A Wish In the Dark by Christina Soontornvat

Synopsis:

“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 had heard such amazing things about this book from fellow book bloggers and librarians and I was completely drawn into the story with just the cover alone. The dark purple tones of night filled up with shades of light that the people can use for all different activities. Plus, you have two characters on the front, one engaging directly with the reader, while the other one is off in the distance on a pier.

Christina Soontornvat expertly creates a setting that although seeped in magic, still fills very much like a world we can recognize of people striving to make a difference, searching for equality. Where some characters directly pull energy from the magic of the world, there are others that have their own magic to push for change, to not take the easy road, to want more.

The characters are so nuanced from Pong and his friends who become family, to Nok and her quest to bring respect to her family, none of these characters feel like filler. They are all a part of this story for a reason and have a complete backstory that gives the reader insight into their thoughts and feelings and decisions.

I am forever in awe of writers who can pack such an in-depth story into so few pages. Granted, A Wish In the Dark is a little longer than some middle grade books clocking in at almost 400 pages. But, in all honesty, the story didn’t feel drawn out or tired in any way.

This is a must-read in my book and one of my favorites of 2020 so far! And if I can’t convince you, check out this awesome book trailer!

More Thoughts:

I love that there is already a discussion guide for this book! This would make an amazing group read because I think you can really dive deep into the story, but also make comparisons with what’s going on in our world today. And because this book came out during quarantine for a lot of people, you can check out a Q&A with the author on YouTube!

Need to Know:

Title: A Wish In the Dark
Author: Christina Soontornvat
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Publication Date: March 24, 2020
Page Number: 384 pgs.