Tuck Everlasting
Sale price
$858
Chapter Book · Ages 9–12 · 1975 · Est. 3 hour read

Tuck Everlasting

By Natalie Babbit

A girl discovers a spring granting immortality. Is eternal life a blessing or a curse?

4.8/7 Bookroo experts·3.9/5 Goodreads · 301,152 ratings
148 pages· 27,577 words· Est. 3 hour read
$8.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Young Winnie Foster stumbles upon a secret spring that grants eternal life. The Tuck family, who have lived unchanged for decades, share their experiences with her. As Winnie grapples with the allure and burden of immortality, she must decide whether to keep the Tucks' secret and join their endless journey. Will she choose a life without end or embrace the natural cycle of life? This timeless tale explores the profound question of what it truly means to live.

From the publisher

The classic novel about a young girl who stumbles upon a family’s stunning secret What if you could live forever? Is eternal life a blessing or a curse? That is what young Winnie Foster must decide when she discovers a spring on her family’s property whose waters grant immortality. Members of the Tuck family, having drunk from the spring, tell Winnie of their experiences watching life go by and never growing older. But then Winnie must decide whether or not to keep the Tucks’ secret—and whether or not to join them on their never-ending journey. Praise for Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt: “A fearsome and beautifully written book that can’t be put down or forgotten.” —The New York Times “Exciting and excellently written.” —The New York Times Book Review “With its serious intentions and light touch the story is, like the Tucks, timeless.” —Chicago Sun-Times “Probably the best work of our best children’s novelist.” —Harper’s “Natalie Babbitt’s great skill is spinning fantasy with the lilt and sense of timeless wisdom of the old fairy tales. . . . It lingers on, haunting your waking hours, making you ponder.” —The Boston Globe “This book is as shapely, crisp, sweet, and tangy as a summer-ripe pear.” —Entertainment Weekly

At a glance
Format
Pages
148
Words
27,577
Reading age
9–12
Audience
Middle Grade
Lexile
770L
Themes & topics
Books about agingBooks about immortalityBooks about making friendsBooks about social themesBooks about secrets
For the grown-ups

The parent guide

What families may want to know

Every family reads differently. These are the concepts our editors noticed in this book — worth seeking out for some readers, worth knowing about for others. The list isn't exhaustive, but it's a spoiler-light head start.

Violence

One of the characters describes testing testing whether he'd live forever by shooting himself with a shotgun. A character hits and kills a man.

What readers & critics say

Reviews

4.8

out of 7

4.8

Kind of startling The father, Tuck, describes trying to kill himself by putting a shotgun to his head The family kidnaps the little girl The youngest son tries to get her to live forever by drinking the spring water so she can marry him The mother kills the man in the yellow suit, and they all help her escape

The Goodfather

Trusted reviewer

4.8

This is a really fun early chapter book. It feels like a fairy tale and yet unlike any other traditional fairy tale, and it's an interesting concept that can spark a lot of imagination. I think it's perfect for readers in grades 3-7.

Lauren Hancock

Trusted reviewer

For readers who can't stop at one

The next favorite is already out there.

Age-appropriate books selected to help their love of reading grow, delivered right to their door.

Find their book club
Bookroo club box with books for growing readers
Your next read

Books that feel like this one

See all similar books
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
Sale price
$1099

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.

Ages 9–12 · 1970
#1 in Series
Sale price
$999

Julie of the Wolves

Ages 8–12 · 1972

Shiloh

Ages 8–12 · 1991

My Side of the Mountain

Ages 8–12 · 1959

The Black Pearl

Ages 10–13 · 1967

Island of the Blue Dolphins

Ages 10–13

Katie and the Cupcake Cure

Ages 8–12 · 2011

Old Yeller

Ages 10–14 · 1958
The fine print

Book details

Reading levels
ATOS
5
F&P level
~R
AR points
4
AR interest level
MG
AR quiz
247
Publication
Published
August 21, 2007
First published
January 1, 1975
Publisher
Square Fish
Edition
Language
English
Type
Chapter Book
Identifiers
ISBN
9780312369811

Surprise a reader with their next favorite book.

Spotted a mistake or something missing? Improve this page.

Are you the author or illustrator? Claim your book.

Top contributors: The Goodfather · Elaine R. · Literary Leslie

Bookroo

Book Clubs

Follow Bookroo