Book Summary and Reviews of Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Reader Reviews

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Donna D. (Riverside, IL)

The Mystery of History
Hidden history is fascinating to me. It's all those untold and under-told stories I've discovered in historical fiction. Happy Land is a perfect example. The author presents the facts of the existence of the Kingdom of Happy Land interwoven in a fictional family history thus animating what may otherwise have been a mere footnote in post civil war history.

Nikki doesn't have any idea of her family's past. Her mother is estranged from her grandmother so she never had the opportunity hear any details of her family's origins. Then she receives a call from her grandmother to come for a visit. What follows is a story of determination, pride and perseverance. Perkins-Valdez paints a vivid picture of those post war years on a mountain in North Carolina and the freed slaves who make it their home. It's a largely self contained and completely self governed microcosm of society.

The story in engaging and emotional. I could feel the awe as Nikki discovered her ancestors and their place in the Kingdom of Happy Land. Please read this book! The story is engaging and you may even learn a bit of history. Even if you're not a fan of historical fiction, I believe you will find this book an excellent read.

Versana P. (Franklin, LA)

Lost History
I loved the way this book took us back to the past to help inform what is happening in the present. This book did an excellent job of keeping a part of history that is rarely talked about alive. I highly recommend this read and I hope you will get it into the hands of young people.

Becky S. (Springfield, MO)

A little known piece of history !
Historical fiction is my favorite genre and I really enjoyed this book! I love learning something new in a great book. I loved going back and forth in time to learn about Happy Land , in the 1800s and the struggle to keep the land in the present day. The relationship struggles in both time periods were realistic and kept me turning each page … I highly recommend this book for lovers of historical fiction or just a good , interesting read.

Ticey G. (Andover, KS)

Another Fantastic Historical Fiction Novel
I love historical fiction books that jump between the past and the present. I think it really showcases how much the past influences the present even if it was generations ago.

I had never heard of a Kingdom in the US and I found this fascinating and inspiring to see how a group of people banded together and created a loving society that worked together for the good of the people.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it.

Emily B. (Ellicott City, MD)

Love everything about Happy Land
I loved this book from the first page to the last and want everyone to read it!

In this dual timeline, Nikki (present time) is summoned from D.C. to North Carolina by her estranged grandmother, Mother Rita for an unknown reason. Before she'll tell Nikki why, Mother Rita insists that Nikki learn about her ancestors, specifically her great-great-great grandmother and their history with the physical land in N.C., once known as the Kingdom of Happy Land.

As with most dual timelines, I liked the present time but loved the past. Without giving any spoilers (this part is in the book description), I'm in awe of the men, women and children who came out of slavery physically and emotionally beaten and broken, and had the wherewithal to create new lives. Happy Land provides stunning insight into a real group of freedpeople who established their own community. The characters' connection and linkage to the land was beautifully told and so impactful.

This is my first Dolen Perkins-Valdez book (although truth be told, Take My Hand has been on my TBR for two years). Her writing is so lovely and easy, and flows nicely between timelines, a testament to her talent as that can easily feel choppy and messy but doesn't get even close here. The imagery is so vivid and clear I can picture every scene. The author's note gives more details on the community she based the book on, and I immediately began looking it up to learn more. She also touches on Blacks having their land wealth taken from them, which has true far-reaching and devastating impacts.

I would highly recommend Happy Land!

TY to BookBrowse and NetGalley for the digital ARC! I'll absolutely be buying a physical copy when it's released.

Lynne B. (Somersworth, NH)

Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
I have enjoyed Ms. Perkins-Valdez's historical fiction books since she began writing. Each one has enlightened us on a time in black history with excellent research to provide historic details and exhilarating characters that are unforgettable. Her newest book Happy Land is no exception. Again she has discovered a little known piece of black history which provides a suspenseful tale of two women's lives more than a century apart. One story is based on a real group of black formerly enslaved people who migrate from South Carolina to an area of western North Carolina where they seek safety and a chance to form their own community which they call a kingdom. They set up their own governing body and set about finding sources of income from working at the inn whose land they are settled upon and some of the men work in mines and for the railroad being built. The corresponding story centers on Nikki who is summoned by her grandmother to find her roots. The characters are all strong women who changed their fates and sought a better future for their children. This is a work of historical fiction which should not be missed.

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