Printable Book Club Questions for Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng

What are your thoughts about the way the U.S. is presented in the novel and what similarities do you see to our version? Do you view the story as dystopian fiction?
Could something like the PACT act be passed here?
Why did Bird embark on this journey to find his mother? What answers did he hope to find?
Throughout the story, Bird remembers folktales that his mother used to tell him as a child. What was the significance of these folktales to this story as a whole?
After Bird’s mother leaves, his father ensures that he goes by Noah. But once he is reunited with his mother and she calls him Bird again, he starts to finally relax in his own skin. Let’s talk about how a name ties to our whole identity.
Once they’re reunited, Margaret recounts her journey to Bird. She paints a very different picture from what the media has portrayed her—she was not an activist by choice. What were your thoughts as you read Margaret’s backstory?
Why did Margaret’s poems struck a chord with the protest movement?
The government considers Margaret a threat and she has to leave the family immediately without a truly proper goodbye to Bird. Do you feel Margaret was left with no choice?
How did meeting with Marie’s parents change Margaret’s perspective on activism and her role in it?
Why did so many people turn a blind eye to the violence against the Asian community? Why was the Asian community targeted?
While Margaret could have gone away with Bird and Ethan in hiding—she felt it was her duty to tell the stories of the taken children. What would have done if you were Margaret? Why was it important for her to tell the stories?
What do you think happened to Margaret in the end?
Do you feel Margaret’s initiative had an impact on the people who heard it? Did it change anything or do you think things remained the same?
What did Bird’s future look like? Was he able to fully piece together his mother’s writing? Do you think his friend Sadie ever found her parents?
Did the ending feel hopeful or somber? What was your impression of the ending overall?
What do you feel are some of the key takeaway and lessons from this story?