What do you think?
Rate this book
Lullaby
Merrilee wants only the best for the child she cannot keep. Nora dreams of being a mother to a child of her own. Lullaby is a tender story of a courageous teenage girl and a woman who longs for a baby. A stirring novella that explores the depths of a mother's love. Perfect for gift giving on Mother's Day.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published February 26, 2002
100 people want to read
About the author
Jane Orcutt
22 books34 followersAward-winning Christian author Jane Orcutt was born on January 25th, 1960, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Born with a serious heart defect, Jane faced surgeries and long recoveries from the age of five. But these solitary times only strengthened Jane’s love for reading, and her dream of one day becoming a writer.
Jane achieved that dream with style, not only as a popular Christian novelist with fourteen published books to her credit, but also through her mentorship of many young writers.
Throughout Jane’s life, she enjoyed writing about her home state of Texas. She was particularly talented at breathing life into historical time periods and she brought a fresh view of the bluebonnet state to her readers worldwide.
As a University of Texas graduate, she possessed a broad range of writing and editing skills, which she used in her own writing, as a production worker for an Austin television station, and as an editor for a Forth Worth publishing company.
In 1982, Jane married Bill Orcutt. They had two sons, Colin and Sam, whom Jane homeschooled until they reached high school. Jane often stated that this accomplishment was her pride and joy. She was passionate about helping her sons explore their interests and intellect while allowing them to grow into individual men of their own account.
Jane was a loyal and loving wife, mother, daughter, and sister, a witty and sought-after friend, a powerful writer, and a tender pet owner. Most of all Jane was a follower and lover of Jesus Christ.
On Sunday, March 18, 2007, after a long battle with acute myeloid leukemia, Jane stepped into the arms of her Savior.
She now rests safely in His arms, while her powerful legacy lives on through her family and through her books.
Born with a serious heart defect, Jane faced surgeries and long recoveries from the age of five. But these solitary times only strengthened Jane’s love for reading, and her dream of one day becoming a writer.
Jane achieved that dream with style, not only as a popular Christian novelist with fourteen published books to her credit, but also through her mentorship of many young writers.
Throughout Jane’s life, she enjoyed writing about her home state of Texas. She was particularly talented at breathing life into historical time periods and she brought a fresh view of the bluebonnet state to her readers worldwide.
As a University of Texas graduate, she possessed a broad range of writing and editing skills, which she used in her own writing, as a production worker for an Austin television station, and as an editor for a Forth Worth publishing company.
In 1982, Jane married Bill Orcutt. They had two sons, Colin and Sam, whom Jane homeschooled until they reached high school. Jane often stated that this accomplishment was her pride and joy. She was passionate about helping her sons explore their interests and intellect while allowing them to grow into individual men of their own account.
Jane was a loyal and loving wife, mother, daughter, and sister, a witty and sought-after friend, a powerful writer, and a tender pet owner. Most of all Jane was a follower and lover of Jesus Christ.
On Sunday, March 18, 2007, after a long battle with acute myeloid leukemia, Jane stepped into the arms of her Savior.
She now rests safely in His arms, while her powerful legacy lives on through her family and through her books.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 3, 2024
This book was really good but a hard read in the sense of how real and sad it was. It truly was beautiful and devastating all at once. I loved that it was Christian and shared such beautiful elements of the gospel. Clean read but very very sad.
November 24, 2009
*SPOILER*
this was the first book i ever read that caught my attention. it was the first book that ever made me cry. i felt as if i were the main character (i read this such a long time ago i forgot her name, is it jane?) i laughed with her, i cried with her, i smiled with her, i felt what she felt. this book really drawn you in.i cried in this book so many times, and than at the very end i was full of joy again. if your a sucker for happy/fast paced stories than this might not be the book for you. however, it does have somewhat of a happy ending, just make sure you have a box of tissue next to you while reading this book.
this was the first book i ever read that caught my attention. it was the first book that ever made me cry. i felt as if i were the main character (i read this such a long time ago i forgot her name, is it jane?) i laughed with her, i cried with her, i smiled with her, i felt what she felt. this book really drawn you in.i cried in this book so many times, and than at the very end i was full of joy again. if your a sucker for happy/fast paced stories than this might not be the book for you. however, it does have somewhat of a happy ending, just make sure you have a box of tissue next to you while reading this book.
March 25, 2008
Wow this was a good book. It caught me off guard at the end but still a good story overall.
March 25, 2008
I really liked this book. It's a quick read with a good twist at the end...
July 2, 2011
Read in one sitting...quick read and had some interesting twists. I cried sad and happy tears.
September 30, 2016
Very sweet
May 2, 2023
This is the third or fourth book I have read in a similar genre of nothing telling you that this is christian propaganda until you are halfway through. Sorry the pro life drivel in this is gagworthy as it's shoved down your throat. The person who has gotten an abortion in the past is some money grubbing whore. The single mother who has slept with many men is an evil harpy who cares more about herself than her daughter. The only good people are a christian couple who are completely unbelievable as human beings. And another unwed mother but don't worry guys, she was sexually assaulted, she isn't a BAD unwed mother like those harlots who like sex, she's a good and righteous person. Barf. I hate these books that try to lure you in with an interesting cover and generic story description and then bam halfway through the book it springs on you that you are supposed to find the person who has had an abortion and the unwed mother contemptuous. Practice what you preach and actually stop judging people. It isn't your place but God's if you believe in him. Have empathy and understanding for people who don't act and believe exactly like yourself.
April 8, 2018
Beautiful book I'm not one for christian books but this is an amazing story! I bought it for a dollar (Worth way more) at a used book store a few years ago but never decided to read more than a page or two but the other day I decided to try and read it and fell in love.The first book I've read all the way through in a long time. A stort read six lengthy chapters about forty pages each, a nice weekend read good for anyone of any age young old and everything in between.
January 11, 2021
This was a very touching story, easy to read.
February 24, 2022
Such a good little story but will rip your heart right out
October 26, 2023
Pretty good book. A fast read but the ending felt rushed and I don't feel like what happened with the baby was necessary to the story.
February 20, 2017
[Spoilers Ahead]
I tend to shy away from novellas; the plots always seem underdeveloped and too fast paced. I am so glad, however, that I read this novella. Nora and Merillee were extremely well developed. Merillee was such a wise, strong, and loving young girl. She loved her baby with all her heart and consistently put her baby first. I loved that we were able to read Merillee's letters to her daughter because she was raw, frank and heartbreakingly honest in them. While she seemed aloof, Nora was wonderful and dependable. Her yearning for a child was relatable. From the beginning, I knew she would make a loving and kind mother. Also, the two twists at the end surprised me. I couldn't believe the baby passed away. My heart broke for Merillee, and I was saddened by what would become of her uncertain future. There is something about the adoption of teenagers that I find magical. Teenagers are just as loving and in need of love and attention as a child is. My dream is to adopt an older child in the future. Adoption speaks to me. The overwhelming majority of adoption fiction deal with the adoption of a young child or an infant. I have only encountered the adoption of a teenager in one other novel. I am thankful I was able to read another novel about this topic.
May Jane Orcutt Rest In Peace.
I tend to shy away from novellas; the plots always seem underdeveloped and too fast paced. I am so glad, however, that I read this novella. Nora and Merillee were extremely well developed. Merillee was such a wise, strong, and loving young girl. She loved her baby with all her heart and consistently put her baby first. I loved that we were able to read Merillee's letters to her daughter because she was raw, frank and heartbreakingly honest in them. While she seemed aloof, Nora was wonderful and dependable. Her yearning for a child was relatable. From the beginning, I knew she would make a loving and kind mother. Also, the two twists at the end surprised me. I couldn't believe the baby passed away. My heart broke for Merillee, and I was saddened by what would become of her uncertain future. There is something about the adoption of teenagers that I find magical. Teenagers are just as loving and in need of love and attention as a child is. My dream is to adopt an older child in the future. Adoption speaks to me. The overwhelming majority of adoption fiction deal with the adoption of a young child or an infant. I have only encountered the adoption of a teenager in one other novel. I am thankful I was able to read another novel about this topic.
May Jane Orcutt Rest In Peace.
March 8, 2017
sweet book about adoption from all sides and the Grace needed to get through. Teen girl, older couple, set in Austin, TX.
September 6, 2013
This novella is beautiful beyond words. I was still in high school when I got this and I rate it up with other highly acclaimed novels. Jane created a world and characters that you feel for and get attached to from the get go. From Merrilee's tough choice of giving up her baby and Nora's struggle to adopt a baby along with her husband. The big climax brings a whole new spin on this story and the powerful measure of God's love and mercy is deeply felt. Teen pregnancy is a big issue today and this book is really an eye opener not only on a teen left to make a big decision on her own but the grown women who struggle to have a child then have to go through the tough business called adoption agencies. Merrilee and Nora bring these voices forth respectively and Nora's husband Steven has his role to play no matter how small compared to the females. The fact that this is a novella and not a novel only enhances Jane's work. It's not the word count that makes a book great, it's the quality and the strength of the story itself. A book for everyone no matter your moral beliefs or religion.
April 8, 2009
This book was a beautiful story with a great twist to the end not what I was expecting at all but very happy for the happy ever after ending. This book was written with such emotion that I felt as if the events in the story were happening to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2012
This is a good book for those of us have not had to experience the situations addressed in the book. I was able to understand just a little of what some of my friends have gone through. And this is a tear jerker, I don't cry reading books, but I sure did with this one.
July 25, 2011
Very sweet story!
August 2, 2011
A sweet novella which can evoke all human emotions. A must read for all moms.
December 4, 2012
i cry every time i read it and i have read it 15 times! i love it because jane, the author, knows me and named merrilee after me! last name and everything
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews