Young People’s Book Awards

Professional development activity: Write a book review.
Topic: Young people’s book awards

<A wish in the dark> by Christina Soontornvat

Book Review
The city of Chattana falls under the jurisdiction of the Governor, who is able to manufacture magical orbs that are the city’s primary sources of light and power after being decimated by the Great Fire, plunging it into darkness. Pong, a nine-year-old kid who was born and raised in Namwon Prison, manages to break free by hiding in a rubbish basket. Though his jail tattoo identifies him as a fugitive, he wants to live freely in Chattana. When Pong gets caught stealing food from a monastery on the outskirts of Chattana, the senior monk Father Cham swears him in and helps him hide his tattoo.

Nok, the warden’s daughter, recognizes Pong four years later and swears to bring him to justice to restore respect to her family. Pong and Nok return to Chattana, where Pong reconnects with his friend Somkit and joins a protest movement against the city’s socioeconomic inequalities. Somkit can produce his own orb lights, which he will demonstrate to the crowd at the protest to demonstrate that they do not require the Governor’s illumination. Nok begins to have doubts about the Governor and joins the demonstrators. The novel concludes with the Governor’s verdict, giving the people of Chattana hope for a free life.

This book was introduced as a retelling of Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables and a fantasy fiction novel setting in Thailand. I particularly enjoyed how much Pong and Nok have grown from beginning to end.  Pong has been treated unfairly since the day he was born and yearns for freedom.  Nok is very determined, but struggling to define her conscience.  They are ordinary kids who develop their ethics and morals of the world, and most importantly learn to fight for the others. 

I also enjoyed how kind Pong is to the people around him.  In Somkit’s brotherhood, Pong supports him unquestionably.  Father Cham is his mentor, teaching him valuable life lessons.  My favorite part of the story is the way it deftly addresses social concerns like poverty and economic distribution.  Orb lights are used in Chattana for everything from lighting to power to heating.  The system is rigged against those who cannot afford better lighting and hence cannot achieve the same high standards of living, while the wealthy ignore their plight.  Soontornvat did an excellent job explaining privilege and unfairness in the society in a gentle manner that students understand easily.

No doubt that school librarians like book awards a lot, which save them a lot of time selecting and promoting books to their patrons.  Librarians see the shortlisted, even the longlisted books are pre-selected books and they tend to agree with the committee’s choices, therefore, they don’t really spend much time reading the reviews before purchasing.  Also, patrons have presumed that these books are reviewed and highly recommended.  As for this activity, I want to explode in-depth the importance of book awards and the impact on library promoting literacy.

This book has been named a Newbery Honor Book for 2021.  The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a part of the American Library Association (ALA), presents the John Newbery Medal (Newbery) to the author of the most meritorious contribution to American children’s literature and it was the first children’s book award in the world.  The Newbery is the most prestigious award in the United States for children’s literature and has become more influential to schools around the world.  

The Newbery is designed to promote unique creative work in the realm of children’s literature. To demonstrate to the public that contributions to children’s writing are worthy of equal appreciation as poems, dramas, or novels. To provide an opportunity for librarians who dedicate their lives to serving children’s reading interests to support good writing in this sector (ALA, 2022).

I read this book for multiple reasons.  It is one of the Battle of the Books this year and I read along with the students August last year.  I read and took notes while practicing with the students.  In addition, it was a long-listed for Golden Dragon Book Award as I recommended to the Committee and later on became a short-listed. 

In addition, I planned to introduce this book to my other students during Asian American Pacific Island (AAPI) Heritage Month in May.  Christina Soontornvat is an Asian American author who always writes her stories from the Thai perspective, and has her readers know about the culture.  She and her books help the students to understand, value and appreciate different Asian and Pacific Islander cultures.  This book promotes an idea of being principle that students are encouraged to stand their ground on what is right and wrong. 

It is definitely a “Kill two birds with one stone” synergy of awarded books and library program, which work so much more productively together to develop reading for please than they it does alone (Stewart, 2019; Tolkien, 2022).  The process can involve librarian working with teachers to weave them into lesson planning about AAPI.  It is also a review writing competition encouraging creative writing, critical thinking and clarity of expression (Williamson, 2020).

Reference

American Library Association (ALA). (2022). John Newbery medal.  https://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/john-newbery-medal-2