Review Detail

Reader reviewed by bookworm9

Jesse Aarons just wants to be the fastest kid in the fifth grade-- and maybe make his father proud by doing so-- but his dream is dashed on the first day of school when he and all the other boys are beaten by new girl Leslie Burke. Jess and Leslie form an unlikely friendship, and the sesitive artist boy and the tomboy rich girl create a fantasy land called Terebithia, which they rule as king and queen. Yet even in Terebithia, the world is not perfect...and even when things are not perfect, Leslie can teach Jess a lot about himself.

This was an enjoyably refreshing story about a boy-girl friendship, with a similarly refreshing protagonist in Jess, a sensitive kid who longs to be the son he thinks his father wants. The relationship between Jess and his dad is just as interesting as the one between Jess and Leslie.

I will admit that this review may be tinged by the fact that I knew about and was prepared for the ending before I read the book. Younger readers who don't know what's going to happen may find it upsetting-- but it's still worth reading.