BookBrowse Reviews Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng

BookBrowse:

A chilling novel set in an alternate present in which state-sanctioned violence against Asians and Asian Americans tears families and communities apart.

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Celeste Ng's dystopian novel Our Missing Hearts wowed readers in our First Impressions program. All 22 who reviewed the book gave it four or five stars.

What it's about:

The author holds up a mirror to our present world with all its division, anger and paranoia. Bird and his father are forced to live apart from Bird's mother, who is Chinese American, to keep them all safe from the new law of the land – the Preserving American Culture and Traditions (PACT) Act. Anyone of Chinese birth or ancestry is considered a danger to PACT. Chinese children are removed from their homes, books are banned and freedom of speech is only acceptable if you agree with PACT. As disturbing as the premise is, it is still a story of a family, of love, of faith in humanity and the fallibility of people trying to do the best that they can (Peggy S). It tells the story of a 12-year-old boy, Bird, who lives with his father in Cambridge, MA. Bird's mother has left the family because her Asian ethnicity could put them at risk. It's been three years since she left but Bird still misses her, and, without his father's knowledge, decides to find her based on a letter he receives with a New York return address (Joyce M).

Though the book has a dystopian premise, it was appreciated by many who do not normally read this genre:

Our Missing Hearts is a story that should be classified as dystopian but is so close to reality that to call it dystopian would diminish its impact. Ng has done something wonderful and heartbreaking with her third novel. She takes a mirror to our society, one that presents reality with just enough distortion to both reflect it and warp it into something unsettling but no less true (Lori S). I do not enjoy reading dystopian novels. They make me angry and anxious. But Celeste Ng wrote this and I would read a phone book if she wrote it. Although the setting and plot are both very dark, the characters are so well drawn and loving I found this novel to be uplifting, hopeful and inspiring (Shirley L). I'm not usually a fan of dystopian fiction. But this novel held my attention and I suspect will be a big bestseller. I hope the message is heard loud and clear (Karen S).

Some readers admired how Our Missing Hearts attests to the power of books and libraries:

The author addresses how poetry is a life force; folktales preserve the past's wisdom; society unlearns lessons and then must go to extremes to stop repeating the past's dysfunctions; art is protest; and written and spoken words matter because of their potential power for both good and evil. I was touched by the example of the efficacy of libraries in the communities' resilience and librarians as a vital source of protection for the survival of both literature and children (Rule B). Among other things it is a love letter to libraries and those who protect free speech (Pam S). The characters are well-developed and Ng's use of public art displays, rallies, poetry and folktales to spread messages about the past and the future add depth to the story (Amy A).

As well as how it reflects our current political climate:

This book is set in a dystopian world that is scarily comparable to where we may be heading. Many of the themes are ones that have already occurred, are presently happening, and could happen if we continue down the path some people in power want us to follow (Donna C). This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. It is a terrifying and all too believable fable that imagines a not-too-distant future America (Pam S). This book hit close to home for me as someone who has lived on the edge between being a Chinese person and being an American — finding it hard to fit in at school or in the community because of looking and acting different. Ever since the rise in Asian hate crimes across the country, my parents have constantly told me to keep a low profile and keep my head down. This book gave me chills (Alice L).

Many also noted that it's a great read for book clubs:

Our Missing Hearts would be an excellent choice for a book club. The masterfully written subplots broaden our understanding of real-life situations encountered by many Americans in our current (and past) cultural climate. I can't wait to discuss this book with my own book group! (Laurie L). This book is dark, emotional, and also hopeful. I definitely recommend it and think it will be great for readers that have loved Celeste Ng's other books and a great one for book club discussions (Alice L).

This review was originally published in The BookBrowse Review in October 2022, and has been updated for the September 2023 edition. Click here to go to this issue.