A Wish in the Dark
Readers rate it 4.3 (14 on Hardcover)
385 pages · Released Sep 3, 2026 · Candlewick Press
Content report card
A Wish in the Dark parent’s guide: what’s inside
Language
Sexual content
LGBTQ+ themes
Substance use
What it offers
A note for parents
This Newbery Honor book is a thoughtful fantasy adventure exploring justice, privilege, and systemic inequality through a Thai-inspired setting. The story follows two young protagonists—a prison escapee and a warden's daughter—as their perspectives shift through encounters with each other and their society. While there is some violence and darker themes related to imprisonment and social oppression, the book centers on growth, empathy, and questioning unjust systems, making it appropriate for mature middle-grade and early teen readers.
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From the publisher
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 repre... 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. - Publisher.
Shelved under
- Fantasy
- Young Adult
- Adventure
- Dystopian
- Juvenile Fiction
- Newbery honor
- Children's fiction
- Juvenile
- award:Newbery_award
- Prisoners
- Fiction
- Ex-convicts
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ISBN 9781536211726 · Candlewick Press