Tuck Everlasting

About this book

Ten-year-old Winnie Foster meets the Tuck family, who drank from a spring that made them immortal, and must decide whether eternal life is worth keeping secret. Babbitt's novel is a fixture of 5th-7th grade curricula and appears on state recommended reading lists.

Where this book is assigned

• Common Core State Standards (ELA)

  • recommended· 5th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 4-5 exemplar
  • recommended· 6th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 6-8 exemplar

Similar grade-level books

• 
  The Giver
  Lois Lowry · 760L
• 
  The Outsiders
  S.E. Hinton · 750L
• 
  The Diary of a Young Girl
  Anne Frank · 1080L
• 
  The House on Mango Street
  Sandra Cisneros · 870L

Common questions

What grade level is Tuck Everlasting?

Tuck Everlasting is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–7, with a Lexile measure of 770L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

What is the Lexile level of Tuck Everlasting?

Tuck Everlasting has a Lexile measure of 770L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.

What curricula assign Tuck Everlasting?

Tuck Everlasting appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.

Is Tuck Everlasting banned in schools?

Tuck Everlasting does not appear in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. No documented multi-district removals on record, but individual districts may challenge titles locally.

What themes does Tuck Everlasting explore?

Central themes in Tuck Everlasting include mortality, choices, family, growing up, nature. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.