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A COMB OF WISHESSure 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.
Publisher: HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books
Publication Date: February 8, 2022 Type: Hardcover ISBN: 9780063043435 Available now for preorder:
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praise
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
Lisa Stringfellow writes the mermaid book that I have been wanting and waiting for but better than I could ever expect. What will a mermaid do to get their prized comb back, what wish would you make knowing it could change everything, and how far would you go for family?
-Shoshonna Roberts, Maggie Mae’s Kids Bookshop, Gresham, OR
“Crick. Crack. This is a story. Filled with rich, Caribbean folklore, A Comb of Wishes is a lyrical song of a novel exploring family, culture, and the perseverance and power all young girls hold within themselves. Absolutely magical!”
-Laura Graveline, Brazos Bookstore, Houston, TX
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"What would an ocean be without a monster lurking in the dark? It would be like sleep without dreams."
--Werner Herzog
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