A Wish in the Dark – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

A Wish in the Dark

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2021

90%

WISE Score

4.7

Amazon

Les Mis meets Thai fantasy: a prison escape story that asks whether the law is actually just.

A Wish in the Dark

book

2021

90%

WISE Score

4.7

Amazon

Les Mis meets Thai fantasy: a prison escape story that asks whether the law is actually just.

4.7

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Screenwise Verdict

This is the kind of middle grade book that treats kids like they can handle complex ideas—because they can. Soontornvat takes Les Misérables and makes it completely her own with a Thai-inspired fantasy world where light is power and a prison tattoo marks you for life.

The story works on multiple levels: it's a fast-paced chase through alleys and canals, but it's also asking whether laws are just because they're laws, or whether justice is something bigger. Both Pong (the escapee) and Nok (the girl hunting him) are fully realized characters who grow and change, which is rarer than it should be in middle grade fiction.

Parents should know this isn't light reading—it tackles poverty, incarceration, and privilege head-on. But it does so in ways that are age-appropriate for upper elementary and middle school kids. The Newbery Honor recognition is well-deserved. If your kid is ready for books that make them think while keeping them hooked, this is a winner.

Age Fit

Best for 5th-7th graders (ages 10-13) who can handle thematic complexity about justice, privilege, and systemic inequality. The adventure story keeps it engaging, but younger kids won't fully grasp the moral nuance that makes this book special.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Models empathy, moral courage, and questioning injustice. Pong and Nok both grow through their experiences, learning to see beyond their initial worldviews. The story handles themes of privilege, poverty, and systemic injustice with nuance appropriate for middle grade readers. Characters demonstrate kindness and cooperation even across social divides. No gratuitous darkness—the emotional weight serves the story's themes.

Imaginative

A Thai-inspired fantasy world with magical orb lights and a unique prison-to-city setting. Soontornvat reimagines Les Misérables in a wholly original context, creating a world that feels both fantastical and grounded. The premise of light as currency and power invites readers to think creatively about social systems. The magical realism approach blends real-world issues with fantasy elements in fresh ways.

Safe

No graphic violence, sexual content, or profanity. The book deals with heavy themes—poverty, incarceration, social inequality—but in age-appropriate ways for middle grade. One parent review notes a brief mention of a character born from an affair, but it's handled discreetly. The prison setting and pursuit storyline create tension without traumatic content. Common Sense Media parent reviews confirm it's appropriate for 5th grade and up, though some felt 8 was too young for the thematic complexity.

Enriching

A Newbery Honor book that tackles the prison-industrial complex, systemic inequality, privilege, and the difference between law and justice—all in a middle grade package. Readers engage with moral complexity: both protagonists are sympathetic despite being on opposite sides. The Thai cultural setting provides representation rarely seen in Western fantasy. Builds critical thinking about social systems and empathy for those in different circumstances. Genuinely thought-provoking without being preachy.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

A Newbery Honor winner that brings Les Misérables to middle grade readers through a completely original Thai-inspired fantasy lens
Tackles real issues—poverty, incarceration, privilege—without talking down to kids or being preachy about it
Both main characters are compelling: Pong the escapee and Nok the warden's daughter who's hunting him down
Provides meaningful representation with a Southeast Asian cultural setting rarely seen in Western fantasy
Fast-paced adventure story that keeps pages turning while making kids think about fairness and justice

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What to Watch For

Themes are sophisticated—parents agree this is really 5th grade+ material, not for 8-year-olds despite some age recommendations
The prison setting and pursuit storyline create tension, though nothing graphic or traumatic
Deals with heavy topics like systemic inequality and the prison-industrial complex in age-appropriate but real ways
Brief mention of a character born from an affair, handled discreetly

Conversation Starters

"Pong was born in prison for something his mom did. Is that fair? How would you feel if you were judged for something your parents did?"
"Nok starts out thinking the law is always right. What makes her change her mind? Have you ever realized something you believed was wrong?"
"In Chattana, rich people have light and poor people live in darkness. What does that remind you of in our world?"
"If you were Nok, would you turn Pong in or help him? What would be harder—breaking the law or doing something you think is unfair?"

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