What are the big issues of this book that are true in real life?

The underlying message, what the big story tries to teach you, is that you should be kind to people for who they are and not judge them right away. Just be yourself. Another message is boys and girls can be friends. They don't have to keep in separate groups, and they don't have to be boyfriend and girlfriend. It's just about kindness and your imagination, and having fun and still being able to be a child.

What are the advantages of boy/girl friendships?

They're fun! You might have more in common with a boy than you do with a girlfriend. Friends are just people. They can make great playmates, or they can be really fun to hang out with.

Did you become friends with your co-star, Josh Hutcherson, in real life?

We became very good friends. He's very funny and outgoing, and we always hung out with each other. He was just fun to talk to. We played on the beach together a lot, hung out and watched movies together. I hung out with his little brother too. His whole family is really nice, and his tutor taught me how to throw a football. On our lunch breaks we'd play whiffle ball, sometimes football. It was just a really great experience.

In real life who are your best friends?

I have a lot of older friends. My cousins are all girls on my dad's side. I'm right in the middle, and they are all my best friends. I have three other best friends. One is Julia Winter who played Veruca Salt in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I do have guy friends. I have one really good friend named Tyler. He's my parents' best friends' son. He's 18, and I feel like he's my older brother. It's really just great to be able to have such wonderful friends.

What is the message about bullying in Bridge to Terabithia?

Bullying mostly comes from insecurities about your own self. You have to be comfortable with yourself. It's alright not to be in the in-crowd. You're just who you are and your family and friends love you. You never know truly what someone is feeling inside.

Do you think boys and girls often feel competitive with each other?

Definitely! When I was little I definitely remember having competition with boys. In 3rd or 2nd grade I was in gymnastics. I was quite strong and quick. I beat all the boys in the physical fitness test in school. I thought it was the greatest thing in the whole world. I beat them all in a race and push ups and pull ups. They weren't too happy about that!

Your character, Leslie, can run faster than all the boys at school, including Jess. How is Leslie competitive in a positive way?

She's just a very open person and wants to learn about the world, and that's how I am. She just likes to have fun. She's not running or racing to win. She's doing it because it's what she likes to do. She believes boys and girls shouldn't be separated because that's not completely fair. She's challenging herself basically, and she's just learning to have fun.

What does Leslie teach Jess about healthy competition?

He begins to realize she's not doing it just to show off like he is. I think he learns it's not always about winning. It's about doing your best and having fun with it.

Had you read the book before you started filming?

I had heard a lot about the book. I read the script and as soon as I finished the script, I read the book. What the movie definitely brings out that the book doesn't is, books let you imagine your own kingdom. Movies tend to bring the book to life. The movie shows you Terabithia instead of you imagining it.

How true is the movie to the book?

I think it matches it really, really closely. It's such a great story. It's not cheesy, it's real, and powerful. It shows you that you really have to love what you have and pay attention while the people you love are still alive because they can teach you a lot of things.

The book was banned in some areas when it came out. What do you think of that?

I'm shocked, actually. I think books make kids deeper people. They can teach you the world.

How is fantasy dealt with in the movie?

It was a really wonderful experience. All the stunts were so much fun to do. Josh was definitely into the stunts! Once we had to pretend the sticks were swords. We did a lot of our own stunts. I liked climbing the tree, just jumping from limb to limb, jumping really high. I knew if I fell or flipped I'd be caught by the wires.

How does this compare with previous acting?

We did a good amount of work in a studio as well as outside ... I love being on location. It was great being able to fantasize and have equal amounts of stunts and acting. It was just a great experience all around, and being in New Zealand made the experience more incredible.

This is the fourth movie you've made that was adapted from a novel. Does your acting really have to be true to the book? How much wiggle room do you have?

Usually, what I do--I read the script or the book beforehand. It's also just a choice I make to read the script and see how close it is to the book. I took Leslie's energy portrayed in the book and combined it with my own and just tried to become Leslie.

What kinds of books do you like to read?

I love to read fantasy fiction. I’m opening up to other books too, like biographies.

Actor Josh Hutcherson plays Jess Aarons in Bridge to Terabithia. He recently spoke with Current Events' associate editor Sarah Caron about his role in the movie and life in general.

How did you prepare for this role?

I read the script first and, after I read the script, I read the book. It translated very well from the book to the script.

For me, I just imagined that I am Jess Aarons. I guess it's kind of method acting in a way. But method actors tend to stay in character throughout the whole process. When I am not filming I am just Josh.

Is this movie true to the book?

Yes.

The book was banned in some areas when it came out. What do you think of that?

I didn't know it had been banned. But it is very unlike a typical children's book. That's one of the reasons why I really liked the script. It's unlike a lot of family movies there are out right now ... it does have some deeper shades to it, though.

How is fantasy dealt with in the movie?

They used Weta Workshop to create special effects. They were the same people who did Lord of The Rings. They've used them a lot for all the special effects.

Did you do any of the stunts?

I did almost all my own stunts ... there were just a couple of them that were too dangerous. I did as many as they let me do.

What are the big issues of this story that are true in real life?

I think that there are kids who are outcasts and they get kind of picked on at school. They need to find a good friend to hang out with and create sort of a fantasy world like we did in the movie.

What advantages are there of boy/girl friendships?

I think there are advantages to boy and girl friendships because they can lead to other kinds of relationships ... at the same time they can lead to other kind of diversity. It widens kids' horizons on what they like to do, I think.

Did you become friends with your co-star, AnnaSophia Robb, in real life?

We were really good friends. We still are. She came here to visit once because they were going on a trip somewhere and were able to stop by here in Kentucky.

In real life who are your best friends?

One of my best friends is Kiefer Winings. We've been friends since I was 5. Shannon Wadda is my girlfriend and we're really good friends.

What is the message about bullying in Bridge to Terabithia?

The message is sometimes people aren't going to change their ways and you are going to have to find ways to stand up to them.

Do you think boys and girls often feel competitive with each other?

I think so, especially at the age we are in the movie, which is about 6th grade or so. It's really competitive. But once you get older there isn't so much. For me, I like to let girls win because I just feel like I should.

What kinds of books do you like to read?

I have to do a lot of reading for school for my literature class, so I don't have a lot of time to read ... but my favorite genre is the fantasy genre. It's different. I also love reading scripts. It's probably my favorite thing to read.

I'm home schooled. It makes it a lot easier as far as scheduling goes because you can do it all on your own time. Actually, I am a year ahead in school.

Is there one scene that stands out in your mind the most -- either because it's a favorite or because it was more challenging?

The scene that has the really, really long stunt sequence was my favorite. In the script it was a 6 or 7 page scene, which is really long for a script. It took like 2 and a half or 3 weeks to shoot that one scene.

What's been your favorite role so far?

I liked playing Jess quite a bit because he had a lot of highs and lows. He had a large character arc.

Read a review of the movie here.

On the back page of READ's Valentine's Day issue, we asked you to send us a list of words in order to fill in a Madlibs story. Today, we give you the weirdest stories we could handle. Thanks to everyone who submitted their words! 

Oh, and make sure to check out interviews with China Miéville to win a free, signed book! Also, read an interview with the man who wrote Finding Neverland -- Allan Knee. And then, when you're done with that, you can read a super cool story about John Wilkes Booth by 17 year old, Sarah Solomon! WORD is just BURSTING!!! Happy Love Day!

The Alligator and the Crocodile
A Love Story by Bryon Cahill and Audrey Wright

Once upon a lie, in a swamp in the far reaches of a corner of the world no mortal man had ever stepped foot on, lived a sad, little alligator named Tyrone. Tyrone wasn't always sad. In fact, he was often referred to as the swamp's most passionate fellow! However, recent developments have brought on depression.

In the past nanosecond, there have been six different weddings in the swamp. Tyrone attended them all. The first few were blistering and Tyrone was so happy for the couples! But by the fourth wedding, he had begun to think, "Where is my true love?" Once that thought was planted in his head, Tyrone couldn't shake it. He tried smiling at the few remaining single girl alligators that were left in the swamp. But they would have nothing to do with foggy Tyrone. For you see, the few remaining single girl alligators in the swamp were perky.

After about a month of having his flirtations scorned, Tyrone decided to head out for cereulean pastures. "There has to be an alligator-ess out there for me… somewhere." He said to himself as he packed up his things and left his home.

Tyrone searched Zanzibar and Wal-Mart for his one, true love. But as he soon discovered, all swamps were the same. There had been a rash of alligator weddings throughout the land in the past couple years. He blamed the epidemic on mudslides and cursed his fowl luck. Distraught and strong, still, Tyrone pressed on.

One day, when he had just about given up hope of ever finding his uber love, Tyrone was crawling through a particularly funky patch of land. It was so hot that Tyrone began to hallucinate. He saw a dragon and an elf in a boxing match on the back of a velvet rhinoceros. The strangest part of all was that the rhinoceros was commentating!

"In this corner, weighing in at 14 grams, the winged champion of fire, the repulsive demon of the air, the eater of oxen and villages—The Vile Dragoon!" At the mention of his name, The Vile Dragoon raised his massive head and breathed doorknobs into the sky.

"And in this corner … an elf." The tiny man with a pipe in his mouth winked at Tyrone, and with that, Tyrone fainted.

Tyrone slowly opened his eyes. At first, he was sure he had died and gone to the Port-O-John. He was lying in the coolest pool of water he had ever known and he was surrounded by tipsy trees. A dish of food rested just out of his reach and he swam over to it.

"Hey there, stranger." A soft voice whispered. Tyrone was so scared that he exfoliated up and hit his head on the branch of a tree. When he came down, he looked around. First he beheld a vision of beauty—a female crocodile. Then, he saw the bars on every side. He was in a cage!

"Where .. where am I?" Tyrone asked.

"It's called Yaks, baby! They brought you in last night. You were mumblin' about all kinds of crazy stuff. You were funny!" The female crocodile laughed in a high-pitched falsetto and Tyrone's heart just melted.

"I… I'm Tyrone." He managed.

"Hi Tyrone. My name's Ally Gattore. You're cute."

"Really?"

"Why sure, honey! Too bad for the lady alligators out there though. You're gonna be stuck here in this cage for the rest of your life!"

"With… with you?"

"Yes honey. With me."

For the first time in his life, Tyrone had found love.