More than Missing Hearts: A Review of Our Missing Hearts

Celeste Ng’s novel, Our Missing Hearts, follows the story of a 12-year-old Chinese American boy, Bird Gardner, navigating a dystopian society that oppresses so-called Anti-Americans, particularly those of Chinese or Asian descent. He grows up trying to avoid drawing attention to himself, especially after his mother—Margaret Miu, a Chinese American poet—writes poems that symbolize being a voice against a prosecuting authority. When she goes missing, Bird is left to piece together traces of her and understand the world around him.

Set in a fictionalized dystopia, the novel explores themes of racial injustice, government control, and censorship that mirrors today’s world. The PACT (Preserving American Culture and Traditions Act) is a policy that “outlaws promotion of un-American values and behavior” and encourages citizens to “report potential threats to [their] world” (Ng 21). This law eradicates anything that doesn’t conform to society’s definition of “being American.” This shows through the banning of Asian books, as well as blank “no results” pages on websites Bird searches (Ng 35).  He also witnesses it firsthand, such as when a Chinese man is turned away due to his physical features (Ng 64) and when an Asian woman is assaulted (Ng 130). Through these experiences, Ng writes about the subtle and overt forms of oppression, censorship, and racial injustice, drawing a clear connection to the realities of today’s world.

Emotional depth is one of Our Missing Heart’s greatest strengths. At its core, the novel is about a young boy searching for his mother in a world that seeks to erase them.

Ng beautifully captures this through the character development of Margaret and the profound connections she shares with her husband and son. Bird’s journey is centered on finding his mother and advocating her ideas, even when she is tempted to abandon her cause to stay with him (Ng 266). By the end of the novel, Bird begins to understand both his identity and his family’s legacy. Margaret, in turn, uses the power of language as both a personal vulnerability and a tool of resistance against the government. Her example inspires others in the book, like Sadie and Marie, to fight without resorting to violence.

Ng goes beyond political and social injustice to explore the power of voice. Through lyrical prose, she emphasizes that acts of resistance are vital not just for those facing erasure, but for those who have been erased. Our Missing Hearts is about how history is shaped by the words and quiet voices that refuse to stay silent, giving a voice for those who have been silent.

Maxine Saguindang grew up in Minnesota after moving from Dumaguete City, located in the Visayas region’s province of the Philippines, Negros Oriental. She is currently a student at Anoka-Ramsey Community College earning her creative writing certificate.