Lisa Stringfellow
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Lisa Stringfellow writes middle grade fiction and has a not-so-secret fondness for fantasy with a dark twist. She is the author of two books for young readers, Kingdom of Dust and A Comb of Wishes, which Newbery Award–winning author Kelly Barnhill called “one of the most promising works of fiction in a long time.” 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 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. Author P. Djèlí Clark calls her West African–inspired fantasy, Kingdom of Dust, “A fascinating fairy tale of memory, the power of storytelling, and magic!” Lisa is a middle school teacher and lives in Boston, Massachusetts, with her children and bossy cat. |
Kingdom of DustAuthor 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.
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 more than 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. Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection Publisher: HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books ISBN: 9780063043480 (hardcover) Publication Date: August 20, 2024 |
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A Comb of WishesSet 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”! Publisher: HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books ISBN: 9780063043435 (hardcover); 9780063043442 (paperback) Publication Date: February 8, 2022 |
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Resources
A Comb of Wishes Educator's Guide
Teaching.net Resources for A Comb of Wishes
Teaching.net Resources for Kingdom of Dust
Teaching.net Resources for A Comb of Wishes
Teaching.net Resources for Kingdom of Dust
Contact Lisa
Website: lisastringfellow.com
Instagram: instagram.com/engagereaders/
Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/engagereaders.bsky.social
Instagram: instagram.com/engagereaders/
Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/engagereaders.bsky.social
