A Wish in the Dark
Bibliography: Soontornvat, C. (2020). A WISH IN THE DARK. Candlewick.
ISBN: 978-1536204940
Plot Summary:
Nine-year-old Pong escapes from the prison where he was born and discovers harrowing truths about the gap between the world's privileged ruling class and impoverished laborers. 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 beliefs she has always held so dear.
Critical Analysis:
Soontornvat takes readers into an adventure about humility and having privilege with some really unique characters who each have their own story. The author’s details on Pong’s living conditions in the prison and his escape were truly captivating. Readers are able to picture the dark cave that the prison is described as compared to the multicolored lights of Chattana. There was so much detail and figurative language used throughout the chapters. I did find it unfair how Pong had no fault in being born in the prison, but he had no choice. On the other hand, Nok also had no fault in trying to do something right for her family. The reader can learn so much about a different culture simply by reading this book. It allows readers to help reconnect with cultural values that may have been lost. This is a book that I believe readers will truly enjoy.
Review Excerpt(s):
“Set in a fantasy analogue of Thailand, all characters are presumed Thai, and Thai life and culture permeate the story in everything from the mangoes Pong eats in prison to the monks he meets beyond the prison's walls. It's also a retelling of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, and Soontornvat has maintained the themes of the original while making the plot and the characters utterly her own. Pong's and Nok's narratives are drawn together by common threads of family, loyalty, and a quest to define right and wrong, twining to create a single, satisfying tale. A complex, hopeful, fresh retelling.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Nuanced questions of morality, oppression, and being defined by one’s circumstances are compounded with exciting action in this novel inspired by Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables. The characters are resonant, and the action is enhanced by the fantastical Thailand-like setting. The original storyline and well-developed characters make this a standout novel. Highly recommended.”—School Library Journal
Connection:
*Students can have a discussion and then answer the following question:
What does this book teach us about how to make change even when it seems impossible?
*Students can write about the mission or quest within the story.
Other titles:The Last Mapmaker by Christina Soontornvat ISBN 978-153620495
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