The American Queen

Miller, Vanessa. The American Queen. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2024.

Have you started reading our Alamance Reads 2026 selection yet? If you’re new to Alamance Reads, it’s a community‑wide reading program funded by the Friends of the Alamance County Public Libraries. The goal is simple but powerful: bring our community together by encouraging everyone to read the same book, join in meaningful conversations, and enjoy a special visit from the author.

This year is the perfect time to jump in—and there’s still plenty of time to finish this remarkable book before author and North Carolinian Vanessa Miller visits in just two weeks. She is generously offering three opportunities for the community to meet her and hear her inspiring story. Plus, we have her book available in every format—from print to e‑audiobook—so there’s no excuse not to dive into this fantastic read.

This year’s book, The American Queen, pulls you in from the very first page. It tells the story of freed men and women who built a thriving, resilient community during some of the most challenging times for African Americans. The Kingdom of the Happy Land was a self‑sufficient, communal society established in the 1870s in Henderson County, NC, by formerly enslaved people fleeing violence in Mississippi. Led by King William and Queen Louella, the community thrived on shared labor, farming, and education before declining in the early 1900s. At the height of its prosperity, the Kingdom owned more than 200 acres of land.

As an avid lover of anything North Carolina, I was excited to read this little‑known history about a thriving community of freed slaves—and it did not disappoint. The book is engaging and heartfelt; I didn’t want it to end. It has stayed with me long after I turned the last page, and I continue to recommend it to anyone looking for their next great read. I was so moved by the story that I even traveled to the Henderson County Library and Historical Museum to explore the history they’ve preserved about these inspiring people.

Queen Louella stands at the heart of this story—a woman of noble character, unshakable strength, and a fierce commitment to her people. She endures heartbreak, violence, and discrimination for being both a woman and Black, yet her resilience inspires everyone around her. While the novel doesn’t shy away from the hardships this community faced, it blossoms with hope, love, and the power of unity through faith. You finish the book feeling uplifted and eager to share this story with others. It is a novel that feels especially meaningful in this moment in history.

When a book sparks conversations about courage, legacy, and the strength of community, you know it’s the perfect choice for Alamance Reads—and Vanessa Miller’s The American Queen does exactly that.

 Vanessa Miller will be with us on Tuesday, April 14th at 2:00 p.m. at the Alamance Community College Auditorium, or at 6:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Burlington. Her final visit will be Wednesday, April 15th at 12:0o p.m. at the Elon Community Church (registration required).

Alexis V. is the Branch Manager of North Park Library.