Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Luke Skywalker

Comparison of the novels: Bridge to Terabithia and A Bridge to Wisemans Cove

The characters in a Bridge to Terabithia were more uplifting and showed the best side of human nature compared with the characters from A Bridge to Wisemans Cove.

The three important characters in a Bridge to Terabithia are Jesse Aarons, Leslie Burke and Mary Belle Aarons. Jesse Aarons is an artistic boy. He has anger problems, and is depressed at the start of the book. After he meets Leslie at school, Jesses personality is transformed into letting go of his anger and frustration. Leslie Burke is an intelligent, talented, and imaginative tomboy and story writer. She and Jesse create an imaginary kingdom called Terabithia. Lesley has a lot of imagination, and Jess Aarons thinks highly of her. She is not accepted by other student in her school. May Belle Aarons is one of Jesses younger sisters. She is the only sister with whom Jesse feels comfortable, however, because she is seven and Jesse is ten, he cannot confide in her. At the end of the novel and after Leslies death, Jesse makes her Queen of Terabithia.

The three important characters in A Bridge to Wisemans Cove were Carl Matt, Kerry Matt and Harley Matt. Carl Matt is an overweight, depressed, angry and frustrated teenager. His mother and then his sister abandon Carl and his younger brother, Harley. At the end of the novel, Carl finds out that his mother died in a bus crash. Carl appears to become resigned to his life in the small country town. Harley Matt, Carls younger ten year old brother becomes a juvenile delinquent to vent his anger and frustration. Harley is arrested by the police three or four times, and at the end of the book is adopted by another family. This is the closest this book gets to a happy ending.

In a Bridge to Terabithia, Jesses personality changed from the beginning of the novel when he was a fearful, angry and depressed teenager to a courageous character in the face of grief over losing his best friend, Leslie. As the story progresses he also finds the joys of life, and begins to become less angry at times of stress.

In A Bridge to Wisemans Cove, Carls personality changed from the beginning of the novel when he was a fearful, angry and depressed teenager to an individual more accepting of his family and of the small town in which they live. It was difficult to empathise with any of the characters, as they were all self-interested and represented the worst side of human nature. The book was thoroughly depressing, the characters very self-absorbed, and the small town very limiting. Harley was expressing his anger and frustration by behaving like a juvenile delinquent.

With support from his family and teacher, Jesses character in a Bridge to Terabithia learned to let go of his anger and frustration, and his short friendship with Leslie allowed him to become a stronger human being. Carl, on the other hand, has not the support of his family, and under these circumstances, it is difficult to imagine he has become stronger and more courageous in the face of his adversities. At the end of the book, Carl throws off some of his prejudice about his mother and then his sister abandoning him, but does not find inner peace.