Bridge to Terabithia

A closer look at the story

Jesse Aarons, an imaginative country boy, has spent the whole summer training to become the fastest runner at school. So he is bitterly disappointed when Leslie Burke, who has just arrived at the school, beats him and everybody else. Leslie is a city girl from a wealthy family, while Jesse's family is poor, yet despite all their differences the two quickly become close friends. In a forest near their homes they create an imaginary kingdom called Terabithia, known only to them and full of giants, trolls, monsters and countless mysteries, and they become its king and queen. Adapted from Katherine Paterson's novel and directed by Gábor Csupó, the 95-minute 2007 film stars Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb and Zooey Deschanel in an emotional family film.