Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

1. Tuck Everlastingby Natalie Babbitt • Welcome • Living Forever • Mae • Tuck • Jesse • Miles • The Man in the Yellow Suit • Winnie Conclusion

2. Living Forever In the book Tuck Everlasting, 11-year-old Winnie meets the four members of the Tuck family. She learns that after drinking from a magic spring decades before, they became immortal. Jesse, who loves the never-ending adventure that is his life, wants nothing more than for Winnie to drink the magic water when she turns 17, and become his partner in eternity. The rest of the family has very different views from Jesse. Explore each character’s perspective to help you draw your own conclusion. Welcome Living Forever • Mae • Tuck • Jesse • Miles • The Man in the Yellow Suit • Winnie Conclusion

3. Mae Well, there’s no use complaining about something you can’t change. I don’t know if I would have drunk the water if I knew what it did, but there’s nothing I can do about it now. Just have to make the best out of what life gives you and find things that make you happy. Welcome Living Forever • Mae • Tuck • Jesse • Miles • The Man in the Yellow Suit • Winnie Conclusion

4. Tuck Immortality is unnatural. You can’t have living without dying. We Tucks only get to do the living. We don’t get to grow and change – we’re just stuck. That ain’t no way to live. Welcome Living Forever • Mae • Tuck • Jesse • Miles • The Man in the Yellow Suit • Winnie Conclusion

5. Jesse Immortality is an adventure. I get to travel the world, meeting interesting people and experiencing all life has to offer. I can take risks without a care in the world. So I don’t have a wife – big deal! If Winnie decides to drink the water, she’ll be my partner forever. Just imagine the possibilities! Welcome Living Forever • Mae • Tuck • Jesse • Miles • The Man in the Yellow Suit • Winnie Conclusion

6. Miles Immortality is a curse. I lost the woman I love and my darling children before I even knew what had happened. Now I’m destined to live my life alone, forever. Any person who would consider drinking that water, knowing its secret, would have to be mad. Welcome Living Forever • Mae • Tuck • Jesse • Miles • The Man in the Yellow Suit • Winnie Conclusion

7. The Man in the Yellow Suit What an amazing business opportunity! Think of the money I could make by offering the water to the right people. Now that I have the rights to the wood where the spring is, all I have to do is show my customers the benefits of immortality. I just have to convince the Tucks to be my “advertisement”. If they refuse to help me, I still have the child. Once she drinks the water, she’ll be the perfect specimen! Welcome Living Forever • Mae • Tuck • Jesse • Miles • The Man in the Yellow Suit • Winnie Conclusion

8. Winnie I’m just so confused. I don’t know who to believe. The Tucks are my friends and I love them, but their story is so strange. The things Tuck and Miles say scare me. But Jesse makes everything sound so exciting. We could see and do so many things – we could make a difference. But what if I had to see my parents and grandmother and everyone else I know die? I don’t know if it’s worth it… Welcome Living Forever • Mae • Tuck • Jesse • Miles • The Man in the Yellow Suit • Winnie Conclusion

9. Conclusion How do you feel about the idea of living forever? What advice would you give Winnie? Should she drink the water when she turns 17 so that she can live with Jesse forever, or should she remain part of the “wheel of life”? Write a friendly letter to Winnie persuading her to make the choice you think is right. Welcome Living Forever • Mae • Tuck • Jesse • Miles • The Man in the Yellow Suit • Winnie Conclusion