Review by Booklist Review
After years of no contact, Nikki is shocked when her estranged grandmother, Mother Rita, reaches out and asks her to visit immediately. Hoping she will get some answers about what initiated the rift in her family, Nikki travels to the mountains of western North Carolina, but once there, she learns that her grandmother has a different purpose in mind. Mother Rita is being threatened with eviction, and she hopes Nikki's knowledge as a real estate agent will help save her home. More than just a house, the land represents the Kingdom of the Happy Land, a community built by formerly enslaved people during the post--Civil War years. As Mother Rita shares the story of Nikki's great-great-grandmother Luella and her role in the Kingdom, it soon becomes clear how much is at stake. Inspired by real events, Perkins-Valdez (Take My Hand, 2022) once again blends truth and fiction to powerful effect, weaving together Luella, Mother Rita, and Nikki's stories to demonstrate the many ways the past impacts the present. Historical fiction fans and book clubs will appreciate this exploration of a little-known aspect of American history.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Perkins-Valdez (Take My Hand) shines in this exquisite tale of a woman who learns about her Black family's trailblazing history from her estranged grandmother. Nikki Lovejoy-Berry, a real estate agent in Washington, D.C., grew up without ever visiting her mother's hometown in North Carolina, or knowing why her mom remains estranged from her grandmother, Mother Rita. So when Mother Rita mysteriously summons Nikki to the mountain town of Zirconia, N.C., where Nikki's mom grew up, she's intrigued. It turns out Mother Rita is terminally ill and needs help fighting a developer who's trying to force her off her land. As Nikki attends court dates and provides her grandmother with advice, she learns about her ancestors, who established the area as the Kingdom of the Happy Land, a self-sufficient community for formerly enslaved people after the Civil War. In a parallel narrative, the reader learns about Nikki's ancestor Luella, who became the community's queen after migrating there from South Carolina. It's a beautifully rendered depiction of a lost world, one that gains even more power as Nikki comes to terms with the struggles her ancestors faced and the truth about her family's recent discord. Readers will be deeply satisfied. Agent: Stephanie Cabot, Susanna Lea Assoc. (Apr.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
The latest from Perkins-Valdez (Take My Hand) features a dual narrative that starts with Washington, DC, real estate agent Nikki Lovejoy being summoned to rural North Carolina by her estranged grandmother Rita. Mother Rita needs help managing the family homestead. As the story and relationship between Rita and Niki develop, readers learn about family secrets and history of the Kingdom of the Happy Land. The historical side of the narrative is revealed by Luella, a Lovejoy ancestor known as the queen of Happy Land. Luella is part of a group of formerly enslaved people who migrated to this spot after emancipation to create a settlement for themselves. Through hard work and saving, the community was able to purchase the land, which they called the Kingdom of the Happy Land. In the contemporary storyline, Perkins-Valdez reveals how that land was stolen from the Lovejoys and how Rita fights to retain it for her family. VERDICT This is a lyrical and unique work of historical fiction. The Kingdom is based on a real place about which readers will want to know more after reading Perkins-Valdez's novel. Fans of hidden-history narratives will enjoy her hopeful, empowering tale.--Kristen Stewart
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