From the Bookshelf of Never too Late to Read Classics…

Tuck Everlasting

Natalie Babbitt

Start date: August 1, 2020

Finish date: August 31, 2020

Discussion: Children's Classics Buddy Reads

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Jul 06, 2024 Josh Caporale rated it liked it · review of another edition

I read Tuck Everlasting for a book club that I began attending last month. I enjoyed it so much that I have RSVPed for this month, next month, and as long as nothing pops up that takes precedent, I plan to keep attending. It is the second-best book club that has designated reading, only behind Literary Gladiators, which is more of a long-term project and a Booktube channel, but it is a lit club nonetheless.

I am digressing.

Anyway, after going over the baaaaaad, disorganized, disjointed, and all o I read Tuck Everlasting for a book club that I began attending last month. I enjoyed it so much that I have RSVPed for this month, next month, and as long as nothing pops up that takes precedent, I plan to keep attending. It is the second-best book club that has designated reading, only behind Literary Gladiators, which is more of a long-term project and a Booktube channel, but it is a lit club nonetheless.

I am digressing.

Anyway, after going over the baaaaaad, disorganized, disjointed, and all over the place Monster in the Middle, we are now reading a more traditionally sequential book like Tuck Everlasting. It does take on different points of view, but as far as a timeline is concerned, it starts from the beginning and works its way until the end. While it is written for younger readers and thus could be Newbery-caliber (it did not receive a Newbery Medal or Honor, but one of Natalie Babbitt's other books, Knee-Knock Rise, did receive a Newbery Honor), I would say that it was the correct decision that it was not. This book is speculative in its exploration of immortality and asks the questions, "What if we could live forever?" and "Is it worth seeking eternal life?"

Winnie Foster is our central character. She is 10 years old and lives with her parents and grandmother. She feels restricted and wants to feel free and make her way out in the world. She sits in her yard and interacts with the different animals. While on an adventure, she encounters a spring spouting out water. She learns from a young man, Jesse Tuck, that those that drink from this spring become immortal and live forever. Jesse, his older brother, Miles, and their parents, Mae and Angus, along with their horse drank from this spring 87 years prior and have been immortal ever since. They cannot get injured, they do not age, and they do not die. She is whisked away to their place and told how much weight this information carries. However, it is ultimately up to Winnie to decide whether or not she drinks from this spring of water and become immortal.

Another factor in this piece is The Man in the Yellow Suit, who sees opportunity with this spring of water.

I felt immersed while reading this piece. Babbitt does an outstanding job with imagery and does a fine job painting a picture with words just the way she has with her background in illustrating. I also felt a sense of compassion for the Tucks and for Winnie. There were, however, a lot of technicalities that were clearly evident. I felt this was a "Baby Swiss Cheese Novel." A "Swiss Cheese Novel" has many holes in its plot and structure. I only deem this as "Baby Swiss," because things were relatively explained quite well in the plot, but there was a lot in the structure that I felt could not be excused. The clearest of these moments had to do with an interaction between The Man in the Yellow Suit and the adult members of the Foster Family. I also feel that the way Jesse saw Winnie was a bit questionable and it may not have aged well if you ask some.

The main message that comes with this book lies in the argument that there is more magic to life than there is to immortality. This book certainly exemplifies this message, perhaps in a way that dominates the story like an icing that dominates a sheet cake.

There is a lot that I can go into as far as critical analysis and further details are concerned, but they contain plenty of spoilers and I will leave them for another time. I know that I will have a lot to talk about at the book club meeting! ...more

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