Our Missing Hearts: Reese's Book Club: A Novel

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

 

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 finally 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.

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Published Aug 22, 2023

352 pages

Average rating: 7.02

859 RATINGS

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These clubs recently read this book...

Ventura Women's Book Club

The Ventura Women’s Book Club started in 2009. We meet on the 4th Saturday of each month from 11 AM to 12:30 PM at the residence of one of our members. 

We are currently at capacity and not inviting new members.

Torrance Book Club

The Torrance Book Club was started many years ago by Michelle. We used to meet in person, but after Covid began meeting virtually and like the ability to include readers from all areas.

Reese's Book Club Readers

Welcome to Reese's Book Club Readers on Bookclubs! Join us to chat about Reese's recent picks with other members of her club.

Community Reviews

What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *Our Missing Hearts* showcases Celeste Ng’s poignant prose and timely exploration of racism, censorship, and identity in a dystopian Ameri...

Sue Dix
Mar 14, 2026
10/10 stars
I have loved every one of Celeste Ng’s books and this is no exception. This one brings the scariness of societal breakdown full circle. It is also an intimate look at one family and how circumstances can blow things out of all proportion. What is truth? What is fear? What is love? How much is too much? How far is too far? What will be the small spark that finally lights the fire and brings the horror to an end? May it be so.
tripp2mylou
Mar 16, 2025
10/10 stars
I would give this more stars if I could. It's going to take me a beat to process my thoughts and put words to how I felt about this book, but suffice it to say it was quite a gut punch of a book. This is my first read of Ng's work but I am absolutely electrified by her prose and this whole story.
mhooper
Dec 27, 2023
8/10 stars
Is this book now or in the future? There are many parallels with our world today.
KikiStoneCreek
Jun 03, 2023
4/10 stars
I'm sure that there will be meant Celeste Ng fans who will love this book, but I found it tedious and dull. Nothing ever happened and by the time you figured out what Margaret was going to do, you saw the futility of her efforts and the futility of reading this book to its end.
CHare!
Jan 12, 2026
7/10 stars
Kinda hits a little close to home. Does make me wonder if Ive been hiding in my own bubble as well.

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