 SPOILER: In the scene where Jess and his parents visit the Burkes  after Leslie dies, Leslies father says "Jess if it wasnt for  you...”. In an interview with Katherine Paterson (qv), she  explained that if it wasnt for Jess, Leslie would have killed  herself, but didnt include it in the book or movie because it  seemed too "dark" for a childrens book.