A Wish in the Dark | 
This story would be great to use for a class of 4th or 5th graders. The storytelling in the book would be wonderful for those grade levels. This book follows a great journey with many twists and intense scenes that it would keep students interested, while also giving them an inside look on Thai culture.
pickA Wish in the Dark by Chistina Soontornvat was published in 2020. Won Newbery Award, Jane Adams Children‘s book award, and many more. This is a wonderful fantasy book that focuses on the issues of privilege, protest and justice. This book is set in a fantasy land in Thailand, where you are able to explore the Thai culture. It follows a young boy on the run, with a girl determined to find him, how will the story figure itself out.
“Pong had never thought about escaping Namwon before, but now the opportunity lurched up like a mud-skipper and slapped him across the face with its tail. He could get out of Namwon. Not when he was thirteen. Now.”
pickThai version of Les Miserables. Had no idea this was a children‘s book but nonetheless really good.
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander month so that our theme this Monday! #AAPI
Christina Soontornvat wrote the tagged book- a Thai-inspired retelling of Les Mis with magical elements that rocked my world and in doing so became a must-read author for me! In this version, the daughter of the prison warden hunts down a prison-born boy who is trying to escape his doomed life.
What titles would you recommend for #MiddleGradeMonday ?
so-soThis book for me was so-so everything was everywhere in this book one happy scene than it would quickly switch to a intense scene. I'd still read it when I get bored for nostalgic reasons 6/10 for me.
For the people who have read this book you'll understand.
pickFinishing this reminded me that I haven‘t posted my #bookspin list for the month. Whoops! My co-worker recommended this as a potential book to use with our 5th graders. Beautifully written, fantastic characters and development. Amongst all that a lot of deeper rooted concepts to unpack. Fantastic imagery, fantastic story.
so-soI felt like the overall story is under developed, but it is decent overall.
Eek! A new bookshop just opened in my neighborhood! Pretty proud of my restraint to keep to three.
I‘m especially excited about the tagged book. My 12 year old niece decided that we would start the “Claire and Katie Book Club,” and it‘s the first selection for this very exclusive club 😊
Here's the quote I marked, @BucklingBookshelves . Thought-provoking!
#truth I think this was my favorite quote in the whole book! #buddyread
As a light sleeper & tea-drinker, I loved this so much! #buddyread
pick#buddyread In an unusual turn of events, I switched to Kindle for this one! I kept getting stuck at the beginning, but switching to digital got my momentum going. 🤷🏼♀️ I loved the characters, premise, & setting, but there were also times I felt a bit taken out of the story as the author‘s message seemed pretty overt rather than more subtly woven in. Worthwhile & thought-provoking for sure, just a bit jarring at times as a reading experience.
pickI really enjoyed the unique setting of this book. I often pay attention to the cover of a book, but they don't usually influence me the way the cover of this one did. I could imagine the city so easily. I liked the message the book conveyed, and Pong and Somkit's relationship was fun and sweet. There were some pacing issues that means this book was not a home run for me, but I enjoyed it overall.
My hold came in, and I'm ready when you are, @BucklingBookshelves ! I'm all prepared with my book darts this time! 😄 #buddyread
pickA stunning book - a retelling of les miserables set in a Thai-inspired fantasy world. A boy escapes from prison and the prison wardens daughter vows to capture him. And look at that cover 😍 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
pickBelief in sad, cruel words like: “The world is full of darkness and that will never change” does nothing to make the world a better place. Set in an alternate Thailand, the children in this outstanding novel are plucky underdogs who are determined to make a difference. Adventure plus social justice is a winning combination and entirely suitable for a family read aloud. #AllAges
Which was better: being safe or having freedom? And did you have to choose?
“He‘s going to spend the money on a huge new building project. A youth reform center.”
“It‘s a jail,” said Ampai. “For children.”
Pong winced as if someone had punched him in the chest. A children‘s jail. Just thinking the words made him feel sick.
(Internet photo)
I don‘t know how I missed the fact that this novel is fantasy: there‘s a boy holding a ball of light right on the cover. And I thought it was set in Bangkok, but it‘s a FANTASY version of Bangkok. I‘ve read 150 pages with barely any pauses. So good!
pickIn this Thai-inspired fantasy, Pong escapes the prison he was born in and Nok, the prison warden‘s daughter, resolves to capture him. Their lives become intertwined in ways they could not have imagined as each discovers that the magical city of lights they call home does not shine equally on all of its citizens. I love this enchanting story about the potential of a community to fight for justice and the underestimated power of the human heart.
pickI loved this book so much! Definitely one with lots of issues - imprisonment, tyranny, poverty but also found family for sure. I love how helpful some of these characters are and how the story came full circle. There‘s some magic as well and I really enjoyed each of our main three characters and seeing them interact and grow. #dogsoflitsy
