Bridge To Terabithia
Since its publication in 1977, the children's book Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson has faced ongoing criticism. The well-known children's book chronicles Jess Aaron's friendship with Leslie Burke, a neighbor. In a nearby woodland, the two create a fictional empire.
The first time the book was contested was in Nebraska in 1986. The cause? Expletives like "oh Lord" and the term "Lord" are used in profanity. The children's book was criticized in 1990 Burlington, Connecticut for the same reasons and for encouraging a depressing picture of childhood. The book was challenged at least once per year after that, when things really took off.
It was regularly contested in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Kansas, Maine, California, and Texas between 1992 and 2002. While it was typically for profanity, it occasionally went beyond that, as in one example in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, when it was alleged to make reference to witchcraft. The novel was criticized for disrespecting adults and creating an intricate fantasy realm that could mislead kids in Pulaski, a different Pennsylvania town. The Bridge to Terabithia problem has diminished over time. Yet occasionally, attention is drawn back to the text. This was particularly apparent in 2007, when Disney produced the acclaimed book's cinematic version.
Author: Katherine Paterson
Illustrator: Donna Diamond
Country: United States
Language: English
Series: 1
Genre: Children's novel
Publisher: Thomas Y. Crowell Co.
Publication date: October 21, 1977
