{"product_id":"a-comb-of-wishes-isbn-9780063043435","title":"A Comb of Wishes","description":"\u003cp\u003eSet 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. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEver 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. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFar 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut what Kela wants most is for her mother to be alive. And a wish that big will exact an even bigger price…\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDon’t miss the novel that Newbery-winning author Kelly Barnhill calls “one of the most promising works of fiction in a long time”!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eA Story of Grief and Hope:\u003c\/b\u003e 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?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eCaribbean Folklore Adventure:\u003c\/b\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eBlack Mermaid Magic:\u003c\/b\u003e Kela discovers the comb belongs to Ophidia, a powerful and vengeful sea woman with dark skin and a deep hatred for the human world.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eWishes and Consequences:\u003c\/b\u003e 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.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e | \u003cp\u003e“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.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKelly Barnhill, author of the Newbery-winning novel The Girl Who Drank the Moon\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Kela’s primary narration allows for a harmonious blend of contemporary island life and Afro-Caribbean lore, while chapters focusing on Ophidia draw on elements of Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid.” The third-person narration of the interspersed sections echoes a rhythmic traditional call-and-response that links the teller and the listener.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBulletin of the Center for Children’s Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"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 as she tries to deal with the grief of losing her mother as well as regret for her past actions.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“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.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePadma Venkatraman, Walter Award winning author of The Bridge Home\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Stringfellow’s middle-grade debut is a wondrous and original story that incorporates Caribbean culture and folklore. Told in alternating points of views between Kela and Ophidia, the novel leads us through a story about family that spans hundreds of years and will captivate readers until the end.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"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.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"The story is imbued with magic, but Stringfellow’s powerful writing makes the fantastical feel like reality. Through narrative perspectives centering both Kela and Ophidia, the author recalls the call-and-response structure prevalent in Black storytelling traditions. Fans of Baptiste’s The Jumbies and Rhodes’s Bayou Magic will enjoy spending time with Kela as she navigates a journey filled with grief, love, loss, and discovery.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHorn Book Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Stringfellow brings a fantastical approach to one character’s processing of grief as, with the support of secondary characters, Kela begins to truly navigate her pain while unearthing the stories and lore that are her heritage.\" - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Quill Tree Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44889626575077,"sku":"NP9780063043435","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780063043435.jpg?v=1730231629","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/a-comb-of-wishes-isbn-9780063043435","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}