Tuck Everlasting (Sunburst Book) (Cascades S.)

by Natalie Babbitt

The Tuck family is confronted with an agonizing situation when they discover that a ten-year-old girl and a malicious stranger now share their secret about a spring whose water prevents one from ever growing any older.

• ISBN10: 0312369816
• ISBN13: 9780312369811
• Publish Date: 21 August 2007 (first published 1 January 1900)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: St Martin's Press
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 160
• Language: English

Reviews

[Briana @ Pages Unbound]

I’ll admit to having purposely avoided reading Tuck Everlasting as a child. I’d heard it was sad and even a little scary. And I didn’t want to have to ponder the merits of eternal life vs. death. So I didn’t read it and didn’t think about it for a long time, until someone mentioned to me in passing that the woods in the story was based on a place I had been.

Having read the book, I’m not sure I see any particular connection between Winnie’s woods and the wood I’ve seen—which may be partially due to the passing of time and partially due to the fact that the book isn’t particularly very descriptive, about anything. All I really know is that there’s a spring in this woods and a path that goes around it but not through it. And lots of cows in the surrounding area, which is still true today. So, bereft of the pleasure of being able to say, “Yes! I know that tree!” (or whatever I was expecting), I was left having to consider the story on its own terms. Mostly I was bored.

I know that Tuck Everlasting is a very moving novel for many people. I’m sure it could have been for me, if I’d read it as a child. Its great power lies in asking the question: Would you want to live forever? And if I were ten, that would probably be a provocative topic. Since I’m older, I’ve already been asked that question myriad times, often in books that are more complex than Tuck. I appreciate that Tuck at least offers a variety of opinions, both on whether living forever is worthwhile and what one should do with all their time if they do happen to be immortal, but things were pretty simplistic.

I do recognize the book is for children. Also, I genuinely like to read many children’s books. However, this one is definitely a younger middle grade book. Everything is short and simple. Short sentences. Short chapters (sometimes only one page long). Things just happen in the book, without much background or later explanation. In one sense, that makes it tempting to say the book is plot-driven. But, in the end, I think it’s not. Because the story isn’t really the point; it’s mostly dressing for the author and reader to consider the major question of the pros and cons of immortality.

I’m glad I’ve read Tuck Everlasting; it’s definitely a modern classic in children’s literature. However, if I could make recommendations, I would suggest readers pick it up at as young an age of possible, so its message and questions will really seem new, and its simple prose will seem helpful rather than dull.

[lovelybookshelf]

An 11-year-old piano student of mine enthusiastically recommended I read Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. She was so excited while describing the book, I had to stop her so I wouldn't hear any spoilers. I love that! Originally published in 1975, this novel is geared for ages 10 and up. How did I miss out on this book as a kid?!

What a captivating story! It takes place in the summertime, late 1880's. The main character, Winnie, is an only child with helicopter parents (and grandmother) who won't allow her to leave the yard by herself. One day she can no longer ignore that natural desire to branch out and explore; she breaks the rule, crossing the street to investigate the woods her family owns. Babbitt paints the scenery of the town and its outlying areas vividly. I was reminded of all the fun I had when I was Winnie's age, exploring the woods behind my own house. I felt sorry that Winnie wasn't allowed to have the same adventures.

The book has a great pace. At the start, the boredom Winnie felt during the hot summer days in her front yard were well-portrayed. By the time she left the yard and headed for the woods, I was feeling a bit stifled myself and was cheering her on. Once Winnie met the Tuck family, the story picked up and moved pretty quickly.

I did find it a little odd that Winnie felt such a strong, close connection to the Tucks after only a couple of days, considering the friendship starts out with them kidnapping her. On the other hand, I think Winnie realized from the start that they were good people who had something of the utmost importance to tell her. She was always listening to and trusting her own instincts; I appreciate seeing that trait in young protagonists.

The wellspring of eternal life, that concept of immortality, presented an opportunity for the novel to approach the cycle of life and death. Babbitt does this gently and with sensitivity. There is a lovely scene when Tuck explains, "It's a wheel, Winnie. Everything's a wheel, turning and turning, never stopping. The frogs is part of it, and the bugs, and the fish, and the wood thrush, too. And people. But never the same ones. Always coming in new, always growing and changing, and always moving on. That's the way it's supposed to be. That's the way it is."

Winnie learns that sometimes you have to break rules to do the right thing, too. (Ummm, they had gallows as punishment back then!) I love that her parents learned to trust her, that they listened to her reasoning and understood. And the ending... I thought it was perfect.

If you didn't read Tuck Everlasting as a kid, like me, you missed out! It's not too late, I enjoyed this as an adult. It's a very quick read, perfect for a rainy afternoon.