Tuck Everlasting Audio CD – Audiobook, January 22, 1975

After seeing the movie, "Tuck Everlasting," I immediately wanted to read the book...a lifelong habit of mine. Natalie Babbitt does an excellent job of creating a marvelous story that draws the reader in on the first page and keeps providing simple yet beautifully descriptive paragraphs to pull the reader eagerly from page to page. The main character, a young lady of only eleven (a few years older in the movie) living a sheltered, privileged, and tightly controlled life behind an iron fence, yearns to experience the world outside her gate. The woods next door belong to her father, so what harm could come to her there? Winifred makes a marvelous discovery and encounters an unusual family that provides her more affection and freedom in a short time than she previously experienced in her entire life. Her family fears she has been kidnapped, and encouraged by a mystery man, who wants possession of the woods in exchange for leading them to their daughter, discover Winifred and the family sheltering her. The mystery of what is hidden in the woods, and the unusual family's predicament supply the tension and the crux of the story. The reader is forced to consider one of the biggest of life's questions. As the old saying goes: "Be careful what you wish for; you just might get it.". What decision will Winnie make? What are the consequences of what seems a magical solution that many seek through the ages? Why is the mystery man so determined to gain possession of the woods and why does the Tuck family risk exposure to assure he does not? This is a charming, delightful story that provokes deep consideration. I recommend "Tuck Everlasting" to readers looking for beautiful writing and a story that transcends the page to probe deep into the reader's psyche. I look forward to reading more of Natalie Babbitt's work.

I first remember this book when my children were young and my wife and I read stories to them out loud. It would really catch my imagination. So when I ran across it again, I thought I should read it to see if I thought as much of it being older and maybe wiser.I like it again! The atmosphere, the feeling of loneliness and the question of living forever still makes me think. It reminds me of something my elderly mother said that went something like this: "It is a good thing that we get old so that young people can have a chance to be experts. If not for getting old and dying they would never be able to do more and know more" and would languish in mediocrity I might add.

Tuck Everlasting is the fifth book that my daughter and I have read this summer. It is a winning and thoroughly engaging story that has left both of us talking and thinking.The main thought of the book is, "would you want to live forever?" Good question! We follow the main character, Winnie, as she tackles this complicated decision.At the beginning of the story Winnie is a very sheltered and safe little girl (10 years old). She plays in her carefully groomed front yard, watching things around her (including a thirsty toad). Her world is safe, slow, and somnolent - seemingly napping in the hot, dry sun.The catalyst for change occurs when a man in a yellow suit (no, not hat, you Curious George fans). He is asking questions and seems unduly curious when they (the man and Winnie) hear a strange, almost elfin tune. The man is excited. The girl (Winnie)is motivated to make a surge forward. She runs into the forest where she discovers a young man (Jesse Tuck) drinking from a fountain hidden under stones at the base of a tree. I know, it sounds like a fairy tale. The story does come across as magical. The question is do you believe? Does Winnie believe?Winnie is taken (kidnapped) back to the Tuck home. The house is hidden deep in the country, secluded and existing in a time of its own. The Tucks move Winnie from her safe life to a different world. Their home is messy and disorganized in contrast to her own neat home. The Tucks are delighted to meet her and treat her like a treasured family member. This also is in contrast to her own more reserved family.Throughout her time at the Tucks they tell Winnie their story. Does she believe they will live forever? Will she keep their secret? Does Winnie want eternal life?Different family members present different perspectives to Winnie. Jesse (stuck at about 17) is full of life and is excited by all the world has to offer. The patriarch of the family (simply called Tuck) takes her out to the lake to explain his viewpoint. He points out to Winnie the way the tides of the pond move, all the bugs, and birds, and etc. He explains how everything is born, grows, is in a constant state of flux, and then dies. His family has stopped changing, maturing, growing.The man in the yellow suit eventually finds Winnie and the Tucks. His plan is to sell the water to "worthy" customers who can afford his hefty price. The matriarch of the family (Mae) kills the man She cannot allow the secret (to her the disaster, the epidemic) to spread to an unsuspecting public. My daughter reminds me too of what a burden this would be to the earth if no one ever died.Mae is faced with hanging - something which would surely lead to the exposure of her secret. Winnie helps Mae escape. This is a huge departure for her. It is definitely not something she would have done before the Tucks. She is part of their world,their family now. They love each other. The act is not a legal thing to do but is it a moral thing to do? The Tucks have changed her and Winnie is willing, indeed eager, to help. The consequences are grave. Her family is shamed in front of the whole town. When questioned Winnie can only answer that she did it for love. This her mom understands. Her family forms a fortress around her then, protecting her. Winnie comes to recognize their love for her as well.Before Jesse leaves Winnie for the last time, he gives her a vial of the Spring water. He asks her to think about drinking it when she turns 17 so they can explore all of eternity together. Will she or won't she?The final scene is of Tuck and Mae arriving back in the main town many years later. Everything has changed. The reader has the sense that the Tucks are getting more and more stretched - like Bilbo in LOTR. Their anchor to life is back 100 years. The longer their bodies live, the less they themselves seem to be part of the living world. The reader eventually finds out if Winnie drank the water or not. The answer makes the Tucks both sad and happy. The answer also leaves the reader questioning her decision and pondering their own reactions. Overall, a very satisfying book.

I bought this book because the movie Disney put out was a movie that stuck in my head since I saw it as a kid.I bought the movie and the book together and read the book first with no good memory of what happened aside from the basic plot.The book was short, I didn’t see that coming and it’s definitely for a kids reading level.What I didn’t see coming that the movie fixed is that Jesse was 17 and Winnie was 10..... and he was really into her which creeped me out.While reading the book I understood why some people didn’t like it. I didn’t much like it either even though the story is a favorite of mine.When I finished the book I cried like a baby. I’ll be reading it again.The movie also made me cry like a baby. I can’t help but feel bad for Jesse.It’s cheap, and short. Worth a shot and you can decide for yourself. But it’s not much like the movie so don’t expect that. But the movie will be more magical after reading the book.

Medieval alchemists firmly believed in the existence of the Water of Life which, once drunk, made you live forever, and modern science is looking for it now.Written in the 1970s, just when scientists were first thinking that immortality might actually be possible, was this short novel for 9+ years. In early 19th century America a pioneering family, the Tucks, do stumble on a spring with water that gives them immortality when drunk, though it take them another twenty years to realise it, and then they have to go undercover to live before their neighbours denounce them as witches etc. Eighty years later, towards the end of the 19th century, a young girl called Winnie stumbles on their secret, which leads to complications for all of them. The end of the novel takes place in the brash, ramped-up 1950s, and the Tucks are still trying to lie low. How they'd continue to manage to keep their secret in today's CCTV world is an intriguing thought.It's a very simple story, but it is so beautifully written, with such lyrical language and great sensitivity, that it is deservedly a classic of children's literature.

This book is marketed as a children's book but as an adult, it reads similar to brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson and Herman Hesse.I read it in one sitting as it is very easy to read.I had always heard of it but never read it or watched the film. I'm glad I finally have. No spoilers. It's about a young girl, who as an only child, is watched constantly and longs for freedom and adventure. She finds all that come true over a few short days and the story unfolds quickly.If you've ever been curious about the title, its worth a read.

'Tuck Everlasting' is a lovely story which I enjoyed reading, there was an innocence about it and Winnie, the main character is a great character, as are all the Tucks who make such a impression on Winnie.The only downside of the story is that it was too short. I will definitely read 'Tuck Everlasting' again.

I read this book due to the possibility of seeing the musical on Broadway and I am only sorry I did not come across it earlier. It was such a great, magical story that had me hooked even at 29! As a teacher, it has been added to my recommended reads list for my children

Couldn’t put it down from start to finish

This little book deals head on with the issue of death, how we fit into a life cycle in an ever changing world and how we can embrace life as it is. The story of the book is a magical tale which is engaging and enchanting. There is beautiful phraseology embedded in the tale which, like the story itself, is haunting. I loved it.

The first time I've ever found a classic book to be less good than the film version. The William Hurt/Sissy Spacek film is head and shoulders above the book it is based upon. Still a fun read, though.

A story of a family who have accidentally drunk from the well of immortality and their chance meeting with a young girl who is the only person to learn their secret. A short, tight, lovely book. I can understand why it's considered a classic.

Although this book appears to be written for young people in their early teens, and would probably appeal to girls rather than boys, I (a male pensioner!) enjoyed reading it. It is well structured and maintains the reader's interest right to the last page.

Always loved the movie but never read the book (unusual for me) so I decided to read it and it was great, unfortunately I prefer the movie which is the first time this has ever happened to me. But it was great to read anyway

Beautiful, evocative, precise prose, a pleasure to read. Wonderful story which can be enjoyed by adults and children alike.

hope my granddaughter loves it as much as i did

This book truly moved me. A true book about Immortality and death and how we should spare our time and not waste it, but I never knew why she didn't drink it, and out of everything she gave it to the TOAD!

At first it's a bit random but it gets more interesting once you get in it like any book. It's a bit short but I thought it was a pretty good book and will make you want a toad. :D

Fabulous book for older Children