From: Leah Langby <llangby>
Date: Fri, 11 Jul 1997 13:41:10 -0500

Another lurker brought forth into the light of day by this discussion...

Many people have commented about Bridge to Terabithia, but I just have to add my bit. I read this book for the first time as an awkward, not-fitting-in fifth grader and it was just the right book at the right time. Not only is it a beautifully written book, it spoke to something deep in my gut. My mother now tells me that I seemed to use the book as a carthartic experience--whenever I needed a good cry, I'd re-read Bridge to Terabithia. My husband and I re-read the book on a car trip a few years ago and it had the same effect. And this is a book that I overhear kids recommending to other kids with that wonderful urgency and intensity that an amazing reading experience can give us.

It is interesting to me to think of some of the very distinguished, affecting books that have been written in recent years... It is hard to imagine a world in which a book like Walk Two Moons or Shiloh or The Giver or More, More, More Said the Baby would not be meaningful and interesting and truly amazing examples of the craft of writing. I have a hard time believing that these books might not stand the test of time, but then again I imagine that is how folks felt about some of the Newberry books that on inspection now don't seem worth recommending to anyone. What do folks think of THAT idea?

Leah Langby (children's librarian, Sturgeon Bay Wisconsin)
Received on Fri 11 Jul 1997 01:41:10 PM CDT