Our Missing Hearts is a dystopian novel that eerily blurs the lines between fiction & reality. A future America struggling to recover from financial and political instability, controlled by a dictating Government that brutally removes children from the homes of families that are thought to be resistant to the PACT (Preserving American Culture and Traditions). An act intended to restore America to its former glory, but rather, serves as an excuse to act out racism & violence against minorities, or anyone who is found to question the PACT.

There was a lot to think about after reading this book. Bird is a 12yr mixed-raced boy who is forced by his own country to stifle his identity, and his Chinese heritage is something to be ashamed of. Ng really captures the bigotry and hatred toward Chinese people following the pandemic. It sat in a way that made me feel so privileged to live in a country more open to cultural diversity than most, but it also struck a chord. I kept picturing my son's face as Bird, the same age and of mixed Asian/White race. What life could have been like for my children if recent events escalated, or history repeated. It was unnerving how real this dystopian world could be.

Ng's signature slow pace and poetic prose are definitely present in Our Missing Hearts. It's beautifully written & I can see it being a book that is talked about for years to come. Though there is a very important message to be taken from Our Missing Hearts, I felt it lacked character depth. I didn't feel any of the inner conflict or turmoil from Margaret surrounding her choices as a mother. Nor did I really feel any from Bird, given all he has endured.


*ARC gifted by the Publisher as part of a TandemCollective Readalong