Book on CD narrated by Lucy Liu

From the book jacket: Twelve-year-old Bird Gardner lives a quiet existence with his loving but broken father, a former linguist who now shelves books in a university library. Bird knows to not ask too many questions, stand out too much, or stray too far. His mother, Margaret, a Chinese American poet left the family when he was nine years old. Bird has grown up disavowing his mother and her poems; he doesn’t know her work or what happened to her, and he knows he shouldn’t wonder. But when he receives a mysterious letter containing only a cryptic drawing, he is pulled into a quest to find her.

My reaction
This was uncomfortably plausible. Ng holds a magnifying glass to current and past events and predicts the likely outcome, especially if the silent majority remains silent and complacent when “it doesn’t effect US.”

Bird is a wonderful character. He’s smart and observant. The political climate in which he lives has resulted in a kind of maturity beyond his years. My heart bleeds for his father, who, to protect his child, must hold everything he knows inside – never sharing, never discussing, never searching for answers.

I loved the network of librarians who were used to thwart the “powers that be.” The story lost a little momentum in the second part, when Ng explored Margaret’s story, but it picked up again in part three. There were times when my heart was in my throat. I can hardly wait for my book club meeting to discuss!

The audiobook is narrated by Lucy Liu, who does a fine job of it. She sets a good pace and I was never confused about who was speaking. ( )

This is a book that imagines a future that is dystopian but, frighteningly, all too easy to see coming about. Let's hope it remains fiction, not fortune telling.

Noah is 12 years old when the book opens. He lives with his father, Ethan, on a college campus in Cambridge Massachusetts. Noah prefers to be called Bird but after his mother, Margaret, left the family home when Noah was eight, no-one calls him Bird. Because Margaret is viewed as a traitor, Ethan who was a professor was demoted to being a librarian when Margaret vanished. Ethan is a man who loves words and books but fewer and fewer books are kept on the shelves of libraries. PACT (Preserving American Cultures and Traditions) is a bill passed by the American government that has become increasingly totalitarian. Dissent is not tolerated, children can be taken from parents for little reason, books are deemed unacceptable for a variety of reasons and people of Chinese (or any Eastern ethnicity) origin are openly discriminated against. Margaret was a Chinese-American and Bird has Oriental features so Ethan is always warning Bird to look down and not draw attention to himself. They haven't heard from Margaret since she left and Bird doesn't know if she is even alive. He tries to remember her by telling himself the stories and fables that she used to tell him. Margaret was the author of a book of poetry called Our Missing Hearts but there are no copies left anywhere. Then Bird gets a message from Margaret which invites him to come to New York City to see her. It's a long journey for a young boy but he decides to do it. In New York he is reunited with Margaret through the auspices of her friend, the Duchess. Margaret continues the story-telling but this time it is the story of her life. Margaret's book has been used as a rallying call for people protesting their children being apprehended and she has spent the last four years learning the stories of people whose children were taken. Now she plans to disseminate those stories in a very public way. When she finishes that she hopes to go back to being Bird's mom but is that a dream?

In this book, librarians are heroes of the resistance, passing along information, and people. Librarians are always my heroes. ( )

I liked the writng in this book more than I liked the content. this dystopian novel was very frightening and showed how easy it is for dictators to rule. it was upsetting to read this at this time in this state, country, and world. The first part was very interesting, but much of the second and third parts of the book were tedious. the ending came so quickly and unfortunately, was much too uncertain itself. it's fine that i read this book, but it is the least favorite of ng's books that i've read. i was personally pleased that librarians were portrayed as saviors, as so often that is true. ( )

In the timeless tradition of The Handmaid's Tale and Fahrenheit 451, Ng tackles a dystopian future that is woven tightly with reality. The country has made it through a crisis, but the PACT legislation that resulted from a place a fear has only increased prejudice and suspicion of Asian Americans. It's not much of a leap to believe this could happen, which is what makes the story so powerful. She focuses on the families whose children are ripped away from them in order to "protect" them from sedition indoctrination. Ng has been hit of miss for me in the past. I enjoy her books, but never before have I felt rocked by the quiet emotion this one held. It's a dark future, but one that is based in past actions of both this country and others. When we silence those who are willing to question authority, we are no longer free.

“If we fear something, it is all the more imperative we study it thoroughly.”

“Librarians, of all people, understood the value of knowing, even if that information could not yet be used.”

“Maybe, she thinks, this is simply what living is: an infinite list of transgressions that did not weigh against the joys but that simply overlaid them, the two lists mingling and merging, all the small moments that made up the mosaic of a person, a relationship, a life.” ( )

The library where I work chose this for their "one book" this year. One of the more depressing books I've read in the past 12 months. Maybe because I live in the area it's even easier to imagine, and maybe because it seems plausible in this election year. In an America post "crisis," Asian Americans are the out group, because people associate them with China, the major bad player. Not only are Asians the out group, but anyone not deemed patriotic enough can have their children removed! That is a really scary prospect, since if you disagree with the government, you will be deemed unpatriotic.

The book was okay for me; not as good as Little Fires, but thought-provoking. ( )

I listened to the audio version read by Lucy Liu. Generally I'm not a fan of dystopian literature but I enjoyed this book. ( )

Representation: Biracial (half white and half Asian), Black, Asian and Latina characters
Trigger warnings: Death of a father from a fall and a mother, blood, grief and loss depiction, physical assault and injury, animal cruelty, systemic racism, explosions, racist and sexist slurs, gun violence, murder
Score: Six points out of ten.
This review can also be found on The StoryGraph.

I saw this book hiding on the shelves of one of the two libraries I visit when I couldn't find the novels I wanted (that being Throne of Glass and The Love Hypothesis) so after some consideration I picked it up and finally read it. When I finished it, the concept initially sounded promising but unfortunately, it underwhelmed me. Perhaps the author's other works are better than this one as I don't want a suboptimal impression of her only because I started with a dissatisfying reading experience.

It starts with the main character Bird Gardner or Bird for short living in a near-future version of America where everything looks typical except for one law: PACT, or Preserving American Culture and Traditions Act. At first glance, the act is to promote American patriotism but it is a façade for a legal excuse for anti-Asian (specifically Asian American) hate. Here's where the flaws surface: I couldn't get over the fact that throughout the narrative, there are no quotation marks, which made it harder for me to separate dialogue from the narration. I appreciate the author writing a story with plausible worldbuilding that could exist in this world only in a few years but the writing of the characters missed the mark because I couldn't connect or relate to them. The government can also displace Asian children to live with non-Asian families, which felt familiar and displeased me.

I don't understand the decision Margaret Miu (Bird's mother) made to abandon her son to go live somewhere else (it could have something to do with hiding from the authoritarian anti-Asian government. Or another reason.) Bird lives with his father in the opening pages complying and conforming with PACT until a cryptic letter arrives at his house, and so he sets out to discover where that came from. He also tried to search for Margaret's books (one of them is a poem with the same name as the work, and another is about cats.) At first, he couldn't find it but one library was hiding it for 'research purposes' (I think they're preserving them even though there is now an Asian book ban but that begs the question: do they only ban Asian literature or can they ban other diverse works of fiction? Would such a work be prohibited if it was about an Asian but a non-Asian author wrote it? Say there's one about a non-Asian protagonist, but an Asian author wrote it. What would happen then? Is the rest of the world this totalitarian or is it only America? These questions remain unanswered, much to my confusion.

Bird goes to Margaret's house and that's where the backstory begins (there's a lot of it, and unfortunately, it leaves not much room for the plot) detailing how PACT came to be and the only reason for that is that after the economic Crisis, America played the blame game, used Asians as a scapegoat and created PACT as a lawful excuse for hate crimes against them. I enjoyed reading that and the silent protests, but I wished there was more substance to what I read. The conclusion wasn't outstanding either as it was too open, letting me down. ( )

I have always loved Celeste Ng, so I had high expectations. I'm not sure if they were met all the way, but I still enjoyed this melancholic story. ( )

First, I do not like fantasy and this book, Our Missing Hearts, presents a bleak picture of the future. The book reminds me of George Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm. The story centers on Noah nicknamed Bird and his quest to be reunited with his mother, Margaret Mui, a poet and freedom fighter. PACT (Preserving American Culture and Traditions) controls all aspects of life, like Big Brother watching over every citizen. Any infringement and PACT jumps into the equation and quickly smothers the rebellion. This novel alarmingly shows America in this distasteful mode. The story frightens an individual into apathy and depression. ( )

So good and timely ( )

A beautifully written depiction of America as a socialist country with the federal government granted full control over our lives. Depressing story which reminded me of the way Jews were isolated, then robbed and beaten, and killed in the name of progress in Germany. Jews then were hard-working, took responsibility for their lives, and successful. In Ng's new world order, the scapegoat for all evils is placed on Asians and anyone who appears Asian. Reading Our Missing Hearts felt like a preview of things already in lined up in America. Anyone who works hard and plans for the future will have it ripped from them and distributed by the government.
Like George Orwell's predictions, Ng's may also fall on deaf ears and blind eyes.
In America today, Asians and Caucasians are being blamed for every ill in society, past and present. ( )

The U.S. in the near future. It has become a fascist and nativist country, and after a monster Depression called the Crisis, the people live under a draconian law which seeks to "preserve American culture and traditions." A young boy's mother, Margaret, a Chinese American poet, has disappeared. Because of their marriage, her husband has been demoted from a professorship to shelving books in his university library. The boy, Bird, goes in search of his mother and finds her in NYC. Librarians all over the country clandestinely try to reunite families whose children have been ripped from them and sent elsewhere because of "anti-American influences." There is terrible prejudice against all Orientals, because of the positive way China is economically. In her small way, Margaret fights back against the government. Maybe this rebellion is the start of a positive movement. This was a thinking person's novel, some episodes similar to what has gone on recently. ( )

4.5⭐

“Once upon a time, there was a boy. Once upon a time there was a mother. Once upon a time, there was a boy, and his mother loved him very much.”

It has been over ten years since the “Crisis” - a period of economic decline - failing businesses, unemployment, poverty and lawlessness - a period of chaos that was attributed to being the result of the manipulations of an Asian country that was thriving during the same period. In the interest of boosting the economy and preserving American culture, PACT -“The Preserving American Culture and Traditions Act”- has been passed allowing for reporting and arrest of those perceived to be “anti –American” and children from families perceived to be guilty of the same have been relocated to state-approved homes and foster families. Books viewed as teaching un-American values have been removed from schools and libraries (destroyed and pulped, recycled into toilet paper as opposed to being burnt!- “Much more civilized, right?”), certain websites have been blocked, web searches are censored and hate crimes are on the rise.

It has been three years since twelve-year-old Noah “Bird” Gardner has seen his mother, well-known poet Chinese-American poet Margaret Miu. Over the last three years Noah and his father Ethan, former faculty in Linguistics and currently employed in the University Library, have kept their head down, avoiding attention and dissociating themselves from Margaret, whose lines from her books of poems “Our The Missing Hearts “ was adopted by anti –PACT activists as their slogan, branding her a “traitor” in the eyes of the authorities. Given the intense Anti-Asian sentiment and discrimination and increasing incidents of violence directed toward East Asians, Bird, who is biracial, is encouraged by his father to hide his Asian roots. When Bird receives a letter with drawings reminiscent of the folktales his mother used to tell him, he embarks on a search for his missing mother- a journey that provides him not only with a greater understanding of his mother and her life as well as insight into the reasons behind his mother’s disappearance but also gives him an honest unfiltered perspective on the reality of the world around him. Needless to say, Bird’s journey as he struggles with his feelings about his mother –his hurt and longing for her gradually evolves into a deeper understanding of his parents’ love for him and a shift in his worldview - is a difficult and emotional one.

Poignant, heartbreaking, disturbing and thought-provoking, Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng is a beautifully –written, powerful and timely novel that revolves around themes of family, love, sacrifice and racially motivated injustice. I finished reading this book two days ago and it’s taken me this long to gather my thoughts and pen a coherent review. This is not an easy book to read and even more difficult to review. The author paints a dark and dystopian picture of a nation where discrimination, racism and injustice are justified in the name of preservation of economic stability, culture and values. Families have been torn apart, innocent children have been forcibly taken from their homes and those working to change the narrative , build awareness and reunite families with their “missing hearts” are constantly putting their lives on the line - activists who openly protest and those who are covertly networking to trace those who been lost. The larger part of the narrative is shared from Bird’s perspective, though we do get to hear the voices of other characters as well. Unfortunately, unlike many dystopian novels, much about this book feels a bit too real at times. The author draws inspiration from past and current events which she discusses in a brilliantly penned Author’s Note. This story left me with a heavy heart.

“When are you ever done with the story of someone you love? You turn the most precious of your memories over and over, wearing their edges smooth, warming them again with your heat. You touch the curves and hollows of every detail you have, memorizing them, reciting them once more though you already know them in your bones. Who ever thinks, recalling the face of the one they loved who is gone: yes, I looked at you enough, I loved you enough, we had enough time, any of this was enough?” ( )

My heart is torn and my reality of what is happening in our country and in the world was further refined and intensified by reading this book. While we have not yet reached the extent of the hatred and suspicions caused by actions of the governments out of fear (instead of trying to try and find solutions) Ng has made it very possible to see that period approaching.
I can understand her emphasis on the Chinese and other Asians as the targeted enemy, but we have to include the recent exponential growth against African Americans and especially anti-Semitism.
I know I won’t “get away” from disturbing dreams from reading this book, but I hope enough people do read it to bring about the hoped for effects of the action taken by Margaret Miu, in the novel, to bring about the same wake-up call here in the U.S. in real life. ( )

Set in a near future dystopian America, this novel opens with a focus on 12 year old Bird. Three years previously, his mother had left, and although he and his father love each other, his father insists that Bird must forget his mother, who was considered a political subversive. Under the PACT act (Like our own Patriot Act??), the government can remove any child from a home in which the parents are politically suspect ("crisis children"). Bird's father believes that only by totally renouncing Bird's mother will Bird escape removal from his father's custody.

Then one day Bird receives a letter--actually a page of drawings of cats, which he knows is a message from his mother. He feels compelled to run away in search of his mother.

While the first part of the novel was narrated from Bird's pov, most of the second part consists of Bird's mother telling Bird what she has experienced since she left him. As such, it is a lot of "telling," not "showing," and I never felt I was getting into the story. It was rather distancing, as if we were getting the story from some far off third party who might have heard about it, but didn't really experience it. I found it excruciatingly boring. Many of the reviews on Amazon agree with this opinion: "Ng fails to sustain the mother's voice," and point out that it reads like an essay, not a mother talking to her son.

In addition, Ng failed to create a cohesive and "real" future dystopian world. For example, if anything untoward happens, dozens of police are there instantly, yet it seems relatively easy to yarn bomb a bunch of trees and paint a street, and no one notices.

So, overall, very disappointing.

1 1/2 stars ( )

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng is the best novel of 2022. Who could imagine she could surpass her previous masterpieces. Everything I Never Told You and Little Fires Everywhere. I am no a fan of Dystopian Fiction but this novel is so frightening and simply told because it is rooted in our current reality that it eliminated any of my prejudices about that genre. ( )

AUDIBLE
EXCELLENT BOOK ( )

Ng explores Asian American identity and possible story lines (all based on nonfiction news) for a small family living in a not-to-distant dystopian future United States. Author's notes and research references illustrate the fascination and depth of care brought to this powerful novel.

My second novel of this year with a mother who leaves her family to join political "resistance" with a very different character in the part than in [b:Olga Dies Dreaming|57693171|Olga Dies Dreaming|Xóchitl González|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1620085798l/57693171._SY75_.jpg|78051309] and very different forms of resistance. ( )

This story left a profound imprint on me even though there is no real ending. I can related to the controlled media/politics in a dystopia land that is very similar to Handmaid's tale, and any other dystopia society. ( )

I loved the concept but not always the delivery. Dystopian present, indeed. ( )

This book's "heart," which is missing, is a futuristic American law called PACT, Preserving American Culture and Traditions. It is dubbed a solemn promise to root out any anti-American elements undermining the nation. Some see the law as anti-Asian, but many consider it essential to preserve the country. PACT mandates that schools must ensure that children do not learn bad ideas. Libraries are strictly controlled and must destroy books that proliferate undesirable concepts. Part of the title's significance derives from a poem titled "All Our Missing Hearts," written by Margaret Mu, a Chinese-American woman. Although Margaret did not have subversive intent when publishing the poem, she is forced into hiding since too many people are suspicious of her motives and view her as dangerous.

Noah Gardner, a twelve-year-old Chinese-American son of Margaret, is on a quest to find his mother. He conducts some research and realizes there is a network of librarians who preserve some of the banned books and act as liaisons between children and parents who are "in hiding." The novel's plot follows his adventures as he journeys to find his mother. His world and his encounters are scary and dystopian. So much of the world Celeste Ng created in this story relates scarily to recent and current events in the USA. It was disconcerting to read about her plausible extrapolations. ( )

Listened to the audio book. I liked the concept of this book and the social commentary was intriguing. The characters were a little flat and didn't make me feel anything for them. There were times during the book that just felt like verbal diarrhea. ( )

This is the kind of book we need more of--one that addresses today's issues and like any good speculative fiction plays out the possible worst-case scenarios for us.

I liked the use of librarians on the frontline of banned books and being heroes.

It made me think more about the problem this country continues to have with separating children from parents from Native Americans, slaves, and today with migrants.

It addressed Asian American harassment which also has a long history in this country and has ramped up again in recent years.

I'm making note of other books Ng mentions in the Author's Notes for further reading.

I would have given this five stars but for me--the first part of the book was told by the son and I am tired of books with clueless narrators. The second half switches to the mother's story. That was good but I should have had more empathy for her. Or maybe I'm too close to headlines right now and it was painful to read a novel about them and I need some distance.

My current ranking of Celeste Ng's works. Which I am a fan of and will continue to read and rooting for a long career...
1. Little Fires Everywhere
2. Our Missing Hearts

24 hours after review...I'm still thinking about how Ng was able to weave in so many elements. I wish I could give it a 4 1/2 and I hope some of my friends read the book so we can discuss. This is a book was written to start conversations. ( )

Huge "meh". My first Ng. Probably my last. ( )

Spoilers abound.
This book made me cry.
I cared a lot and it hurt.
I have some issues/questions, but overall I think it makes a person feel the pain of the parents and their children. And sorry for the world.
Here are some thoughts.
One. I just finished Olga Dies Dreaming and this book is a good corrective because the mother leaves her child and is active in the opposition. But she is forced to leave and she is able to be both an activist and a mother. I guess. I wondered about her sending the card she sent to her son, and leaving enough information so he could come find her. Didn't that create a lot of risk for him? But she isn't presented as a perfect or completely unselfish person.

Two. I go back and forth about the violent scene in New York City, when the big white man beats and kicks the elegant Asian woman and, we assume, kills her dog. It's just there, and nobody responds to it, and it is kind of in the middle of the book with reverberations backwards & forwards I guess but it stands alone.
Three. Librarians are heroes.
Four. I read Stephen King's review of this book and it felt wrong to me. He says the father's library has swathes of empty shelves but that's not true. That's the public library. Widener has some gaps but mostly it is the same as it ever was. The conflict for the father and his colleagues is that they are in a special place where the books are kept, but they feel pressure to be silent because they don't want to risk the books.

Fran