儿子的读书笔记（A Wish in the Dark）

A Wish in the Dark

                                                                                                                 ——Christina Soontornvat 

Pong is an inmate in Numwon Prison, in Chatana City. But he was innocent only that his mother was lock up there for theft and give birth to Pong and died in the process. Pong and Somkit, his best friend longed to be freed and walk under the light of Chatana City. Chatana was an old city, but it was destroyed by a fire many years ago. Then the governor came. He had the power to make light, and put them in glass orbs, and saved Chatana.

As Pong learned more about the outside world, he managed to escape, but he forgot one thing, that is every inmate in Numwon was tattooed. 

Pong’s goal was to go to the sea, and escape. But when he barely walked half of the way, he was caught stealing food. Luckily, a monk named Father Chim saved him, but asked him to stay, so Pong stayed. Four years later, Nok, the daughter of the warden of Numwon, now the law commissioner, accompanied her family to the town Pong was staying. She was desperate to restore the honor of the family. Then, she found out about Pong’s escape from Numwon. She jumped at the chance and chase Pong through the jungle. Luckily, Pong escaped again. he jumped on a boat and went back Chatana. 

Back in Chatana, he met up with his old friend, Somkit. Then he met Umpie, a leader of a mudhouse where he and Somkit hid. 

Now Pong truly knew how the people suffer in Chatana. Only because they had a prison mark, they had to live in the shadows for the rest of their life. And those kids born in Numwon, they did nothing wrong, except that they were born there. So they rallied a peaceful march to over throw the governor. 

The governor had a wicked plan that is to throw everyone marching in prison. But Pong found out some of the governor’s secrets, and used them against him. After the march, the governor disappeared from Chatana, and everyone was happy. 

I think this book is well written because the author put fantasy with reality. The governor was the representation of wicked politicians who give the richer people more power and make the poorer people suffer.