“Happy Land” by Dolen Perkins-Valdez ($15, originally $29)
“Happy Land” begins when Nikki’s grandmother reaches out to her after years of silence imposed by Nikki’s mother. Nikki eagerly answers her call to visit her in the hills of western North Carolina, hoping to learn more about her family. But instead of answers about the recent past, Nikki learns the incredible story of a past kingdom on that very mountain, and of her great-great-great grandmother, Luella, who would become its queen. While it sounds like a fairy tale, the more Nikki learns about the Kingdom of the Happy Land, the more she realizes how much of her identity and her family’s secrets are wrapped up in the mysterious hills.
Available April 8, 2025