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gvstyris's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
For the first time in his life, he is unremarkable, and this feels like power.
Our Missing Hearts is quite a different read to Ng's first two novels, both of which I loved as a middle schooler for their slow pacing and rich character studies. Alternatively, Ng presents us here with a dystopian United States defined by anti-Asian legislation and discrimination -- which is to say, not particularly dystopian at all.
I struggled quite a bit for the first third of this book. Bird's perspective, although echoing a child's limited emotional intelligence, is a bit of a slog to read at times. I found Margaret's story much more compelling, but would ultimately argue that she suffers from a similar lack of development.
This novel is largely redeemed by its social commentary, which I'm excited to hear about from Ng herself at the Auckland Writers Festival in a few weeks.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Hate crime, and Racism
Moderate: Racial slurs
Minor: Child abuse and Animal cruelty
jennipea382's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Hate crime
Moderate: Abandonment, Grief, Violence, Death, Animal cruelty, Police brutality, and Sexual assault
ksilvio's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Hate crime, Animal cruelty, Racism, and Bullying
Moderate: Pregnancy, Abandonment, Death of parent, Violence, and Sexual assault
Minor: Gun violence and Police brutality
squarahreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Racism, Hate crime, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Violence, Gun violence, Police brutality, and Abandonment
hamstringy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Of course, at times this book feels a bit heavy-handed because I am living through much of what inspired this book, but at the same time it does feel particularly useful in the context of my own struggles with feeling extremely powerless with my country’s determination to be a shitshow.
Graphic: Xenophobia and Racism
Moderate: Hate crime
Minor: Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
underwaterlauren's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism, and Xenophobia
jmiglus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Xenophobia, Hate crime, Kidnapping, and Racism
Moderate: Violence and Animal death
thatsssorachael's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Racism, Violence, and Hate crime
Moderate: Abandonment
dblue236's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Hate crime and Racism
Moderate: Kidnapping, Violence, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, and Racism