- gutsnounChapter 1 →
Courage and determination to face something difficult or frightening; the inner strength to act boldly when it would be easier to give up or stay silent.
“Lord, it would be better to be born without an arm than to go through life with no guts.”
- realizationnounChapter 2 →
The moment when something suddenly becomes fully understood or felt as true, often with a sharp emotional impact, like a shock hitting all at once.
“The realization hit him like a fist in the stomach.”
- protestnounChapter 3 →
A loud, collective complaint or objection made by a group of people who feel something is unfair or wrong.
“He didn't join in the protest, but he didn't speak to her either.”
- crab apple treenounChapter 4 →
A small wild tree that produces hard, sour fruit; common in rural woodlands and often used as a natural anchor for rope swings.
“She was the one who had taken him to the woods and shown him the creek and the old rope that hung from the crab apple tree.”
- rulersnounChapter 4 →
People who hold supreme authority over a place or kingdom; here used in the sense of a king and queen who govern their own invented land.
“They were the rulers of Terabithia and nothing could harm them.”
- reignverbChapter 6 →
To rule as a king or queen over a kingdom; to hold power and authority in a place as its rightful sovereign.
“The puppy took to Terabithia as though he had been born to reign there.”
- IliadnounChapter 8 →
An ancient Greek epic poem attributed to Homer, telling the story of the Trojan War; used here as a benchmark for a great and exciting story.
“'That's fantastic,' she kept saying as Jess related as much as he could remember of the old stories. 'It's better than the Iliad.'”
- hellnounChapter 8 →
In Christian belief, the place of eternal punishment where souls go after death if they have not been saved; used here as a serious religious warning.
“'If you don't believe it, you'll go to hell.'”
- spontaneousadjectiveChapter 9 →
Done on the spur of the moment without planning ahead; happening suddenly and impulsively rather than being arranged in advance.
- stenchnounChapter 12 →
A very strong, deeply unpleasant smell that is hard to ignore or escape; a powerful bad odor that can cause a physical reaction.
“He was standing in the barn, and the stench of it hit him, and he leaned over the hay and was sick.”
- denialnounChapter 11 →
A state of refusing to accept that something painful or terrible is true, even when faced with clear evidence; a psychological defense against unbearable news.
- invigoratedadjectiveChapter 10 →
Filled with fresh energy, life, and enthusiasm; feeling renewed and alive after an uplifting experience.
- poignantadjectiveChapter 13 →
Producing a sharp feeling of sadness or tender emotion, especially when something beautiful is mixed with loss or longing.
- drownedverbChapter 12 →
Died by being submerged in water and unable to breathe; suffocated in a body of water after falling in and being unable to get out.
“It's Leslie. She's dead. The rope broke. She fell into the creek and drowned.”
Bridge to TerabithiaNovel by Katherine Paterson