Wishing the tangible world didn’t start to resemble her dystopian narrative

The personal intertwines with the political in Celeste Ng’s writings. Throughout her three acclaimed novels, the Cambridge-based author emphasizes Asian American protagonists and how ethnic and cultural challenges can generate discord both within their families and the broader community.

Her newest release, “Our Missing Hearts,” depicts a biracial son and his mother in a futuristic Cambridge where actions deemed unpatriotic are outlawed, risking the separation of children from their guardians. In this narrative, “un-American” art and literature face prohibition, while a clandestine network of librarians sustains these works — and keeps historical knowledge intact.

Ng observed that her dystopian vision is increasingly resonating with current global events.

“I was truly hoping the world would drift further from the narrative,” Ng ’02 remarked during a discussion organized by the Harvard Radcliffe Institute alongside Erika Lee, the Carl and Lily Pforzheimer Foundation Faculty Director of the Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library and Bae Family Professor of History.

The inspiration for the novel stemmed from personal experiences rather than political influences, she clarified. “When I conceived this idea, it centered around this mother, Margaret, a Chinese American, and her son, who has mixed heritage and is known as Bird,” said Ng, a mother herself. (She emphasized during the event that although her work draws from personal experiences, it remains fictional, not autobiographical.)

Such inquiries guided her depiction of a prospective dystopia, “perhaps just a degree or two away from our reality,” she noted. The unsettling scenario “didn’t require extensive imagination, honestly,” Ng expressed. “I truly wish we, as a nation, could learn more from our historical lessons.”

In the narrative, a specific demographic — Persons of Asian Origin — are deemed “especially suspect,” according to Lee. This reflects the anti-Asian sentiment that prevailed during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period when Ng was drafting the book. Nonetheless, Ng asserted that she has “always been cognizant” of such bias.

Conversely, she discovered that many others — particularly non-Asian individuals — were not.

“When violence erupted against Asian Americans, … numerous individuals were genuinely caught off guard,” Ng shared. “Those within the Asian community were not taken aback. The threat of violence against us was always looming. However, you cannot fathom what you have not encountered. My aim was to draw attention to that reality, and as the pandemic progressed, and we witnessed escalating violence, it felt essential to document.”

Experiencing idealization — the contrary of being scapegoated — is hardly better for Asian Americans, she noted. “You become the model minority, utilized as a wedge to displace or diminish other communities.”

Ng remarked that presently, many individuals are disheartened by news, leading to a sense of withdrawal. Yet, amidst this chaotic era, art — including literature — possesses the ability to connect individuals.

“Fiction can subtly infiltrate. It can bypass your initial reactions to the alarming news headlines.” Referencing “resistance art” displays that highlighted family separations during the early Trump administration, she mentioned, “When you circumvent cognitive processing and appeal directly to emotional responses, you can sometimes ignite action.”

Shifting focus to her writing approach, she admitted that her initial drafts often lack efficiency. She articulated that, “Every book emerges from a question — writing the first draft is primarily where I discern what my question truly is.”

In this context, she dismissed the notion of incorporating AI into her writing process, especially at the project’s outset. Composing a first draft engages “the mental space where ideally you were deliberating,” she elaborated. “The more you rely on [AI], the less your brain is engaged.”

Addressing issues of tokenism — being pigeonholed as “the next Amy Tan” — she articulated the necessity for a multitude of stories to emerge.

“No singular narrative can encapsulate all Asian Americans, let alone all Chinese Americans or Chinese American women,” she asserted. “We’re beginning to see tales that do not solely focus on Asian identity, but where the character’s heritage and experiences shape them as individuals without being the entirety of their story.”

Ng concluded by expressing her desire for her work to inspire others.

“I aspire for ‘Our Missing Hearts’ to convey a message of hope,” she stated. “At its core, it represents my quest for hope.”