, the name of the imaginary kingdom, is similar to Terebinthia, the Narnian island that C.S. Lewis created for Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. In fact, Katherine Paterson in 2005 observed: "I thought I had made it up. Then, rereading The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis, I realized that I had probably gotten it from the island of Terebinthia in that book. However, Lewis probably got that name from the Terebinth tree in the Bible, so both of us pinched from somewhere else, probably unconsciously." ("Bridge to Terabithia (novel)" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridge_to_Terabithia_(novel), 2016, retrieved 08/05/16).
• Katherine Paterson, with her husband and family lived for a while in Takoma Park, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C. Her son, David and his friend Lisa attended Takoma Park Elementary School and were best friends until Lisa's death in the summer of 1974. In the area outside of the pre-k to second grade), there is a tree dedicated to Lisa in a memorial. Please see article: "Lisa Hill and the Bridge to Terabithia" by Diana Kohn (PDF) ( http://www.historictakoma.org/voice/BridgeToTerabithiaRedux0307.pdf, retrieved 08/05/16)

Facts about David Paterson

David Paterson, in the movie companion to Bridge to Terabithia, writes about how people, especially kids, wonder how similar he is to Jesse Aarons, the main character who is based on David. He states the similarities as having enjoyed running and drawing, keeping to himself in school, and "in love with my music teacher." David further states that he was somewhat distant from his father and that "we were pretty darn poor." (Paterson, D. Official Movie Companion, 2007)

The differences between Jesse and David, however, were unlike, Jesse and his family, David and his family did not live on a farm. They lived in Takoma Park, a suburb outside Washington D.C. There was also a creek that David and Lisa played in called Rock Creek instead of Lark Creek. However, Lisa did not die in RockCreek; she was struck by lightening and died. (Paterson, D. Official Movie Companion, 2007).

David contributes this quote from his mother's book, Bridge to Terabithia, as a dedication to his friend, Lisa Hill. (Paterson, K. Bridge to Terabithia, 1977).

"It was up to him to pay back to the world in beauty and caring what Leslie had loaned him in vision and strength."

David L. Paterson, the youngest son of author, Katherine Paterson, graduated from the Catholic University of America in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. ("David Lord Paterson", 2016, http://makeafilmfoundation.org/profiles/bio_paterson.html, retrieved 8/6/16)

He is currently an American screenwriter, actor, and producer. ("David Lord Paterson", 2016, http://makeafilmfoundation.org/profiles/bio_paterson.html, retrieved 8/6/16)

He produced and co-wrote the screen play film adaptation of the children's novel, Bridge to Terabithia, and released in 2007. ("David Lord Paterson", 2016, http://makeafilmfoundation.org/profiles/bio_paterson.html, retrieved 8/6/16)

Promotion of Bridge to Terabithia

You've read the Book

Now Watch the Movies

And Here's the Soundtrack