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.

I'm generally not a big fan of thrillers so I was surprised at how easily I was drawn into this story. While the mystery of how Magdu died simmered below the surface, the intricacies of the relationships held center stage. The unfolding of the friendship between Finn and Daphne intrigued me and proved to hold much more complexity than I thought initially. The drama in "Girl Falling" exists on several levels. It's so much more than a 'who done it'. Plus I was really blindsided by the ending