History Literature / BridgeToTerabithia

* DoesNotLikeShoes: In the novel, Jesse and Leslie both went barefoot (as is seen on the cover) partly because all the shoes they got were hand me downs and also it was not at all uncommon for kids in the 1970s to go barefoot, especially in the country. Averted in the 2007 film.

** Ms. Edmunds references the [[Myth/JapaneseMythology Japanese myth]] of the sun (Amaterasu) hiding in a cave.

** When Jesse gets back from the museum, we (and in the book, he) expects he's going to get in trouble for going to the museum without permission. (In the book, he knew full well his mother was half-asleep.) The truth is far worse.

* BecauseYouWereNiceToMe: The reason [[spoiler: Janice beats up Scott for accosting Jesse. While he was never nice to her, he was friends with Leslie who was nice to her.]]

* MegatonPunch: When Gary crosses the line by mocking [[spoiler:a grieving Jess]] about [[spoiler:Leslie's death]], the latter gives him a well-deserved punch that sent the bully flying into the classroom wall.

* SettingUpdate: Instead of the 1970s (when the book was published), the movie takes place in the then-present day of the mid-2000s. This doesn't really affect anything other than the fashion, the [[CulturallySensitiveAdaptation updated values]], the presence of electronics (the Aarons are too poor to afford anything electronic beyond a small television and a landline, Mrs. Myers has a ban on electronics and two kids are seen hiding their gaming devices -- presumably Game Boys -- and will give detention for plagiarizing off the Internet, and the Burkes don't have a TV in belief that it's bad for your brain). The filmmakers wanted to go for a timeless feel, and avoided using too much modern technology as a result.

''Bridge to Terabithia'' is a 1977 novel by Creator/KatherinePaterson, twice [[FilmOfTheBook adapted to film]], first as a 1985 MadeForTVMovie for Creator/{{PBS}}, the second as a 2007 theatrical film produced by Creator/WaldenMedia, and distributed by Creator/{{Disney}}.

Jesse, the main character, is a young boy who lives in a small rural town, not too far from Washington, D.C. A bit of a loner, he practices running all summer so he can be the fastest in his grade at school. Being the fastest boy sure beats being the quiet boy who loves drawing more than he should. But on the first day of school, his new next-door neighbor, Leslie Burke, completely overtakes him. What starts as resentment and annoyance turns into friendship, an extraordinary friendship, because Leslie is an extraordinary girl. With her gift for words, she and Jesse create a kingdom together in the nearby woods, a castle stronghold to fight imaginary monsters and plot battles to fight real monsters, an adventure that will completely change Jesse's world, a kingdom that they call "Terabithia."

The story has a BittersweetEnding, and a grade-A example of DeathByNewberyMedal. It has been banned on more than one occasion for a supposed TeacherStudentRomance and other non-existent sexual content [[note]]Jesse [[PrecociousCrush has a crush on one of his teachers]], something everyone who's reached the age of 12 can probably relate to. She invites him to the museum, and insists on paying on the grounds that she's a liberated woman and invited ''him'' (and, more practically, she's a teacher and can afford it better). That's literally as far as it goes -- there's zero evidence that said teacher has any inappropriate feelings or is aware of his crush.[[/note]] as well as religious content and some swearing.

The story has a BittersweetEnding, and a grade-A example of DeathByNewberyMedal (which has reached ItWasHisSled levels, though spoilers will be marked here regardless). It has been banned on more than one occasion for a supposed TeacherStudentRomance and other non-existent sexual content [[note]]Jesse [[PrecociousCrush has a crush on one of his teachers]], something everyone who's reached the age of 12 can probably relate to. She invites him to the museum, and insists on paying on the grounds that she's a liberated woman and invited ''him'' (and, more practically, she's a teacher and can afford it better). That's literally as far as it goes -- there's zero evidence that said teacher has any inappropriate feelings or is aware of his crush.[[/note]] as well as religious content and some swearing.

* NonIndicativeTitle: "The Perfect Day" is anything but perfect.

* FirstLove: Subtly implied with the friendship between Jesse and his friend Leslie, a girl who introduces him to the titular Terabithia, and this variety of the "special, sweet, innocent" type of first love, on both Jesse and Leslie's parts.

* Myth/JapaneseMythology: Ms. Edmunds references the Japanese myth of the sun (Amaterasu) hiding in a cave.

* MyGreatestSecondChance: Jesse blames himself for [[spoiler:not being there when Leslie fell. He admits he didn't want her to join her at the art museum. When May Belle gets trapped on a fallen log, in the book Jesse is scared about her falling into the river the way Leslie did. He quickly pulls her to safety, and is relieved she wasn't hurt. This convinces him to introduce May Belle to Terabithia]].

* ShoutOut: The name "Terabithia" derives from "Terabinthia", a location in the ''Narnia'' series.

* FiveStagesOfGrief: [[spoiler:Jesse]] suffers these in alternating waves [[spoiler:after Leslie dies]] in a very realistic sense. First there's denial, in the book because as he mentions that [[spoiler:Leslie is a good swimmer]]. Then he runs out in anger and kicks his wardrobe before going to bed. For a long time he talks as if [[spoiler:Leslie is alive]] which doubles as bargaining, and lashes out at May Belle for following him [[spoiler:across the log in the movie; in the book he's more relieved she's okay]]. He only breaks down into depression when [[spoiler:his emotions catch up to him in the woods, as does his father]] and finally comes to accept what happens.

* MistakenForGay: One of the book's plot points, and the main source conflict between Jesse and his dad. Set in the 70s, Jesse is into art and his only friend is a tomboyish girl, so his parents are quite uncomfortable with him spending so much time with Leslie. In turn, he's insecure about how others perceive him; he hides his art from everyone besides Ms. Edmunds and Leslie, and when asked to write about his hobby, he lies about being into football to fit in with the other boys. This is AdaptedOut in the 2007 film adaptation.

* MistakenForGay: One of the plot points, and conflict between Jesse and his dad, revolves around this trope. Set in the 70s, Jesse is into art and his only friend is a tomboyish girl, so his parents are quite [[ValuesDissonance uncomfortable]] with him spending so much time with Leslie. In turn, he's insecure about how others perceive him; he hides his art from everyone besides Ms. Edmunds and Leslie, and when asked to write about his hobby, he lies about being into football to fit in with the other boys. This is AdaptedOut in the 2007 film adaptation.

* RoughingIt: The well-off Burkes moved from Arlington, a metropolitan city, to the countryside of Lark Creek. Leslie explains that her parents wanted to reexamine the material possessions of their lives, even forgoing a TV. [[spoiler:It's subverted later on, as her father Bill says that they had moved into Lark Creek for Leslie's sake -- after she dies, they move out again.]]

* AdaptationDyeJob: Jess is described as having blonde hair while Leslie’s is brown. In the movie their hair colors are switched.

The story has a BittersweetEnding, and a grade-A example of DeathByNewberyMedal (not being hidden here as the ending has reached ItWasHisSled levels). It has been banned on more than one occasion for TeacherStudentRomance {{subtext}} and other non-existent sexual content [[note]]Jesse [[TeacherStudentRomance has a crush on one of his teachers]], something everyone who's reached the age of 12 can probably relate to. She invites him to the museum, and insists on paying on the grounds that she's a liberated woman (similar to Marlo Thomas' character from the TV show, ''Series/ThatGirl'') and invited ''him'' (and, more practically, she's a teacher and can afford it better). That's literally as far as it goes -- there's zero evidence that said teacher has any inappropriate feelings or is aware of his crush.[[/note]] as well as religious content and some swearing.

* BaitAndSwitch: When Jesse gets back from the museum, we (and in the book, he) expects he's going to get in trouble for going to the museum without permission. (In the book, he knew full well his mother was half-asleep.) [[spoiler:The truth is far worse]].

* BigBrotherWorship: May Belle to Jess. Jesse finds it mostly annoying.

* FirstLove: In this {{Tearjerker}} of a novel, this trope is subtly implied with the friendship between Jesse and his friend Leslie, a girl who introduces him to the titular Terabithia, and this variety of the "special, sweet, innocent" type of first love, on both Jesse and Leslie's parts.

** Leslie's poem about scuba-diving. [[spoiler:Foreshadowing that she dies by drowning (one of the lines is even "Above me, there's nothing but shimmery light, the place where I've come from, and will go back to when I am done here.") and Jesse coming to terms with her death ("I don't have as much time as I need to see everything, but that is what makes it so special.").]]

** Janice Avery TheBully [[spoiler: has an abusive father]].
** Mrs. Myers the SternTeacher [[spoiler: lost her husband]].

* MistakenForGay: One of the plot points, and conflict between Jesse and his dad, revolved around this trope. Set in the 70s, Jesse was into art and only had a girl for a friend, so his parents were quite [[ValuesDissonance uncomfortable]] with him spending so much time with Leslie. This is AdaptedOut in the 2007 film adaptation.

* RealityIsUnrealistic: The real-life inspiration for Leslie was Katherine Paterson's son's childhood friend, Lisa Hill [[spoiler: who was killed by a lightning strike ''on a sunny day'' while climbing some rocks on a beach. The author originally intended to finish off Leslie the same way but ultimately changed it to a drowning because her editor felt it would be more believable. Probably right, but [[RealityIsUnrealistic ironic]].]]

* AdaptationalExplanation: In the book, Jesse goes to the museum without telling his parents. Having this happen in the film would be unusual in a 2000s setting, so Miss Edmunds calls the house to ask for permission, and Jesse's mother gives it while still half asleep in bed - thus making it believable that she'd forget where Jesse is [[spoiler: and assume he died with Leslie]].

** After getting antagonised by Janice on the bus, Leslie almost mockingly waves goodbye to her as it drives away, leaving the bully momentarily confused. Foreshadowing that [[spoiler: Leslie will befriend Janice and bring about her HeelFaceTurn]].

* HappyRain: A bittersweet example. [[spoiler: Leslie and Jesse's final moment together is happily waving goodbye in the rain]].

** Leslie fills something of a platonic version of this trope - especially with her AdaptationalAttractiveness and GirlinessUpgrade. It's her influence that gives Jesse the courage to stand up to bullies, encourage his imagination and [[spoiler: die tragically, leaving him with CharacterDevelopment]]. But unlike completely straight examples, Leslie learns things from Jesse too (he encourages her to comfort Janice) and she seeks him out because she wants a friend.

* MovingAwayEnding: The Burkes moved into Lark Creek shortly before the events of the film, but at the end, they're moving away, possibly back [[spoiler:home to Arlington since the death of their only daughter, Leslie]].

* OOCIsSeriousBusiness:
** Mr. and Mrs. Aarons tell Jesse he needs to help out more with the chores after his dad needs to take more shifts. Normally Jesse would fuss about this. Instead, he smiles and quotes what Leslie's parents said while they painted the living room. This baffles his mother and father.
** Mr. Aarons is hard on his son for most of the movie, expecting him to be the responsible sibling while May Belle is allowed to do what she wants and his older sisters don't have to help with the chores. [[spoiler:When Leslie dies, and they realize Jesse doesn't know, Mr. Aarons looks sober and softens his tone about Jesse being away all day. He spends the rest of the movie doing Jesse's chores, not punishing him for shoving May Belle down in a fit of anger, and giving him a CooldownHug when his son has a breakdown in the woods]].

* SettingUpdate: Instead of the 1970's (when the book was published), the movie takes place in the then-present day of the mid-2000's. This doesn't really affect anything other than the fashion, the [[CulturallySensitiveAdaptation updated values]], the presence of electronics (the Aarons are too poor to afford anything electronic beyond a small television and a landline, Mrs. Myers has a ban on electronics and two kids are seen hiding their gaming devices -- presumably [=GameBoys=] -- and will give detention for plagiarizing off the Internet, and the Burkes don't have a TV in belief that it's bad for your brain), and a couple of pop culture/contemporary references (like Twinkies). The filmmakers wanted to go for a timeless feel, and avoided using too much modern technology as a result.

* MisplacedWildlife: The animal freed from the greenhouse was meant to be a Virginia opossum, but a common brushtail possum was substituted because of New Zealand's ''very'' strict prohibitions on importing non-native wildlife.

* AdultFear: When Jesse returns home from his day with Miss Edmunds, [[spoiler:everyone in his family is waiting for him. His mother runs towards him and hugs him tightly, asking worriedly where he's been, while his father asks the same thing angrily. Jesse is confused. They then reveal that Leslie died, and since he was missing all day they thought he was dead as well]].

* AdultFear:
** The idea that a [[CheerfulChild cheerful, friendly, imaginative child full of life]] suddenly dies in a freak, ''senseless'' accident ([[spoiler:best swimmer in a class drowning in creek shallow enough to ''walk'' through]]) is utterly terrifying to parents.
** Jesse has this reaction when he sees May Belle trapped on a fallen log across the river, while it's still roaring and high. He quickly goes to rescue her and pull her to the safety of the banks. As they catch their breath, she reveals she was following him because she noticed he was missing that morning and got scared. Jesse is more relieved that she didn't fall in the river [[spoiler:the way that Leslie did]].

* SettingUpdate: Instead of the 1970's (when the book was published), the movie takes place in the then-present day of the mid-2000's. This doesn't really affect anything other than the fashion, the [[ValuesDissonance updated values]], the presence of electronics (the Aarons are too poor to afford anything electronic beyond a small television and a landline, Mrs. Myers has a ban on electronics and two kids are seen hiding their gaming devices -- presumably [=GameBoys=] -- and will give detention for plagiarizing off the Internet, and the Burkes don't have a TV in belief that it's bad for your brain), and a couple of pop culture/contemporary references (like Twinkies). The filmmakers wanted to go for a timeless feel, and avoided using too much modern technology as a result.

* OutnumberedSibling: Jesse, with his four sisters.

* AloofBigBrother: Jess is one to May Belle. Their two oldest sisters are also not pleasant.

* AnnoyingYoungerSibling: May Belle and Joyce to Jesse. He gets better towards May Belle.

* BigBrotherWorship: May Belle to Jess. Jess finds it mostly annoying.
* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Leslie dies while swinging on the rope to Terabithia and Jess blames himself for it. Luckily Jess's father helps him accept Leslie's death and convinces him that it's not his fault and to hold onto Leslie's friendship to keep her alive. Jess returns to Terabithia, but builds the titular bridge, and takes his sister with him, offering her the title of princess]].
* BlitheSpirit: Leslie, a new student whose imagination and general weirdness coaxes Jess to have lots of fun and deal with his difficult circumstances.

* ChangelingFantasy: InUniverse, a disparaging comment from Brenda about Leslie leads Jess to imagine that his dad found him in the creek, and that he really comes from a bookish family.
* ComingOfAgeStory: The protagonists are children and the story is about the two using their child fantasies as a way of dealing with the pressures of their everyday life. And in Jess's case, mending relationships with family members and [[spoiler: dealing with death]].

* EverybodyKnewAlready: Jess and Leslie assumed that they had a secret place in Terabithia to hide from the adults. His dad reveals that of course he and the Burkes knew that [[spoiler:Jess and Leslie were using the rope to get across the river in the shared backyard]].
* FirstLove: In this {{Tearjerker}} of a novel, this trope is subtly implied with the friendship between Jess and his friend Leslie, a girl who introduces him to the titular Terabithia, and this variety of the "special, sweet, innocent" type of first love, on both Jess and Leslie's parts.

** Leslie's poem about scuba-diving. [[spoiler:Foreshadowing that she dies by drowning (one of the lines is even "Above me, there's nothing but shimmery light, the place where I've come from, and will go back to when I am done here.") and Jess coming to terms with her death ("I don't have as much time as I need to see everything, but that is what makes it so special.").]]
** At one point, Jess is afraid Prince Terrien (the dog) may fall down during crossing and drown.

* HiddenDepths: Revealed about a lot of characters Jess doesn't get on with.

** Jess's family don't hate him, and are just overworked and stressed with their busy lives.

* InnocentlyInsensitive: Maybelle excitedly asks a distraught Jesse, who [[spoiler:just went to Leslie's house with their parents to give their regards to her mourning family, if he saw Leslie's corpse]].

* ManicPixieDreamGirl: Leslie fits the character type in that she's full of quirks, dresses oddly, as well as livening up Jess's world, though it's downplayed in that fact that the two do not get romantically involved.
* MiddleChildSyndrome: Jess gets a pretty bad deal out of this trope, since he's not only the very-middle child out of ''five'', he's also the only boy. Not to mention his older sisters bully him and the youngest daughter is a particularly bratty baby; the only one who really likes him is May Belle, and even she gets annoying because she always wants to be around him, whether he wants it or not. Oh, and he's a WellDoneSonGuy to boot.

* MoodWhiplash: After Jess and Leslie befriend, they bond through their imagination to form the fantastical world of Terabithia. [[spoiler:Then Leslie dies.]]
* MyGreatestSecondChance: Jess blames himself for [[spoiler:not being there when Leslie fell. He admits he didn't want her to join her at the art museum. When May Belle gets trapped on a fallen log, in the book Jess is scared about her falling into the river the way Leslie did. He quickly pulls her to safety, and is relieved she wasn't hurt. This convinces him to introduce May Belle to Terabithia]].

* OutdoorsyGal: Leslie invites Jess to swing over the riverbed to discover the land of Terabithia.

** Jess' baby sister Joyce Ann bursts into tears, worried Santa won't know how to bring gifts to their chimney-less house. As Jess reassures her that Santa knows the way, he winks at his wiser sister May Belle to tell her that he bought all their Christmas gifts.
** When Jess helps Leslie and her parents redo a room, Leslie calls the room "worthy of..." Jess looks up, fearing she'll let the secret of Terabithia slip, but she finishes with "...of a palace." She looks over to Jess and winks, reassuring him that Terabithia is still their secret.

* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth: [[spoiler: Leslie is a ray of sunshine in Jess's dreary life, becoming his OnlyFriend. She dies suddenly towards the end]].

* AdaptationalExplanation: In the book, Jess goes to the museum without telling his parents. Having this happen in the film would be unusual in a 2000s setting, so Miss Edmunds calls the house to ask for permission, and Jess's mother gives it while still half asleep in bed - thus making it believable that she'd forget where Jess is [[spoiler: and assume he died with Leslie]].

* AdaptedOut: May Belle [[InnocentlyInsensitive excitedly]] asking Jess if [[spoiler:he saw Leslie's corpse at the service]] is removed.

* AgeLift: Minor example, with Jess and Leslie going from ten in the book to twelve in the movie. WordOfGod says this was done to emphasize that their feelings for each other were more than platonic.

** May Belle as well, given that she has endless amounts of optimism. She's only truly sad after Jess pushes her.
* DarkReprise: In music class, "Someday" is first performed as an upbeat sequence with Leslie and Jess having a HeldGaze (and their friendship blossoming). A much more sombre version is performed [[spoiler: after Leslie's death, with Jess mourning her]].

** If you listen closely while Jess is looking around at the [[spoiler:funeral]] after Leslie's dad talks to him, Leslie's dad tells Jess's parents that [[spoiler:he and his wife are moving back to their old home to put Leslie to rest]].
** When Jess and Leslie talk about what their parents do for a living, Leslie asks Jess in response to him saying that it makes sense that her parents are writers that if he's good at hardware because his dad works at a hardware store. Jess answers no, but the end of the movie [[spoiler:where he constructs a literal bridge to Terabithia]] proves otherwise.
* GenderedInsult: Jess is called a "girl" a lot by other boys because he likes art, plus only being friends with a girl (Leslie) as well.
* HappyRain: A bittersweet example. [[spoiler: Leslie and Jess's final moment together is happily waving goodbye in the rain]].
* HateSink: Scott and Gary. Their purpose is to give the audience someone to hate. Scott especially since he [[spoiler:taunts Jess about Leslie's death.]]

* InvisibleToAdults: Horribly subverted when it turns out the reason the magical land of Terabithia is only seen by Jess and Leslie is because it's a figment of their imagination.

* KidsAreCruel: Exaggerated in the 2007 film where the two bullies [[spoiler:continue to taunt Jess ''after'' Leslie's death]]. Of course it's subverted with [[spoiler:Janice Avery, who has a HeelFaceTurn afterwards]].

** Leslie fills something of a platonic version of this trope - especially with her AdaptationalAttractiveness and GirlinessUpgrade. It's her influence that gives Jess the courage to stand up to bullies, encourage his imagination and [[spoiler: die tragically, leaving him with CharacterDevelopment]]. But unlike completely straight examples, Leslie learns things from Jess too (he encourages her to comfort Janice) and she seeks him out because she wants a friend.

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: After Jess acts out in school [[spoiler: through punching a kid who'd joked that he's the fastest kid as Leslie's dead]], the teacher talks to him about [[spoiler:grieving the loss of a loved one]] when it appears he's about to be punished. A similar thing happens in the book, only instead of punching a kid, Jesse didn't stand for the national anthem.

* SilenceOfSadness: Jess Aarons is noticeably more quiet in the final scenes of the Disney adaptation, returning to school after [[spoiler: his friend Leslie's funeral]]. He doesn't say a word when Kenny the bus driver offers him a few words of condolences, [[TranquilFury doesn't even flinch]] when giving the class bully Scott a well-deserved punch for making a tasteless joke over the death, keeps completely silent when his class teacher Miss Myers tries consoling him, and is completely voiceless, preferring to bury his head in his hands during Miss Edmunds' music class.

* TomboyWithAGirlyStreak: Leslie, who likes sports, including both running and running, plus having {{boyish short hair}} while wearing less "feminine" clothing usually. She prefers the outdoors, and leads Jess into the woods on many adventures. On the other hand, she also has Barbies she'd played with in the past and is still "girlish" in her mannerisms.

* WriteWhoYouKnow: An in-universe example the 2007 film. Jess and Leslie base the creatures and inhabitants of their imaginary world off of people they know. In particular, the ''Squoagers'' and ''Hairy Vultures'' are monsters based off the bullies Scott Hoager and Gary Fulcher and even resemble them to a degree. The troll is based off Janice Avery, [[spoiler: and does a HeelFaceTurn after Leslie comforts her,]] while [[spoiler:the Dark Master is based off Jess's father, and [[FridgeBrilliance disappears at the end, when the two of them finally understand one another.]]]] The wish-fulfillment of this arguably helps them both -- but Jess in particular -- to grow stronger in RealLife as well.

* IdiotBall: Maybelle, you're a sweetie and all, but if you find a ring of keys lying on the floor of the greenhouse, don't you think you oughtta tell your parents?

** There's also lots of shots of the water rising and the rope close to breaking.

''Bridge to Terabithia'' is a novel by Creator/KatherinePaterson, twice [[FilmOfTheBook adapted to film]], first as a 1985 MadeForTVMovie for Creator/{{PBS}}, the second as a 2007 theatrical film produced by Creator/WaldenMedia, and distributed by Creator/{{Disney}}.