Mal, The Maze, and Major Bravery

The Book, The Movie, and What Comes Next

We did something fun for our final Bridge to Terabithia episode — we finished the book, then watched the movie together. In this mini season finale, Lisa and David talk about what the film got right, why (as always) they think the book is better, and how you get through a story this tender all the way to the end.  They also look back on the whole summer mini season — the good, the honest, and the surprisingly hard parts of reading together when the routine falls apart — and share a first look at what's coming this fall, as Our Book Bench turns one. Did you read Bridge to Terabithia with us, or watch the movie? We'd love to hear what you thought. Email us at hello@ourbookbench.com [hello@ourbookbench.com] or find us on Instagram @ourbookbench. 📚 Join the adventure at ourbookbench.com 💌 Email us at hello@ourbookbench.com [hello@ourbookbench.com] 📷 Follow along on Instagram: @ourbookbench

The Best Day, The Worst Day, and What Jess Chooses Next

The World Can Be Beautiful and Devastating at the Same Time Chapter ten is called "The Perfect Day" — and it really is. Then chapter eleven begins. In this episode, Lisa and David sit with the chapters that make this book unforgettable: the joy right before everything changes, the grief that comes in waves, and what Jess Aarons does with it at the very end. David leads the hardest part of the conversation, and they come back to a question from Episode 1 that means something different now. This week's question: When have you chosen to do something beautiful — or kind, or generous — even when something hard had just happened? We'll be coming back to your answers in our final episode.  Email us at hello@ourbookbench.com [hello@ourbookbench.com] or find us on Instagram @ourbookbench. Full reading schedule at ourbookbench.com. 📚 Join the adventure at ourbookbench.com 💌 Email us at hello@ourbookbench.com [hello@ourbookbench.com] 📷 Follow along on Instagram: @ourbookbench

Giants & Grace: What Makes Jess a Remarkable Friend

In chapters five through eight, Jess Aarons keeps doing something quietly remarkable — he changes his mind. About Janice Avery, the bully who hurt someone he loves. About Leslie's unconventional dad. About what it costs to help someone who hasn't earned it. In this episode, Lisa and David talk about what makes Jess more thoughtful than the people around him realize, what the right Christmas gift says about a friendship, and why Terabithia doesn't work the same when you're there alone. Plus, our first listener write-in of the mini season, from Kim in Nebraska. This week's question: Has anyone ever given you a gift that said "I see who you really are"?  We'd love to hear from you. Email us at hello@ourbookbench.com [hello@ourbookbench.com] or find us on Instagram @ourbookbench. Full reading schedule at ourbookbench.com. 📚 Join the adventure at ourbookbench.com 💌 Email us at hello@ourbookbench.com [hello@ourbookbench.com] 📷 Follow along on Instagram: @ourbookbench

A New Season: Meeting Jess, Leslie, and Terabithia

We're kicking off our summer mini season with Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson, and these first four chapters are all about discovery. We meet Jess Aarons, a boy who gets up before dawn to run because he's decided he'll be the fastest kid in school, and who keeps his love of drawing quietly to himself. Then a new girl named Leslie moves in next door and changes everything.  We talk about who Jess is before anyone really sees him, why he makes the deliberate choice to let Leslie in, and how the two of them build a secret kingdom in the woods called Terabithia. (There's even a Narnia connection that meant a lot to us.) This week's question: What's your first impression of Jess? Is he someone you'd want to be friends with, and why?  Email us at hello@ourbookbench.com [hello@ourbookbench.com] or find us on Instagram @ourbookbench. New episodes every week — find the full reading schedule at ourbookbench.com. 📚 Join the adventure at ourbookbench.com 💌 Email us at hello@ourbookbench.com [hello@ourbookbench.com] 📷 Follow along on Instagram: @ourbookbench

Summer Mini Season: Bridge to Terabithia Teaser

We're back! And this time with something a little different for the summer. This is a short teaser episode to announce our Summer Mini Season, and David has a book he's been wanting to get to. He picked it himself, he's read it once before, and he has thoughts on why we should all pick it up this summer. For now we'll just say: it's the kind of book that opens the type of conversations this show exists for. Pick up a copy of Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson at your local library or independent bookstore. More details — including when we start and how to read along — coming very soon. If you're new to Our Book Bench, welcome. We're a mom and son who read books together and talk about them — and we'd love for you to pull up a spot at the bench. 📚 Join the adventure at ourbookbench.com 💌 Email us at hello@ourbookbench.com [hello@ourbookbench.com] 📷 Follow along on Instagram: @ourbookbench