Bridge to Terabithia
by Katherine Paterson
- Lexile
- 810L
- Grade range
- Grades 4–7
- Age range
- Ages 9–12
- Pages
- 128
- First published
- 1977
- Genre
- Middle Grade Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780064401845
About this book
Jess and Leslie, two fifth-graders in rural Virginia, invent an imaginary kingdom in the woods called Terabithia — until a tragedy changes everything. Paterson's Newbery Medal novel is a common 4th-6th grade text and appears on Common Core grade 4-5 exemplar lists.
Themes
- friendship
- imagination
- grief
- bullying
- coming of age
Content notes
- death of a child
- bullying
Common Sense Media recommends age 10+.
Where this book is assigned
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 5th gradesource: Common Core aligned summer-reading list — rising 5th grade
- recommended· 5th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 4-5 exemplar
- recommended· 5th grade · Virginiasource: VA SOL grade 5 aligned text (Virginia setting)
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is Bridge to Terabithia?
- Bridge to Terabithia is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–7, with a Lexile measure of 810L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What is the Lexile level of Bridge to Terabithia?
- Bridge to Terabithia has a Lexile measure of 810L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- What curricula assign Bridge to Terabithia?
- Bridge to Terabithia appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is Bridge to Terabithia banned in schools?
- Bridge to Terabithia does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.
- What themes does Bridge to Terabithia explore?
- Central themes in Bridge to Terabithia include friendship, imagination, grief, bullying, coming of age. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.