Banned Book Project

1. Bridge to Terabithia byKatherine Paterson

2. Katherine Paterson Bio Born in China, 1932 She became a teacher Was a missionary in Japan She wrote the book after her son became very close with a girl, when he was 8. Katherine Paterson has written more than 30 books for children, including 14 novels for young adults. She’s received many awards, including a Newberry Medal in 1978 for “Bridge to Terabithia”. Received “Hans Christian Andersen Award” Her books have been published in more than 25 languages. Katherine Paterson currently resides in Vermont and is finishing the last chapters of “Long Road Home”.

3. Bridge to Terabithia: PLOT Jess Aaron’s goal for the school year is to be the fastest runner in the 5th grade. But when the new girl comes to Lark Creek Elementary School, his goal is crushed. Despite Leslie Burke being a female, she runs in every race, and wins every time. In addition, she’s also Jess Aaron’s new neighbor. Jess and Leslie become close friends, and are practically inseparable. One day they create a new fantasy land and call it “Terabithia”, to escape reality. They enter their kingdom on a rope-swing across a river. Once they have entered their land, they are the King and Queen and they must fight off evil foes to protect their kingdom. Their friendship helps them to understand other’s differences as well as their own, and eventually helps one to cope with an unexpected tragedy that affects them all.

4. The Challenger The first record I can find of a person challenging the book is a parent of a 5th grader in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 1992 (no name was revealed). Since then the book has been challenged many times more by parents in: Kansas Illinois Michigan Ohio Georgia Texas California Most of the challengers state that the book has: obscene language negative portrayals of Christianity negative portrayals of a nontraditional family displays disrespect for authority has a theological treatment of death and displays a portrayal of “New Age” religion

6. Found it interesting that they found the book to view Christianity in a negative display

7. Didn’t understand their reasoning for the “disrespect for authority comment”

8. Believes that the responses to the books are unreasonable

10. Extra Credit

11. Bibliography http://www.enotes.com/katherine-paterson-salem/katherine-paterson http://www.afn.org/~dks/banned/banned-books-94-95.html http://www.breakfastserials.com/1PRODUCT_4Authors_Detail.asp?authorID=32 http://www.terabithia.com/about.html