Happy Land

De: Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Narrado por: Bahni Turpin, Ashley J. Hobbs

A woman learns the incredible story of a real-life American Kingdom—and her family’s ties to it—in this enthralling novel from the New York Times bestselling, NAACP Image Award-winning author of Take My Hand.

As featured in The Washington Post ∙ People ∙ Harper's Bazaar ∙ NPR ∙ TODAY ∙ PopSugar ∙ Reader's Digest ∙ SheReads ∙ Woman’s World ∙ Real Simple ∙ BookBrowse ∙ and more!

Nikki hasn’t seen her grandmother in years. So when the elder calls out of the blue with an urgent request for Nikki to visit her in the hills of western North Carolina, Nikki hesitates only for a moment. After years of silence in her family, due to a mysterious estrangement between her mother and grandmother, she’s determined to learn the truth while she still can.

But instead of answers about the recent past, Mother Rita tells Nikki an incredible story of a kingdom on this very mountain, and of her great-great-great grandmother, Luella, who would become its queen.

It sounds like the makings of a fairy tale—royalty among a community of freed people. But the more Nikki learns about the Kingdom of the Happy Land, and the lives of those who dwelled in the ruins she discovers in the woods, the more she realizes how much of her identity and her family’s secrets are wrapped up in these hills. Because this land is their legacy, and it will be up to her to protect it before it, like so much else, is stolen away.

Inspired by true events, Happy Land is a transporting multi-generational novel about the stories that shape us and the dazzling courage it takes to dream.

©2025 Dolen Perkins-Valdez (P)2025 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"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

"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

What an incredible story!!! A must read!!!

Dolen Perkins-Valdez (author of Take My Hand) has done it again! Another incredible historical fiction novel, this one less heartbreaking but no less captivating! A depiction of a true Black Kingdom in NC that produced a family whose story is a beautiful one that weaves together the heart strings of a strained family bond. The imagination and belief of a people and later the belief of its descendants created this beautiful story! Grateful for Dolen’s research and incredible storytelling! A definite must-read!!! And also beautifully narrated by Bahni Turpin & Ashley J. Hobbs!

excellent

I enjoyed it all. The narration was beautiful. The story telling was awesome. The historical presence was informative.

The family knowledge

There was nothing that I disliked about this book. The narrators were good and the story was a powerful reminder of family, history, disappointments, reconciliation and how knowing the past can propel you into your future.

History and Legacy

This is my second audiobook from this author. I love her writing style and the two narrators are simply amazing. I highly suggest your reading this book and Take My Hand.

North Carolina Pride

I really enjoyed this book!! I felt the connection of home(North Carolina). It has sparked my interest to study my family history more.

I AM IN TEARS. SO BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN

I loved the way this story was weaved together. It’s beautiful. I am a DC girl named Nikki, I went to Bennett College. I am inspired by my grandmothers in so many ways. From learning about fragrance through their vanities to gardening. The way the author tells these two stories floored me by the end. I’m heading to DC to go hug my grandmother.

Inspiring

I liked the impact of generations of women in a small community. It is thoughtfully written and well researched.

I found myself swept up in the relationships between mothers, grandmothers, daughters and grandmothers. I cared about all the characters including the men intertwined with the women.

I found the illustration of the strife between mother and daughter too realistic .

A wonderful story

I love the character development and the twists and turns of the story. I highly recommend. Not to mention, I can listen to Bahni Turpin's voice all day long!

Excellent read!

Loved the book. Great historical story that was both interesting and fascinating. I highly recommend!

I love this story and its truths.

The characters inspire my curiosity to the history behind this book. I highly recommend listening.