Bridge to Terabithia

Paterson, K., & Diamond, D. (1977). Bridge to Terabithia . New York: Crowell.

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson is a Most Challenged Book according to http://www.bookspot.com/lists/mostchallengedbooks100.htm

A 1978 Newbery Medal Book

Jess lives in rural Virginia in the 1970's, during the summertime he practices running in order to be the best 5th grade runner in the coming school year. When Leslie arrives and tells him that they are neighbors he tries to dismiss her but as time goes by and school begins, eventually he decides that he would like to be Leslie's friend.

Leslie and Jess spend time together during recess at school and at the woods by their homes after school. Leslie's imagination helps them create a place that they name Terabithia in which they are the rulers and make it a better place to live. To get to Terabithia, Jess and Leslie must use a hanging rope to swing across a stream. During Christmas, Jess gives Leslie a puppy "Prince Terrien" and Leslie gives Jess a drawing pad and watercolors so that he can continue to develop his talent: drawing. When the school bully, Avery is crying in the girl's bathroom, Leslie talks to her despite their animosity and Avery changes the way she treats Leslie, meanwhile in Terabithia Jess and Leslie, king and queen of this magic place, defeat a giant (Avery) and bring back peace to their kingdom.
One day, when Jess goes to Washington D.C. with his music teacher after days of raining, he enjoys the museum only to come back and find out that Leslie died.
Jess is in denial until he and his parents visit Leslie's parents. After having a major fit and going back to Terabithia Jess decides to have a proper memorial ceremony for Leslie, when Jess' younger sister, May Belle is stuck on a log that crosses the stream where Leslie died, Jess decides to build a bridge to make it safe for his sister May Belle to cross, the new queen of Terabithia.

This book although sad with that unexpected turn, takes the reader to a world where a girl's imagination can be bigger than her problems, she invites her new friend in and makes him a king! At the end of the story, Jess recognizes that he must have the courage to do what he wants... drawing, to use his talents to accomplish and become what he is meant to be, Leslie taught Jess a valuable lesson that readers can connect with: everyone is special.
Friendship is a treasure that we all need to value, when I read this book with my students, we had fun when Jess and Leslie were trying to trick Avery, but we were also sad when Leslie drowned. Paterson includes many messages such as hope, courage, friendship, respect among others in this unforgettable story.

Tornado

Byars, B. C., & Ami, D. (1996). Tornado . New York: HarperCollins. 

Tornado is a 1998 Bluebonnet Award book by Betsy Byars.

Exposition:

During a storm in a rural area in Tornado Alley, Peter tells his dog's story to three children. When he was a child, after a tornado lifted his house's roof, Peter found a dog that he wanted to name Tornado.

Rising Action:

As time went by, Peter and Tornado shared many adventures one of them being about a card trick. Peter would shuffle cards and Tornado would pick one from the deck.

Climax:

One afternoon, when Peter and his father went to town, Tornado went along on the truck bed and waited outside the store. A girl recognized Tornado and ended up taking the dog back with her. Peter was heartbroken until his mom, several days later, talked to him and mentioned that they could get another dog. Then, one day, Tornado came back!

Falling Action:

The storm ends and so does the story-telling time. One of the children is still curious about

Tornado's fate.

Resolution:

Tornado and Peter stayed together for seven happy years. The children will hear more stories about Tornado's adventures when the next storm or twister strikes.

Personal Reaction:

This book offers the reader literary qualities such as dialogue and use of precise vocabulary. The author uses dialogue to present the character's attributes, there is clear emotions in the main character's dialogue and it's easy to travel through Peter's recollection of his childhood.

The use of precise vocabulary to describe the different situations in which Peter and Tornado spent time togeher, gives the story depth and credibility.

I enjoyed reading this short chapter book because of the particular situation of how a child's home is almost destroyed by a tornado and how he became so fond of the dog that the same Tornado brought to his life.