Natalie Babbitt (1932–2016)

This isn't my first time meeting the Tuck family but when our local youth theatre announced Tuck Everlasting as the first musical of the season (that G wants to audition for) I decided I needed a refresher because I could not (and still cannot) comprehend how this book becomes a musical. The 2002 Disney movie was strange enough — with aging up the main character and changing it from an existential meditation on living forever and turning it into an obvious coming-of-age romance. show more Fortunately, the musical appears to keep Winnie as a tween.

This book is magical, a reflection on the magic of the world around us — what we see and what we don't see — asking the reader to really think about what living forever would do to a family when everyone else ages. Or what would happen if everyone had the same ability as the Tucks — how would it be abused? The man in the yellow suit is an excellent foil to the homey, pure Tuck family. It's a shame they had to kidnap Winnie and lead the greedy guy straight to their house. I do wish there'd been more time spent with Winnie after the Tucks leave — like 7 years later we meet a 17-year-old Winnie who thinks it must have all been a dream or maybe another book from the poor toad's point of view. How and why did the Fosters give up the wood by their home and what was Winnie's life like as an adult? I'm just left with wanting so much more. The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of a book from the toad's perspective, filling us in on the area as it changes: Winnie's teen years, the tree struck by lightning, what happened to the stream, Winnie's adult years, the destruction of the wood. show less

How would you react if you stood on the shore and watched helplessly while a ship carrying a loved one was dashed on the rocks within your sight, and you could do nothing to help? Would you feel closer to your lost loved one by staying in that spot? Or would the place fill you with fear and anger?

Jenny goes to spend time with her widowed grandmother in a home by the sea, and is drawn into Gram's search for a "sign" of her long-lost sea captain husband. Jenny ponders, for the first time, the show more possibility of things that cannot be explained. This is a gentle tale is of mystery, imagination, and family love -- and I loved it. It's set in an era of sailing ships and horses and buggies, but the themes are timeless. show less

I listened to the audiobook, beautifully narrated by Alexis Bledel with an introduction by Gabrielle Zevin, and it was such a moving experience. Bledel’s gentle, expressive voice perfectly matches the poetic style of Natalie Babbitt’s writing and captures Winnie’s innocence and curiosity. The story of the Tuck family, forever changed by the magic spring, feels even more haunting and thought-provoking when told aloud. I loved how the narration highlighted both the adventure and the show more melancholy of immortality, prompting me to reflect on what it really means to live. Zevin’s introduction provides context and emphasizes why this novel continues to resonate. A timeless, heartfelt classic that works beautifully in audio, highly recommended for both young readers and adults. show less

I've loved this my whole life. I still like creative fables, and 'flash fiction.' And of course Babbitt is the best... these *could* be told as anecdotes, even more concisely, but then we wouldn't get the sly humor, the interesting metaphors, the hints at larger philosophies....

I dropped this on the kitchen table and, sure enough, my 20 yo son picked it up and started giggling right away, and is going to read the whole thing.