Tuck Everlasting is a renowned story by Natalie Babbitt. Twice adapted into film and made into a stage musical, this has won numerous awards and become a classic. Some books written for younger audiences defy the genre and appeal to all ages, such as Ursula K. Le Guin's timeless Earthsea series, but although dealing with death and immortality, I found Tuck remained a children's book - entertaining but for a young audience.
Precocious ten year-old Winifred lives in a small town next to a small wood, who always dreams of running away. Exploring the woods one day after hearing the tinkling tune of what she thinks is "elves music", she meets a young man drinking from a natural spring. Soon her family appears and they sweep her away on their horse to their home in the foothills, anxious to protect a secret. The family all drank from the spring and found it gave them everlasting life, which they explain is less wonderful than you'd imagine. The father, the mother, and the two teenage boys will never grow old, and never rejoin the natural cycle. There are life changing lessons to learn, and Winnie realizes she must help protect the family and the spring - especially when a yellow-suited stranger attempts to take over the wood and bottle the water.
This is a short novel, well written and sweetly told. The themes of death and renewal circle around as Winnie realizes the fish they catch must die, and the temptation to drink the bottle of water given to her for when she is older must be deeply considered. Well presented for children yet remaining on that level, so as much as I enjoy novels aimed at boys and girls, this did not rise as much as I would have liked to the level of all ages.
1975 / Tradeback / 139 pages
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