Play Book Tag discussion

After several years of economic decline, homelessness, unemployment and violent chaos the American government passed the PACT initiative which stands for 'preserving American culture and traditions'. Basically, loyalty to America was it's only rule and anyone not living up to these nebulous standards was suspect and punished. Asian people, especially the Chinese, were blamed for all of the issues that PACT was intended to change thereby making all Asians instant targets. If a family with children was found to be in violation, the children were removed from the home and resettled with approved foster families.

Bird (Noah) Gardner had been living happily with this Harvard linguistics professor father and his Chinese American poet mother for the first 9 years of his life. Margaret Miu, Bird's mother, had unintentionally become the voice of anti-PACT protests for her poem "Our Missing Hearts". Her inspiration for the poem had been a pomegranate and the seeds from the heart of the fruit that would scatter and produce on their own. It was never intended to be a political statement but anti-government forces took the phrase to encompass the children taken illegally from their parents. Fearing Bird would be taken next, Margaret chose to leave her family in order for Bird to remain with his father. Three years have passed. Bird and his father have removed any reminder of Margaret's life as they continuously disavow any knowledge of her to authorities. Bird, however, secretly hopes to find his mother and a hidden clue gives him hope of a reunion. His quest eventually leads him to New York City and an underground network of people wanting to bring stolen children back to their families. Margaret seems to be in the middle of all of it despite the danger.

This book is so different than other Celeste Ng books I have read. It is not an easy book to read due to the distasteful subject matter of blatant racism and violence. Banned books, subject matter deemed too hateful for school, anonymous tipsters who can cause a family's turmoil without a shred of evidence. Unfortunately, this all sounds a bit too familiar today. Living in a state (Texas) that is one of the worst for banning books it truly hits home. I do love that librarians play a pivotal role in the novel. It is hard to say that I 'enjoyed' the story but it is certainly thought-provoking.

Glad to see you appreciated this one, too! This author is so versatile.