by Natalie Babbitt
Winnie Foster runs to the woods to escape her oppressive life around the turn of the century. She finds a Jesse Tuck in her woods drinking from a stream and starts questioning him. When she cannot be deflected from her curiosity she is kidnapped by the Tuck family, who is more sorry about her kidnapping than she is. She learns the secret of the Tucks-they have been immortal ever since they drank from the spring. Now she has the choice to follow in their footsteps and some time to decide. She examines each member of the family and their different views on life. Jesse very much wants her to drink the water when she gets older. Ma Tuck is so happy just to have a girl in her life once again. Miles and Pa Tuck share the broken hearts they've had because of their immortality. Winnie finds friendship and freedom for the first time with the Tucks, but is that worth giving up one's place in the cycle of the world?
Winnie Foster runs to the woods to escape her oppressive life around the turn of the century. She finds a Jesse Tuck in her woods drinking from a stream and starts questioning him. When she cannot be deflected from her curiosity she is kidnapped by the Tuck family, who is more sorry about her kidnapping than she is. She learns the secret of the Tucks-they have been immortal ever since they drank from the spring. Now she has the choice to follow in their footsteps and some time to decide. She examines each member of the family and their different views on life. Jesse very much wants her to drink the water when she gets older. Ma Tuck is so happy just to have a girl in her life once again. Miles and Pa Tuck share the broken hearts they've had because of their immortality. Winnie finds friendship and freedom for the first time with the Tucks, but is that worth giving up one's place in the cycle of the world?
Audience3rd-5th grade
What I Love About This Book
After reading so many sensational novels, it was a breath of fresh air to read this sweet little story about choices and belonging. This is a gently paced book with a special sweetness I haven't found very often. The moral is something to think about. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for this book.
Cautions
SPOILER!!!! The moral is that life is valuable because it is so short. Death is presented as being necessary to life. Immortality is portrayed as a misery.
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