A boy and a girl forge a unique friendship and imagine a fantasy world—Terabithia. Jesse befriends a new girl in school Leslie, who he learns is his new neighbor. Leslie is a cool girl, who has a bubbly personality and a wild imagination. At first, Jesse is put-off by her since she beat him in a race in school, but when she starts to talk to him about liking his drawings, Jesse thinks she's not so bad. Soon, they venture off into the woods and find a rundown treehouse where they hangout. They then make-up a fantastical forest-world Terabithia, inhabited by mythical creatures such as trolls and peculiar animals, and pretend to be their rulers. Everyday, they encounter many adventures, that somehow mirror their uneventful lives in school. One time during a storm, the creek in the woods overflows, and on the way back, Leslie falls in and drowns, unbeknownst to Jesse. Meanwhile, Jesse makes plans with his teacher who he has a crush on to go to the museum, and does not check-in on Leslie. Later when he comes home he learns the horrible truth and is guilt-stricken. He retreats into the forest, mourning Leslie and blaming himself for her death. However, his dad talks to him and tells him that he should never think that it's his fault, and he must cherish Leslie's memory by remembering Terabithia. Resolved, Jesse heeds his advice, and appoints his baby sister, the new queen of the magical world he and Leslie loved so much.
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Best part of story, including ending:
It depicts a world where kids creatively played without the crutch of technology or gadgets, and they seemed to really enjoy themselves.
Best scene in story:
When Jesse finds out that Leslie is gone, it is gut-wrenchingly sad.
Opinion about the main character:
Jesse becomes more free-spirited because of Leslie. Leslie's positive influence can be seen in the way Jesse acts in school and at home.