20 quotes
A Sibling's Wish for a Loyal Companion
Jesse Aarons
I have four sisters. And I'd trade them all in for a good dog.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Debate on TV's Impact on Intelligence
Leslie
My dad says that TV kills your brain cells.
Scott Hoager
Your dad doesn't know anything. We watch TV, like every day!
Leslie
I rest my case.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Detention and Friendship in the Classroom
Mrs. Myers
If any of you try to download this essay, you will be downloaded into detention.
Mrs. Myers
Jesse Aarons! I got it from your sisters. I certainly do not need it from you!
Leslie Burke, May Belle Aarons, Little Kids
Free the pee! Free the pee! Free the pee!
[chanting]
Bill Burke
She loved you, you know.
Bill Burke
Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing - ] said that, not me.
[[w:Teddy Roosevelt|Teddy Roosevelt]
Jack Aarons
She brought you something special when she came here, didn't she? That's what you hold on to. That's how you keep her alive.
May Belle Aarons
If you don't believe in the bible, God'll damn you to hell when you die!
[To Leslie]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Unexpected Reunion Among Friends
Jesse
Hey, guys.
May Belle
See? I told you.
Mary
Oh, my God, Jess.
[hugs him; sobs]
Jack
Where in God's name have you been?
Mary
Where have you been?
Jesse
Mom... I asked you. It wasn't like--
Brenda
They thought you were dead.
Jack
Brenda, hush.
Jesse
Dead? What's going on?
Jack
Your friend Leslie's dead. She drowned in a creek this morning. Apparently, she tried to swing across on a rope, but it broke. They think she hit her head.
Jesse
No. No, it... it's... It's not that kind of rope. It... It... It couldn't break. It wouldn't have.
Jack
But it did. I'm sorry, son.
[gets up from the chair and tries to comfort him]
Jesse
No, you're lying. She's not even dead! You're lying!
[backs away; throws the book to the floor and runs out of the house to find Leslie]
Mary
Jess!
[sobs]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Identity Beyond Parental Influence
Leslie Burke
You are who you are, not your parents.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Exploring Beliefs About God and Damnation
Leslie
I don't think God goes around damning people to hell.
Jesse
Why not?
Leslie
Because He's too busy running all this!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Value of Memories in a Moment
Leslie Burke
Take a picture. Lasts longer.
[seeing Jesse smiling at Ms. Edmonds, bends down]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Power of an Open Mind
Jesse
That's what Leslie Burke says, she told me to keep my mind wide open.
Ms. Edmonds
Leslie Burke is right. With a mind like yours wide open, you could create a whole new world.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
A Talent for Ketchup Packet Shooting
Jesse Aarons
What happened to you?
Leslie Burke
Janice Avery is a very talented person. She can shoot ketchup packets over four rows of seats.
Jesse Aarons
Jeez.
[snickers]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Conflict in the Classroom
Scott Hoager
So I guess you're the fastest kid in school now, huh?
Scott Hoager
It's a joke, dude!
Scott Hoager
Are you nuts?!
Mrs. Myers
Jess Aarons! Go wait for me out in the hall now!
[furious]
Mrs. Myers
Silent reading until I get back.
[to her students; Jesse angrily opens the door and exits, she follows Jesse]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Importance of Writing Skills in Communication
Leslie Burke
You have to write. Boy’s handwriting sucks. No offense.
[Jesse tries to hand Leslie the fake letter to Janice Avery]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Beauty in Belief and Acceptance
Leslie Burke
You have to believe it, and you hate it. I don't have to believe it, and I think it's beautiful.
[on the ride back from church, about Christianity]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Challenging Gender Stereotypes in Creativity
Jesse
It's just that you're a good builder... for a girl.
Leslie
Yeah, well you're pretty good at art... for a boy!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Empowerment in Terabithia's Realm
Leslie Burke
We rule Terabithia, and nothing crushes us!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
The Value of Lightheartedness in Life
Jesse Aarons
What's so great about being serious all the time anyway?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Sibling Concern and Independence in Conflict
Jesse
What were you thinking?
May Belle
I was worried about you.
Jesse
Well, don't be. I just don't want you here.
[angrily jumps in front of her]
May Belle
But I wanna come with you.
Jesse
This is our place, go home. This is our place!
[sternly]
Jesse
I said GO HOME!!!
[enraged]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Embracing the urgency of life's experiences
Leslie Burke
I check my air... I don't have as much time as I need to see everything, but that's what makes it so special.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Questioning Reality and Loss
Jesse Aarons
Is it like ] says? Is she going to ]?
[Leslie has died and Jesse's father tries to comfort him; [w:The Bible|The Bible; [w:Hell|Hell]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Embracing Imagination and Possibility
Leslie Burke
Just close your eyes and keep your mind wide open.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Questions of Faith and Guilt
Jesse
Is it like the bible says? Is she going to hell?
[crying]
Jack Aarons
I don’t know everything about God. But I do know he’s not gonna sent that little girl to hell.
[shakes head]
Jesse
Then I'm going to hell because it's all my fault!
[sobs]
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.