A Wish in the Dark – Review

Reading time:

Synopsis:

Content Warning: (As listed by Storygraph users) Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Bullying, Child abuse and abandonment, Police brutality

A boy on the run. A girl determined to find him. A compelling fantasy looks at issues of privilege, protest, and justice.

All light in Chattana is created by one man — the Governor, who appeared after the Great Fire to bring peace and order to the city. For Pong, who was born in Namwon Prison, the magical lights represent freedom, and he dreams of the day he will be able to walk among them. But when Pong escapes from prison, he realizes that the world outside is no fairer than the one behind bars. The wealthy dine and dance under bright orb light, while the poor toil away in darkness. Worst of all, Pong’s prison tattoo marks him as a fugitive who can never be truly free.

Nok, the prison warden’s perfect daughter, is bent on tracking Pong down and restoring her family’s good name. But as Nok hunts Pong through the alleys and canals of Chattana, she uncovers secrets that make her question the truths she has always held dear. Set in a Thai-inspired fantasy world, Christina Soontornvat’s twist on Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables is a dazzling, fast-paced adventure that explores the difference between law and justice — and asks whether one child can shine a light in the dark.

Review:

I almost didn’t put the synopsis on this post. My niece and I picked up this book from a thrift store based solely on the fact that the copy we bought didn’t have a description anywhere on it. But we thought the cover was intriguing.

A Wish in the Dark did not disappoint. I had no idea what it would be about when I read it, nor that it was a retelling of Les Misérables. But I instantly feel in love with the characters, the magically setting, and the depth with which the author was willing to trust us.

It’s a poignant kind of story, that will make you think, make you smile, and make you cry. There were several times I stopped reading because it got emotional, my empathy was running high and I just needed to breath for a bit. That’s a strong story.

I loved the main characters. Pong, Somkit, and Father Cham most of all. Even tough they live in a world very different than our own, it was easy to imagine them as living, breathing people. Even Nok, the antagonist, you could feel for her and I had a sinking feeling in my gut when her twist was revealed.

As I read this book (and because I am actively working through reading all the Newbery books) I couldn’t help but feel THIS was Newbery material. I haven’t read the 2021 Newbery Winner, When You Trap a Tiger yet, but I was glad to see that A Wish in the Dark got a Newbery honor.

Many of the themes in this book fit perfectly with our current political landscape. I think if you read this book with a child ages 8 to 14 it would open up a lot of good discussion about the rule of law, police brutality, governing right and wrong, and poverty. Even more the book challenges you with what you should be doing about it.

Bottom Line:

Read this book. It’s good and it’ll make you think.

“But how could they make sure it (fire) never got out of control? Which was better: being safe or having freedom? And did you have to choose? – A Wish in the Dark

• Buy A Wish in the Dark by clicking this link and Amazon will give me a small commission for referring you.

Note: I do not use AI to assist in writing my blog. The words of this review are my own. The synopsis was taken from Amazon or another book seller.