This was in October 2016 - so while the idea was still forming in my mind, the 2016 election happened, along with everything that it emboldened: the rise of the far right, increased nationalism and xenophobia. At that time, it was a mother-son story set in a fairly realistic world about a creative mother, and her son who didn’t understand her work, and maybe even saw it as a rival to him. In your author’s note, you said it best: “Bird and Margaret’s world isn’t exactly our world, but it isn’t NOT ours either.” What made you want to write this story, and why now?ĬN: I came up with the first seeds of this story right after finishing my second novel, Little Fires Everywhere. This book has been categorized as dystopian, which is a bit of a departure from your previous books, but at the same time, its themes so closely align with the current climate. Our Missing Hearts is coming out soon, and I’m excited to talk to you about this novel. I’ve enjoyed Boston the few times I’ve visited! How are you doing?Ĭeleste Ng: I’m doing well, thank you! How are you?įP: I'm great! Not looking forward to another Los Angeles heat wave over here, but otherwise, can't complain!ĬN: It’s just starting to feel like fall over here in Boston, as of today.įP: That sounds so lovely. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me today. We had the opportunity to chat with Celeste about her timely and topical story, which is now available wherever books are sold.įarrah Penn: Hi Celeste! This is Farrah with BuzzFeed. When a cryptic letter makes its way to him, Bird embarks on a journey to put together the pieces through an underground network of librarians.

Bird’s father wants his son to stay under the radar, but Bird is determined to figure out what happened to his mother. Because of enforced regimes and new preservation laws, books seen as unpatriotic are banned and those found moving against the government, and a new act called PACT, are punished.

Bird’s mother, a Chinese American poet, disappeared three years ago, and Bird has no idea how to get in touch with her. Set in a near-future America, we follow a 12-year-old boy named Bird. None of this is lost in her latest release, Our Missing Hearts. Her novels are masterful not only in plot and pacing, but in the rich, complex characters she creates. 1 New York Times bestselling author Celeste Ng is the author of Everything I Never Told You and Little Fires Everywhere, which was adapted into a miniseries on Hulu starring Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon.

Our missing hearts celeste ng