Lisa Stringfellow
Photo: Carter Hasegawa
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A Comb of Wishes
Sure enough, the sea woman will come for what’s hers.
Ever since her mother’s death, Kela feels every bit as broken as the shards of glass, known as “mermaid’s tears,” that sparkle on the beaches of St. Rita. But when she discovers a different kind of treasure, she accidentally summons an actual mermaid—the wrathful Ophidia.
Ophidia makes Kela a bargain: her ancient comb, in exchange for a wish. And though Kela knows that what she wants most is her mother back, a wish that big will exact a dangerous price…
* * * * *
Ever since her mother’s death, Kela feels every bit as broken as the shards of glass, known as “mermaid’s tears,” that sparkle on the beaches of St. Rita. But when she discovers a different kind of treasure, she accidentally summons an actual mermaid—the wrathful Ophidia.
Ophidia makes Kela a bargain: her ancient comb, in exchange for a wish. And though Kela knows that what she wants most is her mother back, a wish that big will exact a dangerous price…
* * * * *
Set against the backdrop of Caribbean culture and folklore, Lisa Stringfellow’s mesmerizing middle grade debut tells a story of impossible wishes and magic based in the deepest love.
Publisher: HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books
Publication Date: February 8, 2022
Type: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780063043435
Buy on Bookshop, IndieBound, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon
Publication Date: February 8, 2022
Type: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780063043435
Buy on Bookshop, IndieBound, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon
Starred Review! "In her beguiling debut middle grade novel, Lisa Stringfellow shows how the most powerful fantasy tales can be more true than ordinary life."
Book Page
"Stringfellow weaves an enchanting tale of loss, longing, and discovery infused with Caribbean folklore. Readers will be captivated by Kela’s story and become invested in her journey...Will tug at readers' heartstrings."
Kirkus Reviews
"Imbued with a magic that felt as real as the concrete and beloved world in which it is set, this story moves with a plot that is both surefooted and wild, both inexorable and surprising, both cerebral and emotional. I loved it so much."
Kelly Barnhill, author of the Newbery Award-winning novel The Girl Who Drank the Moon
"Captivating and creative, magical and moving, this enchanting tale about grief and abiding love will hold you spellbound. What a joy and honor to welcome this brilliant new voice, as beautiful as the ocean and as bright as a mermaid’s tears."
Padma Venkatraman, author of the Walter Award-winning novel The Bridge Home
"A wonderfully told tale of family, friendship, grief, and longing. A Comb of Wishes explores what happens when legend and real life meet. When a powerful mermaid is determined to reclaim what is rightfully hers, Kela begins her journey to discover what really happens when you get the one thing you most want in the world."
Susan Williams, M. Judson Booksellers, Greenville, SC
Book Page
"Stringfellow weaves an enchanting tale of loss, longing, and discovery infused with Caribbean folklore. Readers will be captivated by Kela’s story and become invested in her journey...Will tug at readers' heartstrings."
Kirkus Reviews
"Imbued with a magic that felt as real as the concrete and beloved world in which it is set, this story moves with a plot that is both surefooted and wild, both inexorable and surprising, both cerebral and emotional. I loved it so much."
Kelly Barnhill, author of the Newbery Award-winning novel The Girl Who Drank the Moon
"Captivating and creative, magical and moving, this enchanting tale about grief and abiding love will hold you spellbound. What a joy and honor to welcome this brilliant new voice, as beautiful as the ocean and as bright as a mermaid’s tears."
Padma Venkatraman, author of the Walter Award-winning novel The Bridge Home
"A wonderfully told tale of family, friendship, grief, and longing. A Comb of Wishes explores what happens when legend and real life meet. When a powerful mermaid is determined to reclaim what is rightfully hers, Kela begins her journey to discover what really happens when you get the one thing you most want in the world."
Susan Williams, M. Judson Booksellers, Greenville, SC
About Lisa
Lisa Stringfellow writes middle grade fiction and has a not-so-secret fondness for fantasy with a dark twist. Her debut fantasy A Comb of Wishes was selected as an ABA Indie Introduce Kids and Indie Next Kids title, a 2022 Horn Book and Today Read With Jenna Jr. summer reading selection, a 2022 New England Book Award finalist, a 2022 Bram Stoker Award nominee for Superior Achievement in a Middle Grade Novel, and a Nerdy Book Club Award winner. Her work often reflects her West Indian and Black southern heritage.
You can learn more about Lisa at http://lisastringfellow.com or reach her via the platforms listed below.
Email: author@lisastringfellow.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EngageReaders
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/engagereaders/
You can learn more about Lisa at http://lisastringfellow.com or reach her via the platforms listed below.
Email: author@lisastringfellow.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EngageReaders
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/engagereaders/
