I loved the characters and story in this book. The Civil War is over. The KKK is rampant. A group of freed people trek to Appalachia. Their's is a communal village based on the laws and leadership of the African homeland they were forced to leave. They called it Kingdom Happy Land. They worked hard. Thery prospered. They bought land. They lost the land. It was a male dominated society until little by little it wasn't

The story is told by Luella, an original setter (1875) and her great granddaughter Rita (the present) who retells the story to her own granddaughter ,.Nikki. Nikki is surprised and amazed at the history of her family and works to undo the wrongs.

Even readers who are not historical fiction buffs will enjoy this book. And perhaps while being entertained we will all take a minute to reflect how the past affects our present.

Reader Review of “Happy Land” by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Submitted by Anne Crotty, arrcrotty@aol.com

The author of this new book mentions in her acknowledgments that she is a fan of historical fiction. That is probably true of a lot of readers, including myself. There is something magical in learning about a true event, a place, or a group of people, and then reading this new information set in a compelling fiction story with vivid characters to bring it all to life.

The framework of the novel shifts between a group of freed slaves in the antebellum south and their descendants in the present day. The hardships and prejudices endured by the settlers of The Kingdom of the Happy Land are vividly described. The modern characters are portrayed as a family in crisis, with many old grudges and misunderstandings to solve.

The author keeps the interest level high between chapters, as the reader comes to care deeply about the people in both eras. The outcomes are revealed at last, in satisfying conclusions for all.

This is a book I plan to recommend to my neighborhood book club.

Thank you to Book Browse, Berkley Books and NetGalley for an advance readers copy of this book.

Based on a true story, Happy Land is a saga of strength, struggle, survival and success.

In the 1870’s, after emancipation, Black citizens in South Carolina find themselves persecuted by the Klan. Many of them leave together, heading for the mountains of North Carolina, to establish themselves on mountain land where the community flourishes. However, while physically less vulnerable, they still must deal with economic and legal abuse, whose consequences continue to appear in the present.

Starting there, with the most recent descendants of this group, Happy Land returns to tell the 1870’s saga of the family who led the move to their new life, and the ensuing efforts to grow and save the land they make their “kingdom.”

While the charismatic leader, William, originally led the way, it is the women in the family who persevere and who tell the story: Nikki, in the present, and Luella, 150 years before, at the Kingdom’s beginning. In the first person, each woman speaks with a distinct voice, yet their conversational styles give well-defined voices to a variety of family members and neighbors.

The story is engrossing, the writing engaging, and the dialog draws the reader in so thoroughly, it takes a moment to return to one’s own world. This would make an excellent book group choice.

Interesting historical fiction. I liked the historical sections better than the modern one. The family rift seemed a bit contrived. I also felt like it was similar to Practical Magic which many new books this year have been.

Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez is a beautifully written and deeply moving story. The characters are well-developed, and the historical backdrop really adds layers of depth to the narrative. It’s one of those books that pulls you in from the very first page and makes you think long after you’ve finished. The storytelling is vivid and heartfelt, addressing complex themes in a way that feels both real and impactful. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a powerful, thought-provoking read!