Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng is a gripping, heartwarming read set in a future that has obvious links to the world as we know it. The story follows Bird, a twelve-year-old boy on a quest to find his mother, Margaret, who disappeared when he was a child. Margaret’s a poet whose work was deemed dangerous by the government, and in this version of the world, anyone who challenges authority isn’t treated kindly. So Bird’s search isn’t just about finding his mum—it’s also about uncovering some uncomfortable truths about the society he’s grown up in.
Just as with her widely acclaimed Little Fires Everywhere (one of my personal favorites), Ng handles big, tough topics like censorship and racism in a way that doesn’t feel too heavy. At its heart, though, this is a story about the love between a mother and her son, and how that bond can survive even the most difficult circumstances. It’s a really touching and hopeful story, even when things get pretty dark.
Ng has undoubtedly drawn from both recent and historical events in capturing the themes of this story, something she explores further in the Author's Note at the end. In fact, while I was reading Our Missing Hearts, horrendous acts of racist terrorism were happening on the streets across the UK. The story is a harsh reminder that what when certain events line up in just the right (or wrong) way, the once unthinkable can become the norm before we've even had time to process what’s happening.
If you’re in the mood for something thought-provoking but still full of heart, Our Missing Hearts is a great choice.
