visual overview and review by david bruce hollywoodjesus.com BRIDGE TO TERABETHIA visual overview and review by david bruce hollywoodjesus.com

AnnaSophia Robb (Leslie Burke) starred in Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and in Because of Winn- Dixie Josh Hutcherson (Jesse Aarons) He appeared in RV, co-starring as Robin Williams’s son. Also: Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D and Firehouse Dog Zooey Deschanel (Ms. Edmonds) starred in Failure to Launch, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and opposite Will Ferrell in Elf

BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA is a fantasy adventure story of friendship, family and the power of imagination. Jess Aarons is an outsider at school and even in his own family. Jess has trained all summer to become the fastest kid in his middle school class, but his goal is unexpectedly thwarted by the new girl in school, Leslie Burke, who competes in the "boys only" race and wins. Despite their awkward introduction, the two outsiders quickly become best friends. Leslie opens a new world of imagination for Jess. Together, they create the secret kingdom of Terabithia, a magical place only accessible by swinging on an old rope over a stream in the woods near their homes.

David Lord Paterson (Producer and writer) When he was a boy, his best friend, 8 year old Lisa Hill, was fatally struck by lightning. His mother, Katherine Paterson, used this experience as the basis for her novel Bridge to Terabithia Katherine Paterson (novelist) wrote the original novel and is also the Vice President of the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance, a that actively advocates for literacy, literature, and libraries.

Deep in the woods, far beyond the road, across a stream, lies a secret world only two people on Earth know about—a world brimming with fantastical creatures, glittering palaces and magical forests. This is Terabithia, where two young friends will discover how to rule their own kingdom, fight the forces of darkness and change their lives forever through the power of the imagination.

The story begins with Jess Aarons (JOSH HUTCHERSON), a young outsider on a quest to become the fastest kid in his school. But when the new girl in town, Leslie Burke (ANNASOPHIA ROBB), leaves Jess and everyone else in her dust, Jess’s frustration with her ultimately leads to them becoming fast friends.

Despite their awkward introduction, the two outsiders quickly become best friends.

Leslie loves to tell stories of fantasy and magic Leslie loves to tell stories of fantasy and magic. Jess loves to draw, but until he met Leslie it was something he kept to himself. Leslie opens a new world of imagination for Jess. Together they create the secret kingdom of Terabithia, a magical place only accessible by swinging on an old rope over a stream in the woods near their homes.

Here, Leslie and Jess rule as King and Queen among the incredible creatures they create, and not even the forces of evil can break their bond. Now, no matter what happens in the real world, in Terabithia, Leslie gives Jess a magical place that will always be filled with amazing stories and dreams.

FILM REVIEW This story comes from the depth of human tragedy and grief. What do you do when unspeakable joy turns into unimaginable grief? In this case, it was allowing the grieving soul to work through the event through story telling. When producer and screenwriter David Paterson was a boy, his best friend, an eight-year-old girl named Lisa Hill, was struck by lightning and killed. His mother, author Katherine Paterson, used this real-life experience as the basis for her children's novel Bridge to Terabithia. David Paterson has now produced and wrote the screenplay for this film adaptation of the novel. This film is powerful because it comes from the depth of the soul. Stories can come from no better place. --David Bruce The swinging rope is the “bridge” to an imaginary world of bliss. The rope also becomes the symbol of tragedy when it breaks.

THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP & ACTION OVER GRIEF The only cure for grief is action. --George Henry Lewes Friendship improves happiness, and abates misery, by doubling our joys, and dividing our grief. --Joseph Addison Life is a series of experiences, each one of which makes us bigger, even though it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and griefs which we endure help us in our marching onward. --Henry Ford

The importance of imagination Imagination is more important than knowledge... --Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955) You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. --Mark Twain Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence. --H. L. Mencken There is only one admirable form of the imagination: the imagination that is so intense that it creates a new reality, that it makes things happen. --Sean O'Faolain

DID YOU KNOW? Because of the novel's content it has been the frequent target of censors and appears on the American Library Association list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000 at number nine. The censorship attempts stem from death being a part of the plot . Jesse's frequent use of the word "lord" outside of prayer, and concerns that the book promotes secular humanism and New Age religions, occultism, Satanism, and for accusations of sexual content . The book is studied in English studies classes in Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, and the United States.