Caul Baby

Now in paperback, New York Times bestselling author Morgan Jerkins's fiction debut, an electrifying novel for fans of Ta-Nehisi Coates and Jacqueline Woodson, that brings to life one powerful and enigmatic family in a tale rife with secrets, betrayal, intrigue, and magic.

Laila desperately wants to become a mother, but each of her previous pregnancies has ended in heartbreak. To protect the child she's now carrying, she turns to the Melancons, an old and powerful Harlem family know for their caul, a precious layer of skin that is rumored to hold miraculous healing properties.

But a deal to acquire the caul falls apart, and Laila's child is stillborn. Overcome by grief and rage, Laila does not know that her ambitious college-aged niece, Amara has become pregnant and arranged for a private adoption. Baby Hallow's eager adoptive family is in fact the Melancons, who see that this extraordinary baby possesses an unusual caul and predict the girl will save the family and restore the riches once enjoyed.

Growing up Hallow appreciates the power of her caul but fears her family's thirst for power. The fate reunites her with Amara, whose career has reached astonishing heights, and both must decide where their true allegiances lie.

Engrossing and page-turning, Caul Baby illuminates the search for familial connection, the enduring power of tradition, and the darkest corners of the human heart.