As a huge Appalachian Lit fan, I’m always looking for new and interesting books about the region. So when I heard of Happy Land, I bumped it up to the top of my TBR.
Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-ValdezNikki hasn’t seen her grandmother in years, so when her grandmother asks her to visit, she says yes. Driving into the mountains of North Carolina, Nikki has no idea why her grandmother was so insistent that she visit. But soon, Nikki learns that the family home is more than just a house. It sits on the location of the former kingdom known as Happy Land. What’s more, her ancestor used to be the queen. Happy Land is inspired by the very real kingdom of Happy Land that used to be located in the mountains of North Carolina. In sections alternating with Nikki’s perspective, we meet her ancestor, Luella, a formerly enslaved woman, who left Spartanburg County, South Carolina, with her community looking for a new place to call home after white people terrorized the local Black residents. Once in North Carolina, they established the Kingdom of Happy Land, naming Luella’s husband as king. But after her husband has an accident, Luella finds herself ruling alone. |
When I dive into historical fiction, sometimes I struggle to become completely immersed in the world. But Perkins-Valdez brilliantly creates the world of 19th-century North Carolina, drawing you into Luella’s world. Swapping to Nikki’s perspective in the modern world gives the novel forward momentum, keeping you invested as the author spins her narrative. Ever-present is the mystery of what Nikki’s grandmother is hiding, and what happened to the kingdom of Happy Land, and why it doesn’t exist anymore.
If you’re an audiobook fan, Happy Land is the perfect summer listen. Ashley J. Hobbs performs the chapters from Nikki’s perspective, capturing her curiosity at her family’s ancestral home and exasperation that her grandmother won’t just be honest with her about why she’s asked Nikki to visit. Bahni Turpin narrates Luella’s chapters. Turpin is no stranger to performing historical fiction, and I just adore the way her voice ushers in images from the past.
If you’re a historical fiction fan—and are up for some modern twists and turns—you have to check out Happy Land.
You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave or over on Instagram @kdwinchester. As always, feel free to drop me a line at [email protected]. For even MORE bookish content, you can find my articles over on Book Riot.
Source : This Appalachian Historical Fiction Has a Forgotten Kingdom in North Carolina
