The Secret Of Laurel Oaks Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
A haunting historical mystery based on real life events, told in the alternating points of view of a contemporary girl and a 19th century slave accused of a horrible crime. When Lila and her family visit Laurel Oaks Plantation in Louisiana, her parents and brother scoff at the claim that the house is haunted. But secretly, Lila suspects there are ghostly presences willing to communicate with her, and her alone. One spirit eager to tell her story is Daphne, a slave girl at Laurel Oaks in the 1840s, who was blamed for the poisoning deaths of two girls and their mother. Daphne's spirit senses that Lila is the very person she's been waiting for, the one who can prove her innocence so her spirit can rest at long last. Shifting back and forth from Lila's world in the present to Daphne's world in the past, the true story of what really happened that fateful night finally comes to light. Laurel Oaks is a thinly disguised version of the legendary Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana, which is on the Smithsonian's list of the ten most haunted places in America. This middle grade novel was inspired by the author's visit to the plantation and her experiences there.
Mass Market Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Starscape; Reprint edition (September 29, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 076535229X
ISBN-13: 978-0765352293
Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 7.7 inches
Shipping Weight: 0.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #158,823 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #74 in Books > Teens > Historical Fiction > United States > 19th Century #95 in Books > Teens > Mysteries & Thrillers > Historical #622 in Books > Teens > Mysteries & Thrillers > Mystery & Detective
Since mom is giving a presentation at the Biophysical Anthropology Conference on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge, her entire family decided to attend. Besides mom, dad, and their two children (fourteen year old Gabe and thirteen year old Lila) leave their home in Albuquerque to stay for a few nights at creepy allegedly haunted (that is what the Smithsonian web site claims) Laurel Oaks B&B.The ghost is Daphne an antebellum young slave accused of murdering her Master Judge Nethercott's wife and two daughters Molly and Alice in 1840 at Laurel Oaks Plantation; Daphne died in the nearby Mississippi. She has never moved on because she is obsessed to know what truly happened on that horrific day when four females died. She believes that Lila is the person she has waited for to help her investigate the murders.The supernatural aspects of the tale has been done a zillion ties, but is somewhat refreshed with non-graphic implications of the uglier realism like molestation and rape on a slave plantation. The story line rotates perspective between the two teen female stars with Daphne's occurring in 1840 and the more fascinating of the two "tales". Young adult fans will enjoy Lila's cold case murder investigation.Harriet Klausner
I loved this book. It was awesome. My friend recommended it to me saying she loved it, so I bought it, read it, and loved it! The chapters change perspective from Daphne who is a slave in the 1800s to Lila a girl in the present trying to solve Daphne's mystery. This book is a mystery novel that is perfect.
Ssspoookeeey. And soooo good.Lila's family decides to stay at a certified haunted Laurel Oaks Plantation-turned B&B in Louisiana. They all think it's interesting and fun, except for Lila whose recent experience (which possibly involves and highly suggestive of ghosts talking to her) has made her jumpy about spirits and haunted B&B and such.Soon enough Lila encounters MANY spirits and ghosts in many shapes and forms and also has reasons to doubt whether certain people (and non-people) she sees are actually what they seem to be (people and other things) or NOT. She manages to convince her brother Gabe who firstly and appropriately thinks she's crazy but then sees and hears those spooky things himself.It's Cold Case plus Ghost Whisperer but WAY CLASSIER. There was a murder mystery, you see, and Lila is to find the secret that solves the mystery.You get slavery, romance (sweet, nonsteamy kind), love, history, all bundled into a complex murder mystery.Oh by the way, the author's note at the end says it's based on a true story. There is actually this haunted place and you can go stay there and that murder happened and all.I am doubly-spooked.
i went to our library and checked this book out and i couldnt put it down. i love scary stories but im young so i never want to read anything that is too scary. i love the plot and how she twisted something old into something new and interesting. i told my friends this and immediatly they lounged to get this book. they all said the same thing. its crazy but now we all wonder whenever we are reading somethimg about ghosts if it is laurel oaks.
This was a really good book. It wad scary and had a little mystery in it. I love that combination. I like how it goes back and forth from Daphne's history to Lila's modern life. And I actually really like how it's based on one of the most haunted places in America. I suggest you buy this book.
I grew up loving the story of Chloe so I was glad to find this. But years of reading what I can I know that the stories promoted by the Myrtles is nothing but lies. Its a wonderful story but I am tired of it being stated as truth. That is why the low rating because Lois Ruby states that the story of Chloe is real. Just some digging will show that the real story is just as tragic and deserves to be told. This book is fiction and based on fiction!
This is a very good read for young adults and the young at heart. There are many twists and turns. This is the second book we have read by Lois Ruby and have enjoyed both.
This was a surprise for my daughter and once again Lois Ruby knocks it out of the ballpark!
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