Lisa Stringfellow
Photo: Carter Hasegawa
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Kingdom of Dust
Though the land of Kun used to be lush and green, Amara has only ever known her homeland as a dry, dusty desert. When the griots vanished over a decade ago, they took their magic with them, along with goddess Oala’s gifts of rain and plenty, leaving Kun controlled by a powerful and uncaring king. And though her foster mother, Zirachi, assures her that Kun is not under a curse, Amara can’t help but wonder if her own origin, which is shrouded in mystery, is somehow linked to the broken kingdom.
When Amara and Zirachi are attacked by the Nkume, the fearsome king’s guard, Amara must flee, leaving all that she has known behind. With nowhere to go, but knowing that she is under Oala’s protection, Amara sets off to do the impossible: find the griots and save Kun, before the kingdom blows away like dust.
Author of A COMB OF WISHES Lisa Stringfellow returns with a West African-inspired fantasy about a girl who is determined to return both magic and justice to her people—and whose destiny holds more surprises than she could ever imagine.
Publisher: HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books
Publication date: August 20, 2024
Type: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780063043480
Preorder on Bookshop
Review on Goodreads
When Amara and Zirachi are attacked by the Nkume, the fearsome king’s guard, Amara must flee, leaving all that she has known behind. With nowhere to go, but knowing that she is under Oala’s protection, Amara sets off to do the impossible: find the griots and save Kun, before the kingdom blows away like dust.
Author of A COMB OF WISHES Lisa Stringfellow returns with a West African-inspired fantasy about a girl who is determined to return both magic and justice to her people—and whose destiny holds more surprises than she could ever imagine.
Publisher: HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books
Publication date: August 20, 2024
Type: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780063043480
Preorder on Bookshop
Review on Goodreads
A Comb of Wishes
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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… * * * * * 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. Order on Bookshop |
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. Growing up, she was a voracious reader, and books took her to places where her imagination could thrive. She writes for her twelve-year-old self, the kid waiting to be the brown-skinned hero of an adventure, off saving the world. Lisa’s work often reflects her West Indian and Black southern heritage. She received the inaugural Kweli Color of Children’s Literature Manuscript Award for a draft of her first novel, A Comb of Wishes, which was a Bram Stoker Award Finalist, an Indies Introduce Top Ten title, an Indie Next List selection, and a New England Booksellers Association Book Award Finalist. Lisa is a middle school teacher and lives in Boston, Massachusetts, with her children and bossy cat.
You can learn more about Lisa at http://lisastringfellow.com or reach her via the platforms listed below.
Email: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EngageReaders
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/engagereaders/
