Over the summer, Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng was chosen as the all-school read by a committee of faculty and students. Not only did the novel present a moving mother-son relationship in the book, it was also inspiring, because it taught us to fight for what’s right and not to stand on the sidelines.

The book follows the journey of a young boy, Bird, who searches for his mother, Margaret, who left when he was young after she was targeted as a political dissident.

Throughout the book, Bird has to think about what he was told as a child and determine whether or not it is a lie. Growing up, he thought that his parents grew apart after what happened to his mother, but that’s not the case.

Eventually, he joins his mother in her activism, despite having to uproot his entire life to do so. By the end, Bird has grown into someone who is willing to fight not only for his mother, but for the people that she was willing to fight for, as well.

Bird demonstrates bravery, courage, and faith throughout the story. Our Missing Hearts reminds us that, instead of being afraid of what might happen if we were to speak up, we should stand up for what we believe in. If something is wrong, we should correct it. If we don’t do it, who will?

Margaret didn’t back down from a fight. When she was wrongly accused, she stood her ground and tried to protect the people she loved, even if it meant that she wouldn’t see them again. This is a characteristic that we should value in our lives— caring for those around us and being selfless enough to try to protect them, no matter the personal cost. Margaret demonstrated the courage and devotion she had for saving people and protecting her family. She loved her family, even until she was caught in her attempt to save the city. But the last thing she did before the police found her was for her son, Bird. Ng writes, “But in the end, every story I want to tell you is the same. Once upon a time, there was a boy. Once upon a time there was a mother. Once upon a time, there was a boy, and his mother loved him very much.”

Ng reminds us of the values we should seek in our lives and shows the readers that everyone does have a voice—it just depends on how we use them.