TUCK EVERLASTING 40th Anniversary Blog Tour: What if You Could Live Forever???

I am so thrilled to be a part of the TUCK EVERLASTING 40 Days For 40 Years anniversary blog tour! More excited that this book is finally being re-released in a hardcover format! And even happier to know that this is a book that will always, continuously, be shared with younger generations for many, many more years to come! A small book that will live on forever, and ever!!!...

2015 marks the 40th anniversary of Natalie Babbitt’s celebrated, ground-breaking title Tuck Everlasting (Anniversary edition on sale January 20). In celebration of the anniversary, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group will publish a special anniversary edition featuring an introduction from Wicked author Gregory Maguire.

Natalie will be in conversation with Gregory Maguire at Symphony Space in New York City on Sunday, January 25 at 1:00 PM. Alexis Bledel, star of the 2002 movie adaptation, will read from the book.

Tuck Everlasting asks readers “What if you could live forever?”
Doomed to, or blessed with, eternal life after drinking from a magic spring, the Tuck family wanders about trying to live as inconspicuously and comfortably as they can. When ten-year-old Winnie Foster stumbles on their secret, the Tucks take her home and explain why living forever at one age is less of a blessing than it might seem. Then complications arise when Winnie is followed by a stranger who wants to market the spring water for a fortune.

Upon the book’s publication in 1975, Natalie was greeted with concern from parents and educators who were stunned to read a book about death written for children. She is an author who challenges her readers and thinks the best questions are the ones without answers.

This 40th anniversary will introduce a whole new generation to this timeless classic. The book has sold over 3.5 million copies in the US alone, and has never been out of print since publication.

TUCK EVERLASTING

by Natalie Babbitt

Foreword by Gregory Maguire

Original release date: 1975

New 40th Anniversary Edition release date: January 20th, 2015

Published by: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Macmillan)

Genre: Middle Grade/Young Adult Fantasy (Classic Literature)

Format: Hardcover (New 40th Anniversary Edition), eBook, Paperback

Format read: Paperback and Hardback from the publisher.

SUMMARY

Blessed with — or doomed to — eternal life after drinking from a magic spring, the Tuck family wanders about trying to live as inconspicuously and comfortably as they can. 

When ten-year-old Winnie Foster stumbles on their secret, the Tucks take her home and explain why living forever at one age is less of a blessing than it might seem. Complications arise when Winnie is followed by a stranger who wants to market the spring water for a fortune.

A brand-new introduction from Gregory Maguire, the author of Wicked, and additional bonus materials make this special edition of Natalie Babbitt's Tuck Everlasting a must-have for lovers of the book and a great way to introduce a new generation to a classic. 

WHAT IF YOU COULD LIVE FOREVER???

Ah, the question that has been asked over and over again for many, many years - what if I could live on forever and ever??? A question that will eternally be asked. A question that will always be answered in many different ways. And these some of these answers will differ for each person... and some persons will have more than just one answer. Like me. Let me explain...

If you were to ask me this question when I was Winnie's age, I would have giggled and said...

"Of course I would want to live forever! I would travel the world! Have all the toys in the world! Play with other children. Learn other languages and cultures. And never have to worry about anything, because I am just a kid. Which means, that I would always have someone to take care of me. But I would be free to do what I want to do... forever!"

Of course, I would expect my parents to be the ones by my side, for eternity. The innocence of not knowing, or caring, what the future may hold - no worries. The Peter Pan sort of life! I was sold! And also, why Peter Pan is one of my all-time favorite stories!

Now ask me again, ten years later... 

The first time I read TUCK EVERLASTING, I was a senior in high school. At this age, I had never read anything like this book. I instantly had much love for the Tuck family. For Jesse. After a few days, I reread their story. And couldn't help romanticizing the concept of being able to live forever... 

At seventeen, I would have said...

"Of course I would want to live forever! How stupid was Winnie to have done what she did. Poor Jesse. I would have done what he asked and found him - go on adventures and see the world. Nothing would get in our way! No one to tell us what to do. We'd live for each other and see everything until the end of time."

The idea of being carefree and seeing the world was a dream of mine. How wonderful it would be to live forever with your first love and do all the things everyone has always said that you couldn't do.

Another ten years go by. I'm now newly married and a first time mommy. Ask me now...

"Of course I would want to live forever! I would love to be able to go through life knowing that I don't have to worry about losing a minute of it because I know that I will always be around. I want to see my child grow up, get married, have children of his own and watch as each generation comes. With my knowledge and expertise, I would be helpful and one-of-a-kind. I would love, and be so loved! Endless love..."

There is nothing like the love of a child! A sweet baby snuggled in your arms, knowing that his love for you will be eternal - you don't want that feeling to ever go away; to never end!

Another ten years go by. Presently, I have been married for over 10 years, 3 kids, a nephew... family and friends, that are so very loved, and cherished. Ask me now, today, if I would want to live on forever... 

"All these years I have quickly answered YES, I do want to live forever! And I would give you a million and one reasons as to why I would want to. However. After reading TUCK EVERLASTING again for the umpteenth time, I've finally come to realize what Winnie saw when she was just a child. 

No. I no longer want to live on for forever. I want to cherish however much time I have; whether it may be just a few more minutes or fifty more years. I believe that if I were to live on, I would not appreciate what I have now because there will always be a tomorrow. If I was to have chosen to live forever before this time, I would have missed out on so much! I would not have my children, I would not be living my life as I am now.
I feel that I may take advantage of my time, since it would be eternal. And knowing that my loved ones may not have that same amount of time, I cannot live on and forget about them. The thought of being without them is so painful. I hope to get to see my children grow up and have families of their own - my grandmother lived until she was 104, it is quite possible that I may too. I will see plenty, witness many loving moments and little miracles. Why should I expect more than that? Why should I deserve more than that? It just doesn't seem natural to me not to experience old age. It is frightening to think of and face - especially when I'm supposedly halfway done with my life now. But as I look upon the elders in my family, and see so many of them so happy, and embracing what they've learned and experience. I feel that I am now prepared to do the same thing.
I am honored and proud to have earned my greys and wrinkles. And I finally feel brave enough to say that I am ready for my future and whatever it may hold. I will not run away from it anymore."

So, my final answer is... no. But, thank you for asking.

If you had the opportunity to live forever, would you???