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Bridge to Terabithia (Movie Tie-In) — Content Guide for Parents

By Katherine PatersonTandem Library2007ISBN 9781417792849177 pages
Bridge to Terabithia (Movie Tie-In)

Themes present

Violence
Religious themes
Profanity
Gender roles

Not found

Scary contentRacial/cultural contentClimate changeSexual identityLGBTQ+ themes

Content themes

Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.

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Religious themes

PRESENT

Contains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.

About this book

Jess (Josh Hutcherson) is misunderstood. Despite Jess¿ talents as an artist, the school bullies pick on him, his father (Robert Patrick) belittles his dreams, and his four sisters invade his space in the family¿s cramped house. Jess¿ bleak world changes when Leslie (Annasophia Robb) moves into the house next door. Bright, creative and outspoken, Leslie also finds herself an outsider in their school. Soon the two are thick as thieves, spending their after school hours exploring the woods beyond their backyards and on the others side of a creek, which Leslie deems the kingdom of Terabithia. Here, they create their own magical world, complete with a Dark Master and his minions, dragonfly soldiers, giant trolls and a treehouse fortress. In Terabithia, the two friends let their imaginations run wild and control their destiny, far away from school bullies and the pressures of adolescence. Hutcherson and Robb are well cast as Jess and Leslie in this coming-of-age tale. Hutcherson handles both the melancholy intensity and unbridled joy of his character beautifully, and Robb¿s smile and charisma are infectious. Zooey Deschanel also stars as Miss Edmunds, the music teacher who befriends Jess. Parents should read the book or learn more about the story before taking young children to see this film, as the story includes not only some scary creatures, but also the death of a young person.

Frequently asked questions

  • Is Bridge to Terabithia (Movie Tie-In) appropriate for a 7-year-old?

    The story includes a tragic accident that significantly impacts the characters, which can be considered a form of violence in the narrative context. It addresses themes of loss and grief, which are central to the plot. While the book deals with themes of grief and loss, it does not contain genuinely frightening content that would cause fear or nightmares. The emotional depth is intended to resonate rather than scare.

  • Does Bridge to Terabithia (Movie Tie-In) have violence?

    The story includes a tragic accident that significantly impacts the characters, which can be considered a form of violence in the narrative context. It addresses themes of loss and grief, which are central to the plot.

  • Does Bridge to Terabithia (Movie Tie-In) have scary content?

    While the book deals with themes of grief and loss, it does not contain genuinely frightening content that would cause fear or nightmares. The emotional depth is intended to resonate rather than scare.

  • Does Bridge to Terabithia (Movie Tie-In) have religious themes?

    The book includes themes related to religious/class differences, particularly in the context of the characters' family backgrounds and beliefs. There are references to Christian faith in discussions about the narrative, but it does not promote a specific religious viewpoint.

  • Does Bridge to Terabithia (Movie Tie-In) have racial/cultural content?

    Race is not a central theme or plot element in the book. The narrative focuses on friendship and personal struggles rather than racial dynamics.

  • Does Bridge to Terabithia (Movie Tie-In) have profanity?

    The book includes some profanity, which has been noted in reviews as a point of concern for younger readers. Specific phrases have been highlighted as potentially inappropriate.

  • Does Bridge to Terabithia (Movie Tie-In) have climate change?

    There are no themes related to climate activism or environmentalism present in the book. The focus is primarily on personal relationships and imaginative play.

  • Does Bridge to Terabithia (Movie Tie-In) have sexual identity?

    No explicit sexual content is present in the book. The search results discuss mature themes but do not indicate any sexual situations or references within the narrative.

  • Does Bridge to Terabithia (Movie Tie-In) have gender roles?

    The book explores gender roles through the characters of Jess and Leslie, particularly Leslie's resistance to traditional gender expectations. It highlights the struggles of the characters against societal norms.

  • Does Bridge to Terabithia (Movie Tie-In) have lgbtq+ themes?

    No LGBTQ+ themes are explicitly mentioned in the book. The search results focus on the book's themes of friendship and loss without reference to LGBTQ+ content.