Have you ever imagined Bridge to Terabithia as a movie on the big screen?
Not in my wildest dreams.

Have you seen the new film?
I've seen a not quite finished version.

Are you satisfied with it? Does it stay faithful to your novel?
I was happily surprised with the movie. It is not the book, which, of course, it can't be, but I think it is faithful to the story of friendship and loss and new life that the book tells.

What do you think is lost when a book is turned into a movie?
In a book, the reader must create in his/her own imagination the world of the story. A movie necessarily supplies all the pictures.

What do you think is gained?
You gain an audience that doesn't know the book, for one thing. You also gain the vision of all those involved in the making of the movie, just as when a book is illustrated  you gain the vision of the artist. It's an enriching experience.

You have often said that children's literature should not shy away from serious issues. How can books prepare young people for adulthood?
Books can be a sort of rehearsal for life situations. They can also help you know and understand people quite different from yourself.

One of my favorite lines in Bridge to Terabithia is "Even a prince may be a fool." It was one of many profound lines that the children characters speak. Do you think most children are wise beyond their years?
Most children are very wise. All you have to do is listen.

Or were Jess and Leslie special?
Of course, they are special, but, then, so are we all.

Was Terabithia a place where they could run away from reality? What else was it?
I hadn't thought of it as escape, but I guess it was, in a way. I feel they were running toward rather than running away from, if that makes any sense.

What does Terabithia mean to you? What’s your Terabithia?
Terabithia to me is the deep place in our hearts where dreams and ideas--our imagination--is born and grows. When I was a child, we moved many times and I had a number of places that were Terabithia for me--the bottom of our yard among the weeds, the hidden corner of a porch, the old spring house on the farm, the vacant lot across the street, etc. Now that I am grown it is inside of me. But if I hadn't had those physical places of my childhood to dream in, I wonder if I would have a Terabithia inside of myself today.

What does it mean to win the John Newbery Award? What does it mean to win it twice?
The first time I won the Newbery I said to myself, "I'll never mix another quart of dried milk again." From that time on I could afford to buy whole fresh milk for my family. The second time I won, I said to myself, "I can call my friends long distance whenever I want to." And I did. Seriously, it has meant that many more people read and buy my books than I ever could have imagined. Also it means people tend to pay attention to what I say, so I need to watch what I say.

Is there a story that you’re just itching to tell? Or do you think you’ve already written your favorite?
You always hope that you haven't yet written your best book, but I have no idea what that will be about.

Read a review of the movie here.