Philadelphia's 2026 One Book, One Philly highlights dystopian novel about censorship

Celeste Ng's 'Our Missing Hearts' explores themes of banned literature, silenced speech, and forced family separation

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The 2026 One Book, One Philadelphia selection is Celeste Ng's dystopian novel 'Our Missing Hearts,' which tells the story of a 12-year-old boy searching for his poet mother whose work has been banned. The novel is described as a 'love letter to reading, to libraries, to stories and also to America,' and the Free Library of Philadelphia is kicking off a four-month campaign to encourage as many people as possible to read and discuss the book together.

Why it matters

The message of this novel is seen as a perfect fit for the larger One Book, One Philly mission, as it invites readers to 'think deeply about ideas, art and the world we're living in' during a time when the author says the real world has moved closer to the dystopian themes of the book, raising questions about what it means to be American.

The details

In Ng's novel, set in a near-future America, 'un-American' ideas are scrubbed from shelves. The book follows a 12-year-old boy of Chinese descent searching for his poet mother whose work has been banned. The Free Library of Philadelphia and Free Library Foundation are hosting a four-month campaign with events including discussions, workshops, readings, art-making, and film screenings.

  • The 2026 One Book, One Philly selection was announced on February 26, 2026.
  • The One Book, One Philadelphia Kickoff Celebration is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.

The players

Celeste Ng

The author of 'Our Missing Hearts,' a bestselling novelist who grew up in Pittsburgh and Ohio.

Free Library of Philadelphia

The public library system hosting the One Book, One Philly campaign.

Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation

The nonprofit organization partnering with the Free Library to run the One Book, One Philly program.

Monique Moore Pryor

The president of the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation.

Carol Richardson McCullough

A founding member of Drexel's Writers Room who plans to introduce 'Our Missing Hearts' to her students.

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What they’re saying

“'Our Missing Hearts' is really a love letter to reading, to libraries, to stories and also to America. I think it touches on questions of what do libraries do to build community, what do our stories do to help us understand our history and who we are and how do we move forward.”

— Celeste Ng, Author (Billy Penn)

“Each year, [this program] brings tens of thousands of readers together around a single, powerful story. With 'Our Missing Hearts,' Celeste Ng invites us to think deeply about ideas, art and the world we're living in. This book gives our city a meaningful opportunity to read, reflect and connect.”

— Monique Moore Pryor, President, Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation (Billy Penn)

“The book is described as a sort of dystopian novel, and as I'm reading it, there's certain things and events happening in it that almost reflect things that I remember seeing more recently today. So it'll offer lots of time for reflection on what's happening in our society today as things are changing... Librarians are leading the resistance, you know? They're saving the world. And that's a reflection of what I see in the library system in Philadelphia and in libraries all across the country and probably across the world.”

— Carol Richardson McCullough, Founding member, Drexel Writers Room (Billy Penn)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This year's One Book, One Philly selection, Celeste Ng's 'Our Missing Hearts,' is a timely and thought-provoking dystopian novel that explores themes of censorship, the power of storytelling, and the vital role of libraries in preserving democratic values, inviting readers to reflect on the state of America and what kind of country we want to be.