The Reality of Childhood: Bridge to Terabithia

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When the word childhood is mentioned, a few synonyms come to mind. Adults when looking back at their own childhood, tend to think of innocence, being carefree, taking naps, a wild imagination, and the idea of simple pleasures. However today’s children tend to not be thought of with these characteristics. They are typically understood as spoiled, that lack most good morals. Ones that are being molded by culture and don’t display any values that past generation’s childhood had. However young adults and earlier generations can argue that childhood is as much present as it has ever been. Even modern children’s literature shows those characteristics in the current world.
A book called Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson shows the fanciful reality that is childhood. In the book, the two main characters, Jess Aarons and Leslie Burke, are friends that resemble the greatness of childhood in a modern world. They create a world together called Terabithia, where they are king and queen, in order to escape the bullies and harshness of the world around them. Jess enjoys painting and drawing, but tries to hide his creative abilities for possibly being bullied for his talent. Leslie, the new girl next door, becomes friends with him fast and helps him discover that he should embrace his individuality and helps him unleash his talent.
Jess and Leslie show how modern children are imaginative. In order to escape their problems, they create another world, called Terabithia, for themselves. This world is a place of solitude, safety and creativity that helps them cope with the outside world. They turn the school bullies into winged creatures, using their imagination and newfound courage, they overcome their fear of the bullies. Mod...

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Popenoe, David. "We Are What We See: The Family Conditions for Modeling Values for Children."Parenthood in America. N.p., 05 Mar 1998. Web. 16 Nov 2013. .
Arther, Leonie. "The importance of children feeling valued for who they are." 21st Century Learning. N.p., 28 June 2010. Web. 16 Nov 2013. .
Lott, Tim. "What exactly is the innocence of childhood?."The Guardian . N.p., 10 May 2013. Web. 16 Nov 2013. .
Rettner, Rachel. "Are Today’s Youth Less Creative & Imaginative?." LiveScience. N.p., 12 Aug 2011. Web. 16 Nov 2013. .

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