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The Secret Life of Lula Darling
A fourteen-year-old slave. A supernatural event. A life filled with great purpose.
Lula Darling is a fourteen-year-old slave growing up on a plantation in Natchez, Mississippi in 1854. After the untimely deaths of her father, and then brother, her perilous life could not seem to get any worse. Under the watchful eye of the slave owner and his father, an inventor, Lula, along with her mother, Ella Mae, are losing any and all hope of ever being free from the bondages and terrors of slavery. But one day, while hiding in fear in the slave owner's attic Lula makes a startling discovery that transports her through time and space into the future and changes her life forever.
What readers are saying about the Lula Darling
"Awesome Story"
"As an avid reader this story was truly captivating. I couldn't put the book down."
"I chose a 5 star rating because the book was very interesting wasn't anything boring about the story line. I would recommend this book to my family and friends."
"Great short story that I would recommend to young readers. A message that there's still compassion within people to help one another, no matter the obstacles they encounter."
"I would recommend this book to anyone. The story line is compelling and it gives way to a great series. The thought of time travel and being transported from such a depraved period to modern times is mind boggling."
"I Loveddd this book, I wish it was made into a movie"
Lula Darling is a fourteen-year-old slave growing up on a plantation in Natchez, Mississippi in 1854. After the untimely deaths of her father, and then brother, her perilous life could not seem to get any worse. Under the watchful eye of the slave owner and his father, an inventor, Lula, along with her mother, Ella Mae, are losing any and all hope of ever being free from the bondages and terrors of slavery. But one day, while hiding in fear in the slave owner's attic Lula makes a startling discovery that transports her through time and space into the future and changes her life forever.
What readers are saying about the Lula Darling
"Awesome Story"
"As an avid reader this story was truly captivating. I couldn't put the book down."
"I chose a 5 star rating because the book was very interesting wasn't anything boring about the story line. I would recommend this book to my family and friends."
"Great short story that I would recommend to young readers. A message that there's still compassion within people to help one another, no matter the obstacles they encounter."
"I would recommend this book to anyone. The story line is compelling and it gives way to a great series. The thought of time travel and being transported from such a depraved period to modern times is mind boggling."
"I Loveddd this book, I wish it was made into a movie"
- GenresHistorical Fiction
230 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 20, 2017
616 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 14, 2017
Missed the ya rating.
Very sophomoric reading. The only interesting thing was the idea of time travel . even that notion was not well developed. Thank God it was mercifully short.
Very sophomoric reading. The only interesting thing was the idea of time travel . even that notion was not well developed. Thank God it was mercifully short.
August 15, 2018
Unbelievable
Surely a book for a young adult/teen book. The story was just not believable. Writing simplistic. Not my genre of book.
Surely a book for a young adult/teen book. The story was just not believable. Writing simplistic. Not my genre of book.
November 19, 2018
Weird. Even disregarding the time travel part I found the characters awkward and the writing stilted.
September 25, 2018
Excellent book. The main character Lula, is a slave on a plantation in Mississippi. She lives there with her mother, her brother and father are deceased. The name of the plantation owner is a man named Harland Mansfield. His wife Martha is a compassionate woman who starts to teach Lula how to read, in secret. Harland's father Hartley invented a machine. No one knows what the machine is or what it does. Harland's father became sickly so he agreed to let him live with him on his plantation and bring his machine. If you can read between the lines, you can figure out what happens to Lula when she accidentally finds the invention--time machine.
September 23, 2020
I really wanted this book to be good seeing the idea is reminiscent of Octavia Butler’s Kindred. Unfortunately, there were issues from the start. The writing is factual and plain. At no time are you given a chance to feel for a character and some of the things that happen don’t make sense. What’s the first thing you’d do if you found a lost child? Well, that doesn’t happen here and a good amount of the story is truly disconnected. Sad to say that I lost interest early on. Could have been a good book.
December 23, 2025
The Secret Life of Lula Darling
Lula is a slave that gets transferred into the future by accident. Things seem very strange to her but a young girl takes her home and the family take her in. There she learns to read and write better and going to school she excels and graduates valedictorian. She gives an inspiring speech then is chased by the government. The FBI, National security and other government officials want to talk to her and examine her once they find out she was a time traveler.
Lula is a slave that gets transferred into the future by accident. Things seem very strange to her but a young girl takes her home and the family take her in. There she learns to read and write better and going to school she excels and graduates valedictorian. She gives an inspiring speech then is chased by the government. The FBI, National security and other government officials want to talk to her and examine her once they find out she was a time traveler.
June 8, 2019
A combination of themes from books by H.G. WELLS and OCTAVIA E. BUTLER
I gave this book a 3-star rating as it doesn't go into too much character depth. The story lines are also not complete and leave the reader with many questions. The heading of my review points to The Time Machine and Kindred. This is not a new idea, but reads like a story by a 17-year old boy. I've kept on reading, as it is an intriguing theme. Octavia's book is written much better though.
I gave this book a 3-star rating as it doesn't go into too much character depth. The story lines are also not complete and leave the reader with many questions. The heading of my review points to The Time Machine and Kindred. This is not a new idea, but reads like a story by a 17-year old boy. I've kept on reading, as it is an intriguing theme. Octavia's book is written much better though.
February 28, 2023
Lula
Quite an interesting concepts time travel. One that not many believe in including me. When I first realized what the story line would be, I almost stopped reading but I continued even though I am not a fan of series that don't end after each book. But I will continue. A must read.
Quite an interesting concepts time travel. One that not many believe in including me. When I first realized what the story line would be, I almost stopped reading but I continued even though I am not a fan of series that don't end after each book. But I will continue. A must read.
July 23, 2017
Good book
Great short story that I would recommend to young readers. A message that there's still compassion within people to help one another, no matter the obstacles they encounter.
Great short story that I would recommend to young readers. A message that there's still compassion within people to help one another, no matter the obstacles they encounter.
December 7, 2017
The Secret Life of Lula Darling
This was a bizarre tale of two worlds, one of Slavery and oppression, and the other this modern world we live in today. A delightful tale and a very fast read.
This was a bizarre tale of two worlds, one of Slavery and oppression, and the other this modern world we live in today. A delightful tale and a very fast read.
July 22, 2018
Did Not like it
I hate leaving a bad review but I did not like this book. The sentience were choppy and the writing did not flow. I did feel the author connected to time he was writing about.
I hate leaving a bad review but I did not like this book. The sentience were choppy and the writing did not flow. I did feel the author connected to time he was writing about.
October 30, 2018
Interesting
What new and innovative concept. Just so many tales that some things were left unsaid...but as I see we have two other books in the series so maybe reading n their would be more exposure of the sub tales. Still a great read, but I’m not ready to invest in book 2 and 3
What new and innovative concept. Just so many tales that some things were left unsaid...but as I see we have two other books in the series so maybe reading n their would be more exposure of the sub tales. Still a great read, but I’m not ready to invest in book 2 and 3
January 26, 2019
Lula
I was hesitant at first to purchase this book. I took a chance and am pleased that I did. It's a wonderful story and although it seems farfetched, I am a if the belief that such things could possibly happen. Can't wait to read the rest of Lula Darling's story. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I was hesitant at first to purchase this book. I took a chance and am pleased that I did. It's a wonderful story and although it seems farfetched, I am a if the belief that such things could possibly happen. Can't wait to read the rest of Lula Darling's story. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
September 3, 2017
Good
This book is a good read for a teenager. But I did enjoy iylt and it is a fast read.
This book is a good read for a teenager. But I did enjoy iylt and it is a fast read.
September 3, 2017
Confusing
This story jumped around so much that it was boring and hard to find any interest in. I was very disappointed in it.
This story jumped around so much that it was boring and hard to find any interest in. I was very disappointed in it.
September 12, 2017
Enjoyed reading this.
March 4, 2018
Only one book/series can do time travel - THE OUTLANDER- sorry , this book did not cut it.
June 19, 2018
Great read
Totally out of the ordinary, was so interesting, I could not put it down. Was disappointed when it ended. A must read.
Totally out of the ordinary, was so interesting, I could not put it down. Was disappointed when it ended. A must read.
September 8, 2018
A choice
Story of an adventure for a young girl. A gift of love and kindness. Surprised at some of story. Enjoyed and will read the other 2 .
Story of an adventure for a young girl. A gift of love and kindness. Surprised at some of story. Enjoyed and will read the other 2 .
October 3, 2018
For my granddaughters. She will enjoy it.
March 10, 2019
Very well written
Such a good read and I was not expecting anything like it, excellent. The book has me from the very first chapter.
Such a good read and I was not expecting anything like it, excellent. The book has me from the very first chapter.
June 15, 2019
This is a must read. Imagine yourself time traveling. The characters were so believable I didn't want the book to end.
July 12, 2019
I’m a big fan of time travel books and this one is by far the worst I’ve read. Bad character development, unlikely scenarios and all around bad writing. So glad I didn’t buy the series.
June 23, 2020
This was an enjoyable read. I was enthralled with the juxtaposition between the two eras. It was a fitting read, particularly with the present day concerns regarding race issues.
March 14, 2018
Not impressed. Felt like I was reading book for 5th graders. Very disappointed
August 26, 2018
Young adult, science fiction, historical story of a young slave girl transported to the future. The description reminded me of another book I read with a similar story involving time travel between slavery times and the future. It was an interesting read, enjoyed the characters and how the eras and cultures interacted . I would have liked to known more about what was going on back in 1854 after Lula “disappeared” ....looking forward to the next book in the series to see what happened to Lula and her mother.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews