82 pages 2 hours read

Natalie Babbitt

Tuck Everlasting

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1975

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt follows young Winnie Foster as she discovers a family, the Tucks, who have gained immortality from a mystical spring. In deciding whether to drink from the spring herself, Winnie grapples with themes of life, death, and the passage of time, while also confronting a manipulative stranger seeking the spring's power for personal gain. The story touches on the challenging topic of death.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Natalie Babbitt's Tuck Everlasting captivates with its exploration of immortality and the beauty of life's natural cycle. Reviewers appreciate its lyrical prose and profound themes suitable for young readers and adults alike. However, some find the pacing slow and character development lacking in depth. Overall, it remains a beloved, thought-provoking classic.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Tuck Everlasting?

Ideal for middle-grade readers aged 9-12, Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt appeals to those who enjoy pondering philosophical questions about life and mortality. Fans of Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson and A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle will appreciate its blend of fantasy and deep themes.

RecommendedReading Age

10-14years

Lexile Level

770L

Book Details

Genre

Fantasy

Classic Fiction

Children's Literature

Themes

Life/Time: Aging

Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Relationships: Friendship