What if all of Malden read the same book?

Malden Reads seeks to answer that question.

Malden Reads is a community reading program in Malden, MA. Organized by community groups, city leaders, and residents, in collaboration with the Malden Public Library, the program invites the community of Malden to read the same book and participate in a series of events related to the book’s themes. The goals of the program are to promote literacy, a love of reading, an appreciation of city resources, and most of all, to build community in the city of Malden.

 

 

OUR 2026 SEASON 16 BOOK IS . . .

Malden Reads, the community reading program that invites the entire city to read and discuss a common book, is proud to announce its 2026 selection: Our Missing Hearts by bestselling author Celeste Ng.

Themes from Our Missing Hearts 

Set in a near-future America marked by fear, censorship, and division, Our Missing Hearts explores what happens when a society built on democratic ideals begins to fracture. The novel follows a young boy searching for his missing mother—a poet whose words have been deemed dangerous by the government—and examines how art, storytelling, and human connection can resist oppression and ignite hope.

This year’s Malden Reads program will use Our Missing Hearts as a lens to explore themes that resonate deeply with our current times:

  • Civic ideals and the foundations of democracy—and how they are tested when fear and control take hold.
  • Children’s experiences during times of social and political upheaval—their resilience, loss, and capacity for empathy.
  • Revolution, resistance, and courage—and the role of ordinary people in standing up to injustice.

Programming throughout the season will draw meaningful parallels between Ng’s fictional world and real-world issues, including the treatment of immigrant families and the human stories behind recent federal detentions. Discussions, exhibits, and community conversations will also highlight how libraries—both in the novel and in our own communities—serve as sanctuaries for truth, connection, and promoting civic engagement. In Our Missing Hearts, libraries become a new kind of underground railroad, preserving knowledge and humanity when both are under threat.

These themes, along with one’s own personal revolution, will be explored through programming beginning in 2026. Malden Reads will use the book Our Missing Hearts as a way to help the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution come alive. Malden has a special role in the American Revolution as the first town to declare independence from Britain in their Town Instructions in 1775. Not only did Malden formally declare their wishes in this manner, but Malden’s militia was heavily involved in the resistance to Britain.

Plans for 2026 

Malden Reads invites residents, schools, organizations, and businesses to participate in a full season of events beginning in January 2026. Activities will include book discussions, film screenings, art exhibits, cultural programs, and special events designed to engage readers of all ages and backgrounds. We will be hosting and collaborating with other organizations throughout 2026 celebrating our city’s role in the American Revolution, and will be hosting civic learning opportunities and multiple ways to connect with our city’s and Boston’s history. Programs related to civic learning are funded in part by the Malden Community Connections Grant to bring the people of our community together.  

Books will become available for checkout from the Malden Public Library. Books are also available for purchase from The Gallery@57, a unique retail show in Malden run cooperatively by local artists. Books may also be purchased from our favorite local independent booksellers including The Book Oasis in Stoneham, Molly’s Bookstore in Melrose, and Porter Square Books in Boston and Cambridge.

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