A Wish in the Dark - Christina Soontornvat (Review & Summary)

Date of Reading: 14/1/2022

Author: Christina Soontornvat

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Publication Date: March 24, 2020

Rating: 5/5

About the book:

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 the 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.

Review:

        The first thing that I thought after finishing the last page is 'Where did I come to know this book from?'. Is it GoodReads, Twitter or another book blog? I don't have the slightest idea. The book has been on my TBR for more than a month now and I am so grateful to whoever made me add this to my shelf. So here I am, passing on the baton hoping that 'A Wish in the Dark' will find a place on many more bookshelves.

        Most have categorised it as a middle-grade children's story, but I feel that this belong to the young adult. Intricately woven, the novel starts from Namwon prison to the monastery in the outskirts and back to Chattana assembling a plethora of characters uniquely crafted. What I loved the most about this book is the good feeling it projects, just like Victor Hugo's 'Les Miserables'. As a huge fan of this classic (the abridged version that is), it is no coincidence that I fell completely for it.

        Pong might be the central character but the one that drew my attention was Nok. She reminded me a lot of one of my classmates, the daughter of a police officer, who supported the third-degree interrogation methods. Well, law and order need to be maintained, but that is not an excuse for being inhuman. I wish Nok had come to her senses even without that shocking reveal.

        Inspiring, poignant and dramatic -- yup, that is exactly what this story felt. A blessing in the darkest times.

Summary: 

        Pong is a nine-year-old boy born in Chattana’s Namwon prison. His mother died in childbirth but according to the prison rules the children of the prisoners can go out only when they complete their parent’s sentence or when they turn thirteen, whichever is earlier. With his closest friend Somkit, he dreams of that freedom. Chattana is governed by a man known as Governor after the Great Fire ravaged the city. Now instead of fire, the people use the magical orbs provided by the governor as the energy source. 

        Everyone admires the Governor and Pong is no exception. He longs to work for the great man one day. But these hopes are shattered when the Governor comes for a visit to the prison. While trying to save Somkit from the bullying of older inmates, he is noticed and humiliated by the Governor. He says, “Those who are born in darkness always return”. The words have shaken Pong and when a chance arises he escapes from Namwon.

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        As a fugitive, he cannot remain in Chattana. His prison tattoo can be easily recognised. He is caught stealing food from a monastery and the senior monk Father Cham takes him in and conceals his tattoo by using blessing threads. All his blessings, however irrelevant they may seem to be, come to pass. Four years pass. Pong, as a novice monk, feels secure that everyone must have forgotten him back in Chattana. Then the family of the former warden of Namwon pays a visit to the village and Nok Sivapan, the warden’s daughter recognises Pong.

        Nok is a diligent follower of the law and just like the governor believes that the light shines upon the worthy. She is born out of an affair her father had and her family is scared of the scandal that may come any time. They decide to leave her in the village. Nok vouches to capture Pong to redeem her family’s image and to secure her place with them. Meanwhile, Father Cham became bedridden. Before his death, he gives Pong a special blessing “May you find what you are looking for”. 

        To escape from Nok, Pong jumps off a cliff and nearly drowns. Accidentally saved by a boat, he reaches Chattana and coincidentally meets his friend Somkit. Staying with him he gets involved in a march against the Governor organised by Ampai. Pong later learns that she was a child once saved and blessed by Father Cham. With Somkit’s techniques, they manage to produce light from the globes through the absorption of sunlight. Pong helps to find the useless globes they need with his keen eyes.

       Nok is back in Chattana without the knowledge of her parents. While searching for Pong, she manages to hear about the planned march and warns the Governor. Contrary to her expectations he was already aware of this. He talks about her birth mother who was a criminal in Namwon prison. She was born there. This comes as a blow to her previous beliefs and finally, she can understand why Pong tried to escape.

        A fire breaks out before the march and Ampai dies saving the people trapped in it. Others still decide to go on with the march commemorating her memory. Somkit gets a permit for Pong so he can escape when everyone’s attention is drawn to the march. The freedom he longed for is within his grasp, but Pong feels empty. He gets a vision from Father Cham and realises that the Governor got his powers from Father Cham’s blessing. 

        Pong decides to go back and reason with the Governor, but it was too late. Governor has already cut off the lights from their district. Desperate he tried to cut off the Governor’s bracelet, representing the blessing he received, and the light passes to his body. From his hands, it spreads to the bodies of others. Governor has lost his power. He pushes Pong to the river but Nok comes to his rescue.

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       Chattana starts creating its own light through Somkit’s methods and a new era has begun.

Meet the author:

Christina Soontornvat grew up behind the counter of her parents’ Thai restaurant in a small Texas town with her nose stuck in a book. She is very proud of both her Thai and her Texan roots, and makes regular trips to both Weatherford and Bangkok to see her beloved family members (and eat lots and lots of Thai food!). Christina is the author of the fantasy middle grade series, The Changelings, and the early chapter book series, Diary of an Ice Princess. She lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, two young children, and one old cat.