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Our Missing Hearts

A Novel

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Our Missing Hearts

Written by: Celeste Ng
Narrated by: Lucy Liu, Celeste Ng
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About this listen

An instant New York Times bestseller • A New York Times Notable Book • Named a Best Book of 2022 by People, TIME Magazine, The Washington Post, USA Today, NPR, Los Angeles Times, and Oprah Daily, and more • A Reese's Book Club Pick • New York Times Paperback Row Selection

From the #1 bestselling author of
Little Fires Everywhere, comes the inspiring new novel about a mother’s unshakeable love.

“Riveting, tender, and timely.” —
People, Book of the Week

"Remarkable . . . An unflinching yet life-affirming drama about the power of art and love to push back in dangerous times." —
Oprah Daily

“Thought-provoking, heart-wrenching . . . I was so invested in the future of this mother and son.” —Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club Pick)


Twelve-year-old Bird Gardner lives a quiet existence with his loving father, a former linguist who now shelves books in a university library. His mother, Margaret, a Chinese American poet, left without a trace when he was nine years old. He doesn’t know what happened to her—only that her books have been banned—and he resents that she cared more about her work than about him.

Then one day Bird receives a mysterious letter containing only a cryptic drawing, and soon he is pulled into a quest to find her. His journey will take him back to the many folktales she poured into his head as a child, through the ranks of an underground network of heroic librarians, and finally to New York City, where he will learn the truth about what happened to his mother and what the future holds for them both.

Our Missing Hearts is an old story made new, of the ways supposedly civilized communities can ignore the most searing injustice. It’s about the lessons and legacies we pass on to our children and the power of art to create change.

©2022 Celeste Ng (P)2022 Penguin Audio
Genre Fiction Literary Fiction United States World Literature Fiction Inspiring Heartfelt Tearjerking Thought-Provoking
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What the critics say

"Thought-provoking, heart-wrenching . . . It follows the story of a young boy named Bird on the search for his mother Margaret, a poet whose work was deemed unpatriotic. I was so invested in the future of this mother and son, and I can’t wait to hear what you think of this deeply suspenseful story!”—Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club October ’22 Pick)

“Firmly written and well-executed . . . a meditation on the sometimes accidental power of words . . . I won’t give away the splendid conclusion of Ng’s book; suffice it to say . . . It’s impossible not to be moved by Margaret Miu’s courage, or to applaud her craftiness . . . Ng succeeds . . . partly because her outrage is contained and focused, and mostly because she is often captivated by the very words she is using . . . Bird is a brave and believable character, who gives us a relatable portal into a world that seems more like our own every day.”—Stephen King, The New York Times Book Review

“In this riveting, tender and timely book, one mother speaks ‘into the darkness’ with love. Celeste Ng pleads: Listen.”People, Book of the Week

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What listeners say about Our Missing Hearts

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Lovely book hard story

Loved this book but as a mother it was somewhat triggering to have to leave a child.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

wow! A slow bitter burn...I could not put it down.

captivating and surreal...sadly it feels possible as it hovers over our actual reality. wholy recommended!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

An important story for everyone

This story is accessible for many different ages to understand the implications of racism veiled in nationalism.

It does what The Handmaids tale did for feminism but for Asian culture - through a dystopian society that is inspired by true events. I hope it is read and analyzed in schools to promote compassion for others and comprehension of over reaching legislation.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Celeste Ng words melt like chocolate on my imagination

Extremely well written by an author with a true love for language and poetry. As the story unfolded i was interested and went along in Byrd’s journey. I was deeply moved towards the end of the book. Many of the stories shared by Byrd’s mother will stay with me for a long time. As listening I was left with the impression that the author truly understood motherhood. Very important themes throughout this novel, sadly representing human realities.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Meh

The story premise was good, however, it lacked depth. Found myself bored and almost gave up on it. Picked up at the end.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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I loved all of it

It was relatable, sad and it draws your heart in. It reminds you of injustices that are current, real and ignored

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Powerful and oh so relevant!

This story brings into frightening focus the possibility of a law such as “Pact”becoming a possibility as we all strive to live alongside and too understand the increasing cultural diversity of our present western society. Hopefully we are enlightened enough in this century to not be afraid of the “otherness” and rather strive to see what is rich and inherently good in that diversity. I thank Celeste Ng for a timely and beautifully written book. I appreciate her outlining her references and recommended reading and intend to check some of them out.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Heart Breaking Heavy read...

The Story follows 12 year of Boy Bird, who is living alone with his father after his mother (a Chinese American poet) flees there home and disappears. Bird misses his mother and her stories, his father is very broken and all around them children are disappearing. The laws and enforcements are ongoing in this very dystopian background where higher powers are working to "preserve American Culture"
Books of Asian or non American influence are locked away as is the freedom of speech. People confined to their homes and any parents accused of conspiracy against America Culture have their children taken away. A very eerie undertone of some of the themes being played out in our world today. The writing is beautifully done, great detail and so much depth. The storyline for me was just too gloomy throughout. A very heavy read; this tone was kept right till the end. while I did like the book, not likely to be read again.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Loved this book

What a beautifully told story about families, motherhood, and the lengths we will go to keep our families safe. This story broke my heart, and hit so close to home recognizing the truths in how this happens today and is our history. Highly recommended

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A moving and frighteningly real story.

Celeste Ng’s writing is sheer poetry. She uses few words to present this frighteningly real tragedy in this retelling of the experiences of enslaved, indigenous and migrant families.

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