A Comb of Wishes

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.

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.