Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
ISBN: 9780374378486
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Young Adult Fiction/Fantasy, ages 9 & up
ALA Notable Book, Janusz Korczak Medal, 1976 Christopher Award for Best Book for Young People
FTC Disclosure: Purchased
I am not much for prologues, but this one set the hook quite well when I picked it up at the library sale. It is also a wonderful way to showcase the author’s style.
The first week of August hangs at the very top of the summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from the balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color. Often at night there is lightning, but it quivers all alone. There is no thunder, no relieving rain. There are strange and breathless days, the dog days, when people are led to do things they are sure to be sorry for after.
I had no idea until I began reading this book that it’s Young Adult fiction.
Was I put off? Not in the least.
As it turns out, the story and its theme are ageless. There is a kidnapping and murder, but it’s handled in a fashion that keeps this suitable for younger sensibilities. (And don’t worry, giving you this information in no way is a spoiler).
For us older folk? There are beautifully written passages, and a theme that will keep you wondering long after you put down this novella.
Yes, it’s a very short read, but it carries quite a punch.
It makes you think about mortality & ethics. It could go deeper, but why over-explain something we should figure out for ourselves? In addition, this is for a younger audience who aren’t quite prepared to jump so far out into the deep end of the pool. Think of this as a way to introduce them to it through the shallow end.
But if you do like stories that are deeply philosophical, then there are plenty of literary works that cover the same territory with bigger words and whose authors are happy for you to dive right in, sometimes over your head.
I think that is why I am so enamored with this book. It’s given me a lot to think about, but never overwhelmed me – not once.
As I noted on Twitter, this book can be the poster child to prove YA fiction can be anything but devoid of thought-provoking content.
A definite recommend to anyone who has never read it, or has seen the movie. I haven’t. Not sure I will. I have this thing about adaptations.
But if you have, and liked it, I’d love to hear your opinion – especially if you’ve read the book too.
Well I loved the movie. It’s probably nothing like the book. Most film adaptations butcher the spirit of the book. Your review has definitely reawakened my interest in the book though. Sometimes, child literature turns me off but I still believe that there are some stories that should just be read because they are that good. This sounds like it might be like that.
I loved the book. I’ve seen the movie, and it’s not horrible, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the book. So glad you discovered it!
So glad you enjoyed this! What did you think of the ending which left me devastated? I thought Winnie would do the opposite of what she did.
Vasilly:
I was sad, but in a way happy. When she reached the age of seventeen, she must have figured out exactly what Tuck had meant about the wheel, and decided she was better off living as part of it, than not.
Initially, the allure of immortality is great, but at what cost? And we are talking a very personal one. She must have remembered a lot about the Tuck family she loved, but mostly, I think she remembered Pa Tuck’s regret.
I read this back in high school…but I don’t remember anything about it. I sped through books in high school and sadly recall little of what I read. I think I read it because of the movie trailer and I thought the trailer was beautiful, but then I never saw the movie.