Happy Land

“Dolen Perkins-Valdez has written a beautifully crafted novel about hope, loss, tragedy, pride and family . . . The novel is both an informative read and a loving tribute to Black families and the ties that link the past to the present.”—NPR

“An intergenerational epic with urgent contemporary stakes. . . Replete with confounding human dilemmas, intricately nuanced characters, and startlingly original romance, this intimate family drama subtly weaves into a national indictment of ongoing predatory property law and the history of Black land loss.”—Oprah Daily

“A scenic read with depth.”—TODAY

“Perkins-Valdez writes of this land with admiration, awe, and precision, weaving a triumphant story that will stir readers to attention.”—ELLE

“Picture a time when a kingdom existed inside the confines of the Carolinas—a time when freedpeople were royalty. What if that was your history, instead of the trauma of enslavement and generational poverty? As Dolen Perkins-Valdez says in this astonishing, historical-based novel—a family tree isn’t just something you draw on paper. It’s only when you’re rooted in the soil that your family once inhabited that your imagination can brush the sky.”—Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of By Any Other Name

“No one writes the historical novel quite like Dolen Perkins-Valdez, and with Happy Land, she’s at her brilliant best, opening History’s treasure-filled chest—and then, bringing that history to life. Here is the Ancestor who cried, laughed, and hoped before any of us were born. Here is the vulnerable earth that tenders its secrets. In Happy Land, Perkins-Valdez offers the knowledge that we surely need: to move forward, we must understand what came before. Her existing fans will be so satisfied—and her new readers will be captivated.”—Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, New York Times bestselling author of The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois

“Dolen Perkins-Valdez has the range, depth, and vision to capture the dreams of a people on the pages of a novel. Happy Land is exactly the novel we need right here, right now. Accompanied by the musical speech of the American south, Perkins-Valdez sings a song to remind us that freedom is worth fighting for.”—Tayari Jones, New York Times bestselling author of An American Marriage

“What a story! Happy Land is an exhilarating tale of perseverance, identity, and love that echoes across generations. This story of formerly enslaved families in the Blue Ridge Mountains who built a community against all odds will stay with me for a long time.”—Charmaine Wilkerson, New York Times bestselling author of Black Cake

“Happy Land is the balm we all need now: a vivid imagining of past events that picks up where the archives fall short, and in doing so, not only repairs our limited view into the past, but brings potential for healing in our present and future.”—Ilyon Woo, New York Times bestselling author of Master Slave Husband Wife

“Perkins-Valdez (Take My Hand) shines in this exquisite tale . . . It’s a beautifully rendered depiction of a lost world . . . Readers will be deeply satisfied.”—Publishers Weekly

“A lyrical and unique work of historical fiction . . . Fans of hidden-history narratives will enjoy her hopeful, empowering tale.”—Library Journal

“Perkins-Valdez’s characters are tenacious and industrious, thoughtful and curious, and their desire to preserve where they came from forms the heart of the novel.”—BookPage

“Inspired by the true story of the Kingdom of the Happy Land, this mesmerizing tale shows how aspects of our history help us see ourselves in a new light.”—Real Simple

“Happy Land offers a powerful narrative of ancestral pride, identity, and the fight for belonging. Inspired by real events, this novel is a moving testament to reclaiming one’s heritage and the strength passed down through generations.”—SheReads

“A tale of perseverance, love, and hope.”—Woman’s World

“Sensitively rendered and potently described, Happy Land asks important questions about self-determination and explores the complexities of enduring emotional bonds.”—Shelf Awareness

“Perkins-Valdez excels at historical fiction, and we are running not walking to read this one.”—Scary Mommy

“Reading Happy Land felt like the antidote to watching the national news. It’s a reminder to view current events through a wider lens. And to dream.”—Washington Independent Review of Books

“If you have a place that gives you peace and security, that you long for when you are away, you will understand this story.”—The Southern Bookseller Review