After enjoying Celeste Ng’s other two books (Everything I Never Told You and Little Fires Everywhere), I was eager to read this her latest one. It’s a book that is ‘out there’ and I feel like everyone is reading it right now. It’s a dystopian story, set a bit in the future, but not by much and the premise seems eerily plausible. It is very sad and moving but also a chilling cautionary tale.
Twelve year old Bird and his father live a carefully quiet existence in a time when strict laws preserve “American culture.” State condoned discrimination and racism results in children being removed from homes where the parents are considered to be dissident or unpatriotic, especially those of Asian origin. Bird’s mother Margaret, a Chinese American poet, mysteriously left the family when Bird was nine years old. Bird’s father encourages him not to ask too many questions or stand out too much or stray too far. But Bird wants to find out what happened to his mother. When he receives a clue as to her whereabouts he embarks on a quest to discover the truth.
The resistance movement by a network of librarians that Bird meets on his journey, did give Bird (and me) some hope that people could still be compassionate and empathic, but I found the book to be pretty bleak. It echoes stories of the indigenous child removals and immigrant children being separated from their parents at the US border.
Central to the novel is the idea that people and stories matter in a time when authorities are more interested in power and control.
The book has an interesting premise and Ng’s writing is lyrical but I found it a bit overwritten and slow at times and would have liked more plotting and narrative drive. Nevertheless it feels like an important read for our time.
Note: Another blogger I follow rightly commented that she didn’t understand why this cover art was chosen and I agree. The birds make sense because of the protagonist’s name but why a flock emanating from a feather? If you can shed light on this, please leave a comment.
Joanne's Reading Blog 
About the cover, my suggestion: The feather is broken but generates new freedom. Based on your review, maybe it intends to suggest the boy Bird’s sadness about the loss of his mother, but his search for truth sets him free, like birds flying into the sky? An activist network of librarians…. now that sounds interesting 🙂
That’s brilliant Nandy! I knew there would be an art expert that could help! Thanks!
Based on your review my guess is that the broken feather represents broken freedom in a broader sense and the flock flying out of it may suggest hopefulness- that the current state of affairs will not last long and freedoms will once again return and take flight.
Thanks Karen. That makes a lot of sense. The lack of freedom is certainly a key theme in the book. The hopefulness was definitely taking flight in the resistance movement but the book was still super sad.
Thanks Joanne. Just finished Litt
I think I am the blogger who wondered about the cover, and I am grateful for the insights others have into the symbolism.
Yes you are that blogger! I found it an interesting question and I totally agreed with you. The insights were indeed helpful!