Treeland is an imaginary land in an imaginary era. It is populated by a
jolly people that love two things above everything else: laughter and
trees, hence, Treeland: The Land of Laughter. Between peals of laughter
Treelanders tend their trees and forests with loving care. They never
cut down trees, or act in any way that would destroy their natural
environment. As Treeland's warrior King Majabe nears 100 years and
despite his smiling and laughing face, he is worried for not having a
male heir. He has a willful, assertive, charming and very beautiful
daughter, Princess Zuri, but in Treeland, daughters are not expected to
reign. Zuri must marry so her husband could become the heir to her
father's throne. But she has no intention of marrying any suitor chosen
for her. A struggle of wills and wits ensues between Zuri and her father
and the age old patriarchal traditions that he represents. In the midst
of this struggle, Treeland is attacked by a tree-cutting people with no
veneration for either tree or human life. Will Old King Majabe manage to
save his Kingdom? Will Zuri survive the coming ordeals imposed by war
and an arcane tradition and ascend Treeland's throne? This tale is at
once traditional and current, conventional and unconventional, modern
and post-modern, existential but optimistic. Treeland: The Land of
Laughter is a novel intended for young people, but readers of all ages
will also enjoy it.
