Tuck Everlasting

Babbit, N. (1975). Tuck everlasting.  New York: Scholastic Inc.

This modern fantasy story is about a family that becomes immortal by drinking from a hidden spring in the woods. It is beautifully written and the progressive plot makes it easy for readers to follow.  It is written in the third person omniscient point of view because the narrator has access to the characters' thoughts throughout the book.  I feel that there are two different kinds of conflict going on throughout this book.  I feel that the Tucks have a conflict with their immortality, especially Tuck the father.  I also think that the conflict could be person-against-person, because the Tuck's have to stop the man in the yellow suit from kidnapping Winnie and also from selling the water from the spring that made the Tucks immortal.  This story full of figurative language, symbolism, imagery, personification, and metaphors.  We can see an example of a simile on page 3, "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".  I feel that this passage also uses imagery to help the reader visualize what they are reading.  A good example of a metaphor comes later in the book... "The sun was dropping fast now, a soft red sliding egg yolk, and already to the east there was a darkening to purple".  There were several instances of personification.  One example is on page 6 "...enclosed by a capable iron fence some four feet high which clearly said "Move on-we don't want you here.""  Another example of personification in on page 22 "The sun was only just opening its own eye". There is so much symbolism in this story. One instance of symbolism is Mae's music box. I feel that it symbolizes peacefulness and happiness.  Another instance is the Ferris wheel.  I feel that this symbolizes the Tuck's lives, a never ending circle that just keeps spinning around.  Of course, you can't mention symbolism without talking about the toad that keeps popping up throughout the story.  In the beginning of the story, I feel that it symbolizes freedom to Winnie, because it can do whatever it wants, and doesn't have any troubles, unlike Winnie who feels like a prisoner because she cannot leave the yard.  In the end, it represents living forever (thanks to Winnie pouring the magic spring water over it). I feel that this is an excellent book for young adults.  It has suspense, action and a love story all combined into a somewhat short, easy to read story.