Reviews - Tuck Everlasting

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2.66k reviews for:

Tuck Everlasting

Natalie Babbitt

3.8 AVERAGE

rchat's review against another edition

4.0

reflective relaxing fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

oceanwriter's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I’ve been wanting to read this book since I fell in love with the (short-lived) Broadway musical. Why did I put it off for so long?! Although the book is short, it is so lovely.

The Tuck family unwittingly discovers a spring that freezes them all at the age they were when they drank the water. They cannot age, and they cannot die. It took them several years to figure this out, and naturally, the ageless Tucks concern all of those around them, forcing them to live in hiding. The two boys take off and travel, but they come home every ten years or so to visit their parents.

The Fosters now own the wood that houses the spring. Ten-year-old Winnie laments that she is stuck inside all of the time, bored and lonely. One day, she dares to tread past the fence and explore her woods. There, she finds Jesse Tuck drinking from the magical spring. Not knowing about its powers, Winnie insists on a drink as well. In a panic, the Tuck family whisks her away to their home to try to explain their story, all while heeding her never to drink the water herself.

I’ve never seen the film adaptation, so I can only compare it to the musical, but I loved the book just as much! I love that the song ‘The Wheel’ took so many of its lyrics directly from the book. I was surprised by the changes that were made from the book to the musical, such as Winnie having both of her parents in the book, whereas the loss of her father is a driving force in the musical. Winnie’s bond with Jesse is explored more thoroughly in the musical, which makes more sense in light of a later plot point. There are also some smaller yet still significant changes, although I won’t list them all.

Again, this was such a lovely book. The writing was beautiful without being too flowery. I do wish it were longer because there is a lot of depth that could be there but is missing. Nevertheless, the story still feels whole.

Content Warnings

heenee's review against another edition

3.0

I'd never heard of this story before, but it was a nice book!
I imagined The Yellow Suit Guy as a combination of The Man in the Yellow Hat from Curious George, with the personality of the Detective from Iron Giant. XD

jstenman's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

remokelly's review against another edition

5.0

emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

madisonerasmus's review against another edition

4.0

hopeful reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

zacrichey's review against another edition

5.0

Read this aloud to Olive. I sobbed so hard at the beginning, the middle, and the end. Loved Winnie so much. Loved how pertinent and kind and loving that book was to my soul. How much it felt like it listened to all my fears and said “me too” like a gift from fuckin heaven.