Description

A 2021 Newbery Honor Book “Seems to have it all: a sympathetic hero, a colorful setting, humor, heart, philosophy, and an epic conflict that relates the complexity and humanity of social justice. . . . Luminous.” —Booklist (

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. But when he escapes from prison, he realizes that the world outside is no fairer than the one behind bars. The wealthy dine and dance under bright lights, 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.

• Now in paperback, a vivid fantasy that takes readers into a re-imagined Southeast Asian world
• A creative twist on Les Misérables that invites readers to think about issues of right and wrong, law and self-governance, poverty and privilege
• Received a Booklist starred review

Ages 8+