Caul Baby: A Novel

A Black woman’s path to motherhood leads her to a mysterious and powerful Harlem family in this fiction debut by a New York Times–bestselling author.

“Gave me chills almost every time I turned the page. . . . The book traces a legacy of Black, female pain through the somewhat softening lens of magical realism. It’s an unsparing take on the ramifications of trauma on Black American women, and Jerkins manages it as a spellbinding story.” —Glamour

Laila desperately wants to become a mother, but each of her previous pregnancies has ended in heartbreak. This time has to be different, so she turns to the Melancons, an old and powerful Harlem family known for their caul, a precious layer of skin that is the secret source of their healing power.

When a deal for Laila to acquire a piece of caul falls through, she is heartbroken, but when the child is stillborn, she is overcome with grief and rage. What she doesn’t know is that a baby will soon be delivered in her family—by her niece, Amara, an ambitious college student—and delivered to the Melancons to raise as one of their own. Hallow is special: she’s born with a caul, and their matriarch, Maman, predicts the girl will restore the family’s prosperity.

Growing up, Hallow feels that something in her life is not right. Did Josephine, the woman she calls mother, really bring her into the world? Why does her cousin Helena get to go to school and roam the streets of New York freely while she’s confined to the family’s decrepit brownstone?

As the Melancons’ thirst to maintain their status grows, Amara, now a successful lawyer running for district attorney, looks for a way to avenge her longstanding grudge against the family. When mother and daughter cross paths, Hallow will be forced to decide where she truly belongs . . .

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

“An exhilarating tale of family, belonging, and bodies, this promises to be one of the most exciting releases of the year.” —Elle

“A fascinating, of-the-moment story about the intersection of motherhood, power, and community.” —Real Simple

“Laced with generational pain and sprinkled with magic, Caul Baby is a sweeping family drama with no shortage of action.” —The Chicago Review of Books

“Jerkins solidifies herself as one of our guiding literary lights, no matter the genre.” —Booklist

© 2021 HarperAudio (Audiobook): 9780063070431
© 2024 Harper (Ebook): 9780062873170

Release date

Audiobook: 6 April 2021
Ebook: 19 March 2024