Hi y’all!

Happy August, my friends! Can you believe that we are moving towards school already? Pretty crazy but also I think it’s time. Wishing you the best in the build up to the start of school!

Today I am excited to share my review of A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat. This Newbery honor winning book was recommended to me by a dear bookish friend.

What a clever adventure! When I heard this book was a loose retelling of Les Miserables set in a Thai fantasy world, I was intrigued and wow did this deliever! It was a compelling and fascinating read!

Book Summary: “A boy on the run. A girl determined to find him.

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, and inspired by Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables.”

The story is clever, fast paced and exciting. There are so many twists and turns along the way. I couldn’t turn pages fast enough to find out what happened to Pong, Somkit, Nok, and the other characters. The ways their stories intersect were at times surprising and so fun to read about. I loved the Les Mis connections throughout. The priest was my favorite — loved that connection and the magical elements of his character with the wishes. The connections were clever and subtle, allowing the novel to stand on it’s own while also connecting to that incredible classic. The world building is exquisite and offers a unique backdrop to the fast paced story. The climactic ending is absolutely fantastic and so cool!

The language is stunning. Not only is this a well told story, it is also a beautifully told story. I loved so many one liners about the beauty in life or the power of light in the face of darkness. The commentary on light and wealth and worth was fascinating. This book teaches readers about these ideas — light, goodness, darkness, beauty, forgiveness, and more. While the story is set in a fantasy inspired Thailand, the language helps the story apply to all of us — wherever we live. I loved the beautiful ways the author gives us these bits of truth and wisdom without taking away from the story. The language only adds to the novel. A truly beautifully told story.

The multiple perspectives narration was beautifully done and a favorite element of the story. I loved going back and forth between the different points of view. It pieces the story together in a fun way and I liked seeing the different perspectives of the characters. I enjoyed Pong’s journey as a runaway prisoner, seeing the peace he finds at the monastery up the mountain, and the determination to create light and freedom when he returns to the city. I was fascinated by Nok’s journey to understanding who she is and how she has worth regardless of what she says or does. I enjoyed Somkit’s journey to discovering a new way to create light and his determination to do what he believes is right. And within all their stories are other characters on journeys of their own: Nok’s father, the elderly priest, other rebels, the leader of the poor house, and more. The characters are what connects the story and language. They are what drive this story forward.

I really enjoyed this one. The characters are fascinating, the language is beautiful and the story is clever. And the ending was really cool! Such a neat read!

What are some of your favorite YA novels? 
Any favorite novels based on other stories?