Quotes from book
Bridge to Terabithia

Bridge to Terabithia
Katherine Paterson

Bridge to Terabithia is a work of children's literature about two lonely children who create a magical forest kingdom in their imaginations. It was written by Katherine Paterson and was published in 1977 by Thomas Crowell. In 1978, it won the Newbery Medal. Paterson drew inspiration for the novel from a real event that occurred in August 1974 when her son's friend was struck dead by lightning.

Katherine Paterson photo

“That was the rule that you never mixed up troubles at home with life at school. When parents were poor or ignorant or mean, or even just didn't believe in having a TV set, it was up to their kids to protect them.”

Katherine Paterson book Bridge to Terabithia

Source: Bridge to Terabithia

Katherine Paterson photo

“You think it's so great to die and make everyone cry and carry on. Well it ain't.”

Katherine Paterson book Bridge to Terabithia

Source: Bridge to Terabithia

Katherine Paterson photo

“Lord, it would be better to be born without an arm than to go through life with no guts.”

Katherine Paterson book Bridge to Terabithia

Jesse Aarons
Bridge to Terabithia (1977)

Katherine Paterson photo

“Sometimes it seemed to him that his life was delicate as a dandelion. One little puff from any direction, and it was blown to bits.”

Katherine Paterson book Bridge to Terabithia

Source: Bridge to Terabithia

Katherine Paterson photo

“When my husband died, people kept telling me not to cry. People kept trying to help me to forget. But I didn't want to forget… So I realize, that if it's hard for me, how much harder it must be for you.”

Katherine Paterson book Bridge to Terabithia

Source: Bridge to Terabithia

Katherine Paterson photo

“Everybody gets scared sometimes, May Belle. You don't have to be ashamed.”

Katherine Paterson book Bridge to Terabithia

Source: Bridge to Terabithia

Katherine Paterson photo

“You never know ahead of time what something's really going to be like.”

Katherine Paterson book Bridge to Terabithia

Source: Bridge to Terabithia

Katherine Paterson photo

“She had tricked him. She had made him leave his old self behind and come into her world, and then before he was really at home in it but too late to go back, she had left him stranded there--like an astronaut wandering about on the moon. Alone.”

Katherine Paterson book Bridge to Terabithia

Source: Bridge to Terabithia

Katherine Paterson photo

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

Katherine Paterson book Bridge to Terabithia

Source: Bridge to Terabithia

Katherine Paterson photo

“You have to believe it and you hate it. I don't have to and I think it's beautiful.”

Katherine Paterson book Bridge to Terabithia

Source: Bridge to Terabithia

Katherine Paterson photo

“Shh," he said. "Look."
"Where?"
"Can't you see'um?" he whispered. "All the Terabithians standing on tiptoe to see you."
"Me?"
"Shh, yes. There's a rumor going around that the beautiful girl arrving today might be the queen they've been waiting for.”

Katherine Paterson book Bridge to Terabithia

Source: Bridge to Terabithia

Katherine Paterson photo

“Sitting in cold wet britches for an hour was no fun even in a magic kingdom.”

Katherine Paterson book Bridge to Terabithia

Source: Bridge to Terabithia

Katherine Paterson photo

“He may not have been born with guts, but he didn't have to die without them.”

Katherine Paterson book Bridge to Terabithia

Source: Bridge to Terabithia

Katherine Paterson photo

“She just took off running to the old Perkins place. He couldn't help turning to watch. She ran as though it was her nature. It reminded him of the flight of wild ducks in the autumn. So smooth. The word "beautiful" came to his mind, but he shook it away and hurried up to his house.”

Katherine Paterson book Bridge to Terabithia

Jesse Aarons
Bridge to Terabithia (1977)

Katherine Paterson photo

“He was angry, too, because it would soon be Christmas and he had nothing to give Leslie. It was not that she would expect something expensive; it was that he needed to give her something as much as he needed to eat when he was hungry. […] She wouldn't laugh at him no matter what he gave her. But for his own sake he had to give her something he could be proud of.”

Katherine Paterson book Bridge to Terabithia

Jesse Aarons
Bridge to Terabithia (1977)

Katherine Paterson photo

“Even a prince may be a fool”

Katherine Paterson book Bridge to Terabithia

Leslie Burke
Bridge to Terabithia (1977)

Katherine Paterson photo

“He felt there in the teachers' room that it was the beginning of a new season in his life, and he chose deliberately to make it so. He did not have to make any announcement to Leslie that he had changed his mind about her. She already knew it.”

Katherine Paterson book Bridge to Terabithia

Jesse Aarons
Bridge to Terabithia (1977)

Katherine Paterson photo

“"Why don't we change our clothes and watch TV or something over at your house?" He felt like hugging her. "I'll make us some coffee," he said joyfully. "Yuk," she said smiling and began to run for the old Perkins place, that beautiful, graceful run of hers that neither mud nor water could defeat.”

Katherine Paterson book Bridge to Terabithia

Jesse Aarons and Leslie Burke (the last time they see each other)
Bridge to Terabithia (1977)

Katherine Paterson photo

“When Leslie spoke, the words rolled out so regally, you knew she was a proper queen. He could hardly manage English, much less the poetic language of a king.”

Katherine Paterson book Bridge to Terabithia

Jess Aarons
Bridge to Terabithia (1977)

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