All children can relate in some way to Katherine Paterson's Newbery Medal-winning children's novel, Bridge to Terabithia. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayJess and Leslie, the main characters of the book, go through many life-changing circumstances, such as becoming best friends and then having to abandon this friendship. Three topics that make Jess and Leslie a more mature person are competition, friendship, and acceptance. Jess Aarons is ten years old and growing up in a home where he is the only boy of four sisters. He lives in a small town and struggles to find ways to entertain himself. His biggest hope is to become the fastest runner in fifth grade. It's very important for Jess to win: “Once last year, Jesse won. Not just the first round but the whole shebang. Just once. But it had put in his mouth the taste to win” (Paterson 4). It was very important for Jess to win because he needed the respect of his peers and family. Jess' main interest in life was drawing and no one seemed to understand his passion: "Ever since he was in first grade, he was this 'crazy little kid who draws all the time'" (Paterson 4). Jess needed something in her life that made her feel normal. Being the fastest kid in fifth grade made him feel like a star. He was sure that this year he would be the fastest. On the first day of school, he gets beaten by the newbie, Leslie Burke: “He felt it before he saw it.” Someone was coming up. He automatically pumped harder. Then the shape was there in his side vision. Then, suddenly, he moved forward...The faded cuts crossed the line three feet in front of him” (Paterson 27). Jess wasn't going to be the fastest runner in fifth grade this year. All the boys on the playing field were shocked to learn that Leslie had run the race: “There was no cheering on either side of the field. The rest of the boys seemed as stunned as he was” (Paterson 27) After the race, Leslie tries to make friends with Jess. He's still embarrassed that she beat him and wasn't comfortable being friends with a girl. Jess tries hard to ignore Leslie and not become her friend: “Jess turned her gaze and met Leslie's. He smiles at her. What is this ? There was no reason why he couldn't. What was he afraid of anyway? » (Paterson 31). Jess realized that he really loved Leslie and it didn't matter if she was a girl or if she beat him to the punch. He liked her because she reminded Jess of her more exciting self. They quickly become inseparable. Leslie and Jess are complete opposites. Jess has a lot of fears and Leslie seems fearless. Leslie has imagination and inspiration, and Jess envies her. Leslie's family has money and gets along well. Jess's family is still struggling and almost dysfunctional. But nevertheless, they become best friends. In the woods, they create Terabithia, their own secret kingdom where they rule together. Their friendship filled the voids in their lives. They began to need each other: “Jess tried to go to Terabithia alone, but it didn't work. Leslie was needed to do magic. He was afraid of destroying everything by trying to force the magic on his own, when it was clear that the magic was reluctant to come for him. » (Paterson 65) Jess depended on Leslie to create magic in Terabithia. He did not have enough confidence in his own imagination to believe that he was capable of achieving..