A Comb of Wishes - Hardcover

Stringfellow, Lisa

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0063043432 ISBN 13: 9780063043435

Publisher: Quill Tree Books, 2022

Synopsis

Set against the backdrop of Caribbean folklore, Lisa Stringfellow’s spellbinding middle grade debut tells of a grieving girl and a vengeful mermaid and will enchant readers who loved Kacen Callender’s Hurricane Child or Christian McKay Heidicker’s Scary Stories for Young Foxes.

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 Caribbean beaches of St. Rita. So when Kela and her friend Lissy stumble across an ancient-looking comb in a coral cave, with all she’s already lost, Kela can’t help but bring home her very own found treasure. 

Far away, deep in the cold ocean, the mermaid Ophidia can feel that her comb has been taken. And despite her hatred of all humans, her magic requires that she make a bargain: the comb in exchange for a wish.

But what Kela wants most is for her mother to be alive. And a wish that big will exact an even bigger price…

Don’t miss the novel that Newbery-winning author Kelly Barnhill calls “one of the most promising works of fiction in a long time”!

• A Story of Grief and Hope: For twelve-year-old Kela, still mourning her mother, the magical comb seems like a miracle. But is any wish worth the danger it might unleash?
• Caribbean Folklore Adventure: Set on the fictional island of St. Rita, this enchanting tale is steeped in the mythology of the sea, from "mermaid's tears" on the beach to ancient, powerful magic.
• Black Mermaid Magic: Kela discovers the comb belongs to Ophidia, a powerful and vengeful sea woman with dark skin and a deep hatred for the human world.
• Wishes and Consequences: The bargain is simple: the comb for a wish. But when Kela asks for the impossible—to bring her mother back—she learns that the sea always demands a price.

About this title

About the Author

Lisa Stringfellow is the author of A Comb of Wishes, which Newbery Award–winning author Kelly Barnhill called “one of the most promising works of fiction in a long time.” Lisa 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 is a middle school teacher and lives in Boston, Massachusetts, with her children and two bossy cats. 

Reviews

Gr 5-8-Readers will be invested in the twisted tale of Black middle schooler Kela and Ophidia, an aging, vindictive mermaid. Kela is still reeling from the abrupt loss of her mother in a car accident. Her father has been drowning in his grief, and she feels emotionally frozen in place. While visiting the local coral reef in St. Rita one day, Kela grudgingly lets Lissy tag along. The girls used to be inseparable, but Kela has refused to open up to her close friend after her mother's death. Kela feels drawn to an odd object on the coral reef and barely manages to grab the strange item to place in her bag before the tide washes everything away. Through alternating narrators, readers learn that the treasure Kela discovered is a magical comb belonging to Ophidia, who is enraged that someone has taken her comb but is bound under strict magical law to grant a wish to the person who returns the item to her. Of course, the devastated Kela desires nothing else in the world but having her mom back. Kela makes the wish for her mother's return, but would never have guessed the terrifying consequences. Kela's heartbreak rings true as she struggles to navigate healing over her mother's loss. Ophidia's backstory is equally intriguing. Characters are engaging, and the narrative will hook young bibliophiles to the end. VERDICT A unique blend of Caribbean folklore and realistic grief with a vindictive mermaid twist. Hand to fans of mermaid tales, general fantasy lovers, and readers seeking a rare gem in the genre.-Julie Shatterlyα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Edition details

• Publisher: Quill Tree Books
• Publication date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0063043432
• ISBN 13: 9780063043435
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 272