Fantasy Book List

Fantasy Books on Friendship

I chose the theme friendship because I have observed how important it is for students to be accepted by their peers and to be surrounded by their friends. The books that I have chosen were some of my favorite books to read growing up!  

Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

            One of the main themes in Bridge To Terabithia is friendship. This theme is shown throughout the book between the characters Jess and Leslie. In the beginning of the book, Jess and Leslie’s friendship is foreshadowed when Leslie beats Jess in a race. Jess had dreams of being the fastest runner and when Leslie beat him he was crushed and did not like Leslie. However, this all changes when they end up spending time together because they both are the outcasts in the fifth grade. Jess and Leslie become best friends as they discover a forest by swinging on a rope to cross a creak that they call Terabithia. This is where they escape reality and all of their hopes and dreams come true. Terabithia symbolizes their friendship. One day, Leslie went to Terabithia without Jess and she died while attempting to cross the creak. This was the turning point when Jess realizes what a special friendship they truly had. He realizes what he has lost and gained by having Leslie as a friend. Leslie’s friendship showed Jess that he should believe in himself and that he could accomplish great things. By following this advice that Leslie taught him through their friendship, he built a bridge to Terabithia and realized that he was worth believing in. Jess continues to visit Terabithia, which symbolized that he valued their friendship.

“For the first time in his life he got up every morning with something to look forward to. Leslie was more than his friend. She was his other, more exciting self- his way to Terabithia and all the worlds beyond.” - Jess

“To be able to be Leslie’s one whole friend in the world as she was his- he couldn’t help being satisfied about that.” - Jess

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

            The author Roald Dahl portrays the theme of friendship in this book through the lonely character James. James was a young boy that was sent to live with his two cruel aunts when his parents died. He craves companionship and wishes that he could go to the seaside and meet children his own age. Dahl makes the reader feel sorry for James until a magical peach grows in his backyard and he crawls inside. James is greeted by giant insects, which become his close friends by the end of the story. Through the use of personificiation, Dahl gives Miss Spider, Centipede, Old- Green- Grasshopper, Ladybug, Earthworm, Silkworm, and the Glow-Worm human characteristics that allowed James to build friendships based on trust and teamwork. These characters shared challenges that they were able to overcome on their journey through their friendships. At the end of the story, Old- Green- Grasshopper and Ladybug find new careers but still went to visit James in his Central Park home. This proves that they valued their friendship even after their journey had ended.

“James decided that he rather like the Centipede. He was obviously a rascal, but what a change it was to hear somebody laughing once in a while. He had never heard Aunt Sponge or Aunt Spiker laughing aloud in all the time he had been with them.”

“And James Henry Trotter, who once, if you remember, had been the saddest and loneliest boy that you could find, now had all the friends and playmates in the world.”

Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne

            The complete tales of Winnie- The- Pooh explores the idea of an “ideal” friendship for children. Through imaginary friends, Winnie- The- Pooh portrays friendship as spending time together. In each book, the characters face a problem that they solve together as friends.

“It seems they had always been, and would always be friends. Time could change much, but not that.”