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A
Wish
in the
Dark
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 Southeast Asian–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.
Tanaburi
A small, ordinary village a fair distance from
Chattana with the temple Wat Singh, headed
by Father Cham. It also contains the Tanaburi
Village School, a craft school Father Cham
founded where the children of the village
learn how to weave cloth, carve wood, and
master other skills that will land them good,
steady work.
A Note from Christina Soontornvat
As a writer, I have always wanted to tackle a twist on Les Mis, but for
a long time I could not wrap my head around a version for middle-grade
readers.
My answer to that last question is yes, and I hope with all my heart that
A Wish in the Dark helps young readers shine their own light into the world.
Advance Praise
“A thrilling fantasy, set in a fresh, original world, with a vital message at its heart. A Wish
in the Dark is incandescent.” — Adam Gidwitz, Newbery Honor–winning author of The
Inquisitor’s Tale
“At once timeless and timely, Christina Soontornvat’s A Wish in the Dark is a richly
imagined portrait of the power of hope, courage, and compassion to shine a light in dark
times and the ability of small people to effect great change. Ingenious, captivating, and
utterly gorgeous.” — Anne Ursu, National Book Award nominee for The Real Boy
“Readers will be rooting for Pong and his band of revolutionary friends and inspired to
spread more light in their own communities.” — Sayantani DasGupta, New York Times
best-selling author of the Kiranmala and the Kingdom Beyond series