In a near future in America, an economic crisis and the resulting breakdown in society has led to a repressive government where so-called patriotism is uppermost. Particular hostility is felt towards anyone who appears to be of Chinese origin, as China has been seen to flourish at America’s expense, and random acts of violence are common. Children of anyone suspected of protesting against the regime are now being removed and sent to new families where they are unlikely to ever be found. Twelve year old Noah (Bird) does not understand why his Chinese-American mother left the family, and why his linguistics professor father was demoted to a book shelver in the university library. He begins to notice signs of subversion around him, and to see that the protest slogan is a phrase from one of his mother’s poems, “Our Missing Hearts.” When he discovers clues to where she is, he determines to find her and to discover the truth. This is a powerful novel which also seems frighteningly plausible, especially considering the anti-Chinese feeling that was displayed after the Coronavirus pandemic broke out. A thoughtful exploration of how quickly democracy can be eroded in extreme circumstances and how people can find ways to protest this, often at huge personal cost, is made particularly effective by illustrating it through the eyes of a child. There are all sorts of resonances to modern life- book censorship, cancellation culture, racism, toxic patriotism to name a few. There is also a strong emotional pull from the portrayal of parent/child bonds and the power of that love and loss. A wonderful, devastating but ultimately hopeful book.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ebook proof in exchange for an honest review.

I have read Celeste Ng beofee and I must say that both her books and her are awesome. Picking up this book I had high hopes, a son out searching hus mother as part of seeking answers and tackling the injustice meted out to them sounded so good as a storyline but as I processed with the pages something felt lackluster and I had to work my way through thus book. Could have been far more better but it is okay.

I was excited to read this having read all of the authors previous books. Unfortunately this book lacked something for me and I can’t put my finger on why I didn’t enjoy it as much.

I was really looking forward to diving into this book. The premise was beyond interesting but the execution left me wanting.
The book felt hollow, confusing and a little boring. Sadly not for me.

I really enjoyed Ng’s previous novels Everything I Never Told You and Little Fires Everywhere but unfortunately I found Our Missing Hearts a lot less compelling and nuanced in its telling. Ng has clearly been inspired by Margaret Atwood’s approach of only depicting events which have really happened in a dystopian setting. However, I don’t think the plot had anything new and original to say about the many topical issues it touches on, which is a shame because Ng’s prose style is as accomplished as ever.

Not what I was expecting at all, this is a touching but intense story of love and family. It covers so many different topics but without being overbearing. A thought provoking read.

Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for a (now extremely overdue) fair and honest review.

I love Celeste Ng's work. Though conceptually the premises of her books never sound like they're reinventing the wheel, it's in their execution that they really shine. I was interested to see that she was trying her hand at a new genre, especially a more speculative one. Fortunately, Ng's decision to keep her dystopia so proximate to our reality allows her to maintain the grounded focus on individual characters that is such a strength in her other novels.

Our Missing Hearts is set in an alternate USA where financial and social crisis has culminated in widespread hatred and fear of China, and consequently, individuals of Asian heritage more broadly. PACT, a package of legislation designed to promote "American culture, traditions and values", dominates American politics, imposing a stringent form of McCarthyism on the American people. Individuals are encouraged to report 'unamerican' behaviour and beliefs to the authorities, who are removing children from their parents on a far greater scale than any of our protagonists believe and understand.

The subtlety of Ng's dystopia - the way in which she imagines compliance, resistance, and fear - is the real strength of this book. She gives a real sense of claustrophobia to a world in which neighbour is encouraged to betray neighbour, in which people have simply given into oppressive, bigoted ideology for the sake of stability and calm. It's a reality that feels only a hair's breadth from the world we currently live in - crashingly and horrifyingly plausible. The parallels with the removal of books from school libraries and oppressive laws arising from the moral panic around trans people are striking. There is very little happening in this book that isn't already happening - the reader is very aware of this throughout.

The first half of the book, written from the son, Bird's perspective, is the stronger of the two. Bird's childish naivety gives way to such a natural yearning for understanding, balancing the push towards Experience (in the Blakean sense) with Ng's constant reminders to the reader that he is still a child who requires protection and guidance from adults. The second half of the novel, told from, Michelle, his mother's perspective, feels more like Ng's previous work. All of Ng's work is preoccupied with ideas of motherhood, and I think the depth of thought she has put into this really shines through. Her centring of women's personhood in her portrayal of motherhood shouldn't feel as revolutionary as it does - her mothers always feel full, flawed (she is definitely interested in the idea of a good/bad mother dichotomy), but never unsympathetic.

The main drawback of this latter half is that the necessary filling-in-of-the-gaps Michelle's character has to do makes the previously pacey plot feel like it's ground to a bit of a halt. It looks slow on the page, dialogue giving way to big blocks of text. It does pick up again by the end though.

This made an unintentionally compelling back-to-back read with R.F. Kuang's Babel, which approaches imperialism, language, and anti-Asian racism from a different direction entirely. Would recommend reading them together!

Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng is a very interesting read. It touches on a lot of topics such as motherhood, racism and what it means to love. I enjoyed reading the story and getting inside a little boys mind. I think the plot is tricky at times but pulls you along all the same. I would recommend this book to someone that in interested in a dystopian theme with family at its heart. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy.

What a journey this book took me on! I could hear reflections of WWII in this plot- people not having freedom of thought and certain sensoring to change peoples perspectives on others. How many times has this story been seen played out in our world. This one, being set in modern USA, really does shake you to the bone- these things can happen anywhere.
Well written, emotional, but real in its construct.
Thank you NetGalley for offering me a prepublication copy to read and review- I would recommend it to any one who enjoys a dystopian world.

I have read and adored all of the authors' previous novels but this one just missed something. Not sure what was missing though. It took me a while to get through and there were some quite tough triggering parts.

All together a good enough book but not as good as her previous.

I picked this book having not read from the author before however did watch the tv adaption of a previous novel. I really struggled with the book and DNF at 30%, thank you to Netgalley and publisher for the copy.

A beautifully written, poignant story which demonstrates the sacrificial nature of true love. In Our Missing Hearts we learn the story of Bird and his mother. We see people turned against each other through misunderstanding and children separated from their family through fear. Celeste Ng does not shy away from themes of racial hatred and oppression and their consequences in this dystopian novel.
This book will stay with you long after you finish reading it.

I had not read anything by Celeste NG before this title, but was intrigued at the premise.

What a scary world she creates but so convincingly possible. A world where your freedoms are slowly eradicated and removed. Bird's mum has mysteriously disappeared, and his father barely acknowledges her existence. It is clear from the book, as Bird's memories are revealed that she had been a loving, dedicated, educated wife and mother, which makes this situation even more curious.

Birds cannot live with this silence and believes he receives secret messages from her at times, which he cannot share with his father. This situation leaves him with no choice but to go an hunt for her.

The premise on which he bases his hunt is probably a little unrealistic but it does make for a thrilling adventure. Bird accesses an underground network of collaborators who are challenging the current political ideology. The back story reminded me of Atwood's 'Handmaid's Tale' but this is a story where the perspective of such cruel and sudden change is seen through the eyes of the child.

This is an excellent YA novel which will leave the reader reeling.

I absolutely loved Celeste Ng's previous two novels so was really excited for Our Missing Hearts. It took me a little while to get into as it was so different, but I grew to really enjoy it and the development of the stories and the characters. An interesting blend of (very believable) dystopian plus the moving family stories that you'd expect from a Celeste Ng novel. I would recommend this, but it's definitely not my favourite of the three so far.

I really enjoyed this new novel by celeste ng. Somewhat different from her other books but just as good. Let's hope we don't have to wait to long for another one.

This is nothing like Little Fires Everywhere, and actually I preferred the story of this. I did find, though, that I would have liked more details of the characters, in particular of Bird's mother. I felt like I didn't get to know her well enough, and so the book was a little flat for me.

Beautifully written, heartbreaking and terrifying. I did find my mind wandering whilst reading it. The first book I have read by this author and I will definitely try others.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Celeste NG has a way with words! I loved how fast paced this book was for me and it’s an incredible thriller.

#OurMissingHearts #CelesteNg
The "our missing hearts" of the title are the children forcibly removed from their families for unAmerican behaviour during a time of uber patriotism in the US. in this dystopian novel by Celeste Ng.
Legislation dictates how citizens must show their patriotism after "the Crisis" during which the economy suffers. People of Asian heritage become the victims of unprovoked attacks, loose their jobs & homes because of course the enemy is China. Everybody with an Asian appearance is treated like a 2nd class citizen or worse because of course in their ignorance people don't differentiate between a Chinese person or a Cambodian person.
The story centres on Bird whose mother left him & his father when Bird was 9. His mother Margaret Miu wrote a book of poetry which has been taken up by the resistance after a young woman was killed by riot police while holding a poster with our missing hearts on it. Bird & his father Ethan eke out an existence until Bird receives a communication from his mother. Bird decides to look for his mother in an effort to find out why she left.
At its core Our Missing Hearts is a love story. Love in all it's wondrous forms is here - maternal, paternal, love of your life love. The hatred expressed to a section of the population is one that has been expressed to other communities throughout history & Celeste Ng writes poignantly about how when things go wrong the populace are easily persuaded that "this ethnic/religious group" are the cause of all that is going wrong.
Our Missing Hearts is not an easy read but where it excels is in the portrayal of a family where what is best for the child is paramount. It is also a reminder to us all to be wary of how quickly an idea can become reality. In the current climate this is a book that made me stop & think & for that I am truly grateful to Ms Ng

A heart-wrenching and all too plausible story of racist scapegoating which leads to Asian American children be taken from their parents. Following an economic collapse, the U.S. blames China for causing it and brings in draconian anti-Chinese legislation which has repercussions throughout society. Anyone who critiques the policy is in danger of arrest and/or having their children removed, and racism on the street becomes commonplace and ignored. Celeste Ng's consummate storytelling carries this novel beyond polemic into a deeply human novel which is a joy to read, despite the difficult subject matter.