This is one of those books that I personally came to through the movie adaptation. A rather excellent adaptation, in my opinion. It made me want to read the book, though not enough to pick it up right away. I was in my 20s. I’d been in Advanced Placement classes through Junior High and High School and Terabithia wasn’t on our reading lists. I was aware that other classes were reading it, but I never did. Until now. I’m 33.
Terabithia is definitely one of those Young Adult books that everyone can enjoy. The foreword even mentions handing it to a nine year old. Basically a prime example of that thing I keep saying about everyone being able to enjoy a book, not just the target audience.
I’m honestly not sure what I can say about Terabithia without straying into spoilers. It’s such a short book but also a really rich one. It captures that period of adolescence perfectly, in my opinion. I was definitely that artistic kid who made kingdoms in my grandparents backyard, and my own, but there’s just something about pine trees… I don’t know. Probably the reason the pines made up the Terabithian Sacred Grove.
I highly recommend picking up Bridge to Terabithia if you never have or haven’t read it in a while. It’s fantastic.
Movie Adaptation Review
So, I mentioned at the beginning of my book review that I originally came to Terabithia via the movie adaptation. I was in my early 20s and I was big into watching the newest Fantasy movies that came out... as soon as they hit the library because I had zero money at the time. Anyway, I'm definitely not gonna lie, this movie made me cry. The book just barely got there, mostly because I was remembering the scene from the movie. Go figure.
It's been years since I've watched Terabithia, but Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb are still firmly Jess and Leslie in my head. Oh, and Bailee Madison as May Belle. She was just so cute. I can honestly say that the rest of the cast are just kind of faded in my brain. Well... I guess Zooey Deschanel stood out, but she's the big star of the time they got for the movie so... yeah. She's there and vaguely distracting.
Looking back on it, I do feel like Bridge to Terabithia as an adaption is really good. I know there was some issue over the fantasy elements being brought to life, but I felt like it actually melded seamlessly into the story. It was like we were seeing Leslie's words come to life, which I really enjoyed and thought were done really well. I remember feeling really immersed in the whole thing.
The big point for me with adaptations isn't necessarily that they capture every moment perfectly, but that they get the emotions and the themes right. Bridge to Terabithia definitely did that. I also feel like both book and movie are 99% timeless, ya know, if you ignore the references in the book and entire lack of cell phones. The school and forest settings really help with that.
Anyway, I loved the movie. It really captured the book. The kids were all pretty cute and pretty good actors. I really feel like Bridge to Terabithia was a good adaptation as well as a good movie. Highly recommend.
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