This book’s “heart,” which is missing, is a futuristic American law called PACT, Preserving American Culture and Traditions. It is dubbed a solemn promise to root out any anti-American elements undermining the nation. Some see the law as anti-Asian, but many consider it essential to preserve the country. PACT mandates that schools must ensure that children do not learn bad ideas. Libraries are strictly controlled and must destroy books that proliferate undesirable concepts. Part of the title’s significance derives from a poem titled “All Our Missing Hearts,” written by Margaret Mu, a Chinese-American woman. Although Margaret did not have subversive intent when publishing the poem, she is forced into hiding since too many people are suspicious of her motives and view her as dangerous.
Noah Gardner, a twelve-year-old Chinese-American son of Margaret, is on a quest to find his mother. He conducts some research and realizes there is a network of librarians who preserve some of the banned books and act as liaisons between children and parents who are “in hiding.” The novel’s plot follows his adventures as he journeys to find his mother. His world and his encounters are scary and dystopian. So much of the world Celeste Ng created in this story relates scarily to recent and current events in the USA. It was disconcerting to read about her plausible extrapolations.
