This book raises lots of interesting questions about eternal life. Even if you remind the students that the book is about immortality here on Earth, not about the afterlife, religious issues may come up in class. It can be challenging to know how to guide those discussions to ensure that respect is shown for all beliefs.

However, we like to view this book is as an opportunity to allow students to share their feelings about life and death—a concept that's probably much more real to them than theology. If any students have lost someone close to them, there's a good chance this book will bring up some strong emotions. The message of Tuck Everlasting though, is that people shouldn't live forever. After all, the Tucks sometimes felt cursed, and in the end, Winnie chose not to ever drink from the spring, even though she easily could have. Just as Winnie chose to let the trout live by releasing it into the pond, she also chose to let herself live by refusing the spring water. Both of these choices allow growth, and talking with your students about her choice can help them see that growth, which is good, will lead to death, which is part of the natural circle of life.