By Molly Given<\/p>\n
Mayor Cherelle Parker recently joined leaders from the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Free Library Foundation to unveil the 2026 selection for One Book, One Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
\u2018Our Missing Hearts\u2019 by Celeste Ng (the author of \u2018Little Fires Everywhere\u2019) will anchor the city\u2019s 24th annual celebration of reading and civic dialogue. The announcement launches a four-month, citywide campaign inviting residents to explore the book together through conversations, workshops, readings, film screenings, and creative programs designed to spark connection and community engagement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are all a part of this city, and sharing a book and its storytelling and themes creates a powerful connection,” Parker said in a statement. “It brings us together, linking us not only to the story, but to one another.\u201d<\/p>\n
The official synopsis of Ng\u2019s novel reads: In a near-future America governed by \u201cPACT\u201d (the Preservation of American Culture and Traditions), fear has become a tool of the state, and \u201cun-American\u201d ideas are scrubbed from shelves. The story follows a twelve-year-old boy of Chinese descent, Bird Gardner, as he embarks on a quest to find his mother, a dissident poet whose work has been banned.<\/p>\n
The book is out at a poignant time as a look at the First Amendment while the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary<\/a>.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s free signature events at the Parkway Central Library begin with the One Book, One Philadelphia Kickoff Celebration on Tuesday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m., featuring an in-depth conversation with Celeste Ng, followed by a book signing. \u00a0On April 23, at 6:30 p.m., a screening of ‘The Librarians’ will allow audiences to take a look at the fight against book bans, with a community discussion to follow.<\/p>\n The series continues on May 8, at 6 p.m. with \u2018Asian American Voices | Stories Between Us\u2019, a Story Slam presented by South Asian Americans for Change. It all concludes on May 28, at 6:30 p.m. with the Finale Celebration, an art panel discussion exploring censorship and resistance in America, also followed by a book signing.<\/p>\n Additional workshops and programs will take place across the Free Library of Philadelphia\u2019s 54 neighborhood branches. All events are free, and advance registration is available at freelibrary.org\/onebook<\/a>. Young readers can dive into the One Book, One Philadelphia conversation with companion titles tailored just for them.<\/p>\n All titles, including ‘Our Missing Hearts,’ are available to borrow at any Free Library of Philadelphia branch with a library card, and e-book and downloadable audiobook versions can be accessed online. The library also provides copies to schools, reading groups, and community organizations.<\/p>\n