Discover new books on Goodreads

See if your friends have read any of Dolen Perkins-Valdez's books

50 ratings | 0 reviews | avg rating:4.98

Dolen Perkins-Valdez’s Followers (3,438)

Dolen’s Bookshelves

to-read (7)
currently-reading (2)
read (51)
did-not-finish (0)
wishlist (0)

Dolen’s Friends (148)

Stephanie Fitzgerald

14,216 books | 1,386 friends

Kirsten

463 books | 71 friends

Clifford

1,642 books | 3,221 friends

Tia

6,607 books | 655 friends

Sadeqa Johnson

226 books | 829 friends

Brian

787 books | 136 friends

Jessica McCann

1,200 books | 349 friends

Sarah

2,261 books | 274 friends

More friends…

Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Goodreads Author

Born

The United States

Website

http://www.DolenPerkinsValdez.com

Twitter

dolen

Genre

Historical Fiction, Fiction, Classics

Member Since

November 2009

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/goodreadscomdolenperkinsvaldez

edit data

Dolen Perkins-Valdez is the New York Times bestselling author most recently TAKE MY HAND (2022). Take My Hand was awarded the 2023 NAACP Image Award for Literary Work-Fiction and the BCALA Fiction Award. It was named a Most Anticipated Book of 2022 in Newsweek, San Francisco Chronicle, Essence, NBC News, and elsewhere, and it was an IndieNext and LibraryReads pick for April 2022. The Washington Post called it "a jewel of a book." Her other novels include Wench (2010) and Balm (2015).

Dolen has established herself as a pre-eminent chronicler of American historical life. In 2017, HarperCollins released her first novel Wench as one of eight "Olive Titles," limited edition modern classics that included books by Edward P. Jones, Louise Erdrich, a ...more

Learn more
Ask the Author

To ask Dolen Perkins-Valdez questions, please sign up.

Combine Editions
Dolen Perkins-Valdez’s books

Average rating: 4.25 · 153,260 ratings · 17,762 reviews · 12 distinct works • Similar authors

	Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984): Illustrated Edition — Classics of the Twentieth Century by George Orwell, Robert Harris (Goodreads Author), Rabindranath Tagore 4.21 avg rating — 5,785,803 ratings — published 1949 — 160 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup, Dolen Perkins-Valdez (Goodreads Author) (Introduction) 4.23 avg rating — 127,436 ratings — published 1853 — 1760 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Take My Hand 4.35 avg rating — 119,248 ratings — published 2022	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Wench 3.74 avg rating — 18,774 ratings — published 2010 — 28 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Happy Land 4.24 avg rating — 12,451 ratings — published 2025 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House by Elizabeth Keckley, Dolen Perkins-Valdez (Goodreads Author) (Introduction) 3.87 avg rating — 4,300 ratings — published 1868 — 327 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Balm 3.36 avg rating — 2,014 ratings — published 2015 — 16 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Happy Land 4.20 avg rating — 5 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Steven Hahn. A Nation under Our Feet: Black Political Struggles in the Rural South from Slavery to the Great Migration.(Book review): An article from: African American Review 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Nasceranno nuovi fiori by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (Goodreads Author), Barbara Ronca (Translator) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Dolen Perkins-Valdez…

4 posts
Dolen Perkins-Valdez's Blog

Historical Fiction Week

Did you know that this is Historical Fiction Week on Goodreads? I'm taking questions via "Ask the Author" along with some AMAZING authors such as James McBride, Isabel Allende, Lisa See, Lalita Tademy, Tracy Chevalier, and others. I've even been asking questions of my favorite authors. Lol. Come join the fun and ask us something!

Dolen

3 likes · Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on August 04, 2015 20:10 • Tags: historicalfictionweek

View all 4 posts »

Need another excuse to treat yourself to a new book this week? We've got you covered with the buzziest new releases of the day, according to early...

Dolen is Currently Reading

Dolen Perkins-Valdez is currently reading

The Queens of Crime

by Marie Benedict (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Jan 06, 2025 09:07AM

Dolen Perkins-Valdez is currently reading

Harlem Rhapsody

by Victoria Christopher Murray (Goodreads Author)

bookshelves: currently-reading

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Jan 06, 2025 09:02AM

rss
Dolen’s Recent Updates

Dolen Perkins-Valdez voted for Good Dirt as Readers' Favorite Historical Fiction in the Opening Round of the 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards. Cast Your Vote
Nov 12, 2025 11:54AM · 1 like · like
Dolen Perkins-Valdez finished reading Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 04, 2025 10:53AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Dolen Perkins-Valdez has read Malas by Marcela Fuentes (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 06, 2025 09:07AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Malas by Marcela Fuentes. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Malas by Marcela Fuentes <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Dolen Perkins-Valdez started reading The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 06, 2025 09:07AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Dolen Perkins-Valdez has read Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 06, 2025 09:06AM · 1 like · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Dolen Perkins-Valdez wants to read The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 06, 2025 09:03AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Dolen Perkins-Valdez is currently reading Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 06, 2025 09:02AM · 2 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Dolen Perkins-Valdez entered a giveaway Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dec 30, 2024 02:24PM · like · see giveaway · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Dolen Perkins-Valdez voted for Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop as Readers' Favorite Fiction in the Final Round of the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards. Cast Your Vote
Nov 26, 2024 07:42PM · like

More of Dolen's books…

Quotes by Dolen Perkins-Valdez (?)

“My children ain’t the only thing I love. If I was allowed, I reckon I’d love myself, too.”
― Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Wench

23 likes

“There is no greater right for a woman than having a choice, Anne. And I exercised that right. Fully and consciously.”
― Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Take My Hand

12 likes

“Sometimes love can kill you, just like hate. You love too hard and you can lose yourself in other folks' sorrow. You hate too hard and you know the rest of that story.”
― Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Take My Hand

11 likes

See all Dolen Perkins-Valdez's quotes »

Polls

In honor of Black History Month in February, we read a fiction or non-fiction book by a black author, or featuring subject matter surrounding the black experience and/or characters. Poll will be open through January 10.

Dream Count

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

5 votes, 100.0%

The Bond Woman's Narrative

Hannah Crafts

0 votes, 0.0%

Wench

Dolen Perkins-Valdez

0 votes, 0.0%

Red River

Lalita Tademy

0 votes, 0.0%

The Changeling

Victor LaValle

0 votes, 0.0%

5 total votes

2 comments

More...

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
The Next Best Boo...: Wench	16	34	Apr 11, 2010 03:47AM
The Next Best Boo...: The Book Ref	37	150	Apr 12, 2010 02:53PM

Dolen’s Friend Comments

Comments (showing 1-7) post a comment »

date

newest »

message 7: by Kristine

May 31, 2025 07:34PM

It was such an Honor to listen to you in Greensboro, NC at the History Museum. I have all your books and love them. You were truly inspirational. I rated Happy Land and Take My Hand Here. I also Rated them on Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million 5 Stars. They are Fantastic. My Favorite Book Site is on Facebook, Friends & Fiction and I posted about Happy Land. You will see the listing if you look. I am a Top Contributor, so hope many people will read your outstanding books. All my best to you. Thank You for All You Do. 💕

reply | flag

message 6: by Jaree

Aug 07, 2012 08:18AM

Free sample of the There's No Tomorrow
http://www.goodreads.com/story/show/3...

reply | flag

message 5: by Lawrence

Mar 10, 2012 12:46AM

Thank you for accepting my friendship.

reply | flag

message 4: by Dolen

Dec 08, 2010 10:15AM

Thanks, Pamela!! I'm writing another book. It isn't like Wench, but it is historical. Happy holidays. :-)

reply | flag

message 3: by Pamela

Dec 08, 2010 07:50AM

Hey Dolen...Thanks for accepting my friendship...I love your book "Wench"...I love the subject matter...do you plan on coming out with another book like that one?

reply | flag

message 2: by Jaree

Jul 02, 2010 06:40PM

Hello there =)

- Jay

reply | flag

message 1: by Liane

Jun 26, 2010 03:45PM

Great to 'meet' you, Dolen. Greetings from the Caribbean!

reply | flag

Dolen Perkins-Valdez’s Followers (3,438)

Dolen’s Bookshelves

Dolen’s Friends (148)

Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Goodreads Author

Learn more
Ask the Author

Popular Answered Questions

Combine Editions
Dolen Perkins-Valdez’s books

4 posts
Dolen Perkins-Valdez's Blog

Historical Fiction Week

Related News

Dolen is Currently Reading

rss
Dolen’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

See a Problem?

Preview — Malas by Marcela Fuentes

See a Problem?

Preview — The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict

See a Problem?

Preview — Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

See a Problem?

Preview — The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict

See a Problem?

Preview — Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray

See a Problem?

Preview — Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor

Polls

Topics Mentioning This Author

Dolen’s Friend Comments

Dolen Perkins-Valdez’s Followers (3,438)

Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Goodreads Author

Popular Answered Questions

Related News

rssDolen’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

See a Problem?

Preview — Malas by Marcela Fuentes

See a Problem?

Preview — The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict

See a Problem?

Preview — Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

See a Problem?

Preview — The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict

See a Problem?

Preview — Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray

See a Problem?

Preview — Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor

Polls

Topics Mentioning This Author

rss
Dolen’s Recent Updates