Wandering Stars is miraculously both a prequel and a sequel to There, There, but you also don't have to read There, There to enjoy Wandering Stars. Wild right? That's the ride that is Tommy Orange. I love his multiple POV stories, with each character taking on a unique tone, literary perspective, and somehow still advancing the story. The Red Feather boys are so dear to me at this point, after reading both There, There and Wandering Stars, and Opal will always have my heart. I'm always moved by Orange's poetic writing (and highlighted so many beautiful portions throughout this story) and am grateful to have been gifted Wandering Stars through NetGalley. 4/5 stars

Tommy Orange has a magical touch when it comes to storytelling. He weaves multiple stories together, tying the past to the present while conveying so much emotion with minimal words.

Wandering Stars builds upon his earlier work of There There by going farther back in the family history. What happened before informs and guides the later family members. They are who they are because of where they came from and because of what happened to their ancestors.

Tommy Orange shines a light on a collective history that many would rather gloss over and forget. Forgetting the past won’t make it go away - it will come back with a force that will not be shoved aside.

Wandering Stars is a multigenerational family story spanning over a century. We revisit several characters from There There, so in a sense it is prequel, sequel, annd companion, though it also stands alone. Tommy Orange is a beautiful writer, and this book is definitely worth a read.

Renowned for his Pulitzer Prize-nominated work, "There There," Tommy Orange once again delivers a poignant exploration of intergenerational trauma in his latest novel, "Wandering Stars."

Set against the backdrop of the Sand Creek Massacre and the oppressive Carlisle Indian Industrial School, Orange follows three generations of a family marked by suffering and resilience. Beginning in 1860s-era Colorado, Orange introduces Star, a young survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre, who finds himself thrust into the confines of Fort Marion prison. Under the watchful eye of Richard Henry Pratt, Star is subjected to assimilation efforts aimed at erasing his Indigenous culture and identity. Decades later, Star's son, Charles, endures the brutality of the Carlisle school, finding solace in fleeting moments with fellow student, Opal Viola. As their stories unfold, the narrative navigates themes of trauma, identity, and the enduring legacy of historical violence.

With prose that is both devastating and awe-inspiring, Orange conjures a cast of characters - ancestors of the family readers first fell in love with in "There There" - who grapple with their ancestry, from alcoholics and addicts to criminals and warriors. "Wandering Stars" serves as a profound reflection on the weight of inherited trauma, weaving together a narrative that resonates with the force of a modern epic. Orange's remarkable storytelling prowess shines brightly in this exceptional novel, reaffirming his status as one of today's most talented writers.

My Goodreads review:

Thank you #NetGalley for ebook ARC. The extended family saga showed familial connections over time and place, allowing the reader to see how even those who seem disparate are not.

Wandering Stars is a gorgeous book that follows the stories of a Native family across generations. It looks colonialism head-on, and unflinchingly illustrates the damage, pain, and generational trauma inflicted on Native people by white settlers and the US government. With strong themes of loss, running away, addiction, and returning -- to family, to a sense of place, to culture -- Wandering Stars is a powerful, moving portrait of Native diaspora, told through as series of incredibly human, intimate stories. While it's effectively a follow-up to There, There, Wandering Stars can be read without that context.

I didn't know that this was a follow up on There There. I was happy to see the characters that I liked back on these pages. I know the circumstances they returned to were not the best, but still they were here, they were fighting, they were trying to keep their identity.

From 1864 to 2018 generations forget and remember, forget and remember who they were and live through one shooting after and another. Years change for them but not the events surrounding their communities. Being together and healing together is an option for them but it's also a double edged sword: they could stand up strong together, or they might fall victim to another shooting.

Every time I read about residential schools, I'm reminded how people could consider educational institutions a tool to erase a heritage, and torture member of a group. Education is not meant to be limiting or suppressing; it meant to do the exact opposite.

the language is brilliant and engaging. Perhaps not as a whole, but I found it to be perfect in pieces.

Totally blown away by Wandering Stars! His raw portrayal of addiction had me glued to the page. The honesty felt real, and sure enough, there's a fascinating interview about his experience in The Guardian, March 2024. Can't wait to see what he writes next!

"Wandering Stars" by Tommy Orange invites you on a captivating journey through the lives of its characters, each grappling with their own unique struggles and dreams. This novel draws you in with its genuine portrayal of Native American experiences. As you follow the intertwining paths of the characters, you'll find yourself immersed with all of the connections. With its evocative storytelling and heartfelt exploration of identity and heritage, "Wandering Stars" is a novel that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

“The Wandering Stars” by Tommy Orange invites readers on a mesmerizing journey through the interconnected lives of a diverse cast of characters navigating the complexities of modern-day America. Set against the backdrop of the contemporary Indigenous experience, Orange’s novel is a poignant exploration of identity, heritage, and the search for belonging. Through lyrical prose and richly drawn characters, Orange deftly captures the joys, struggles, and resilience of Indigenous communities across generations and geographies. Each narrative thread is woven together with precision and care, offering a multifaceted portrait of the Indigenous experience that is both universal and deeply personal. From the bustling streets of urban centers to the quiet solace of reservation life, “The Wandering Stars” paints a vivid tableau of Indigenous life in all its diversity and complexity. Orange’s compassionate storytelling and keen insight into the human condition make this novel a powerful testament to the enduring strength of Indigenous cultures and the importance of understanding and empathy in an increasingly divided world. “The Wandering Stars” is a luminous and unforgettable literary achievement that will leave readers spellbound long after they’ve turned the final page.

I liked Wandering Stars and it's definitely worth reading for people who read and loved There There. The best part of the book is checking back in with characters from There There. Though the history is important, it felt a little too much like two separate books this time. I wasn't as engaged with the historical characters this time.

Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange is a sprawling and ambitious novel that delves into the experiences of Native American characters across generations. It functions as both a prequel and sequel to Orange's acclaimed debut, There There.

Strengths

Multigenerational Saga: The book weaves a powerful narrative that follows a family lineage from the horrors of the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864 to the struggles of contemporary characters in Oakland, California.
Intergenerational Trauma: Orange effectively portrays the lasting impact of historical trauma on individuals and their families.
Vivid Characters: Despite the large cast, each character has a distinct voice and story that sheds light on the complexities of Native American identity.
Social Commentary: The novel offers a scathing critique of government policies and societal forces that have marginalized Native Americans throughout history.
Potential Weaknesses

Uneven Pacing: The historical sections can feel rushed at times, while the contemporary sections are more detailed. This can be jarring for some readers.
Emotional Difficulty: The subject matter is often bleak and deals with violence and oppression. Be prepared for a challenging but important read.
Overall

Wandering Stars is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that sheds light on the ongoing legacy of colonialism and its impact on Native American communities. While it doesn't shy away from difficult topics, the book also offers glimpses of resilience and hope.

Recommendation

This novel is a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary Native American literature, historical fiction, or social justice issues. However, be aware of the potentially difficult subject matter. If you're looking for a light read, this might not be the best choice. But for those seeking a powerful and important story, Wandering Stars is a rewarding experience.

The wandering stars seem to have somewhat settled. At least Orvil, Opal, Loother seem to be. Although Lony has gone really on a wander. Even Jacque has overcome her addiction. And Orvil, after being shot, also had an addiction problem by the book's end. He has overcome it and now runs and plays in a band. Loother has a child. Opal survived her cancer, and she and Jacque have a good relationship. They seem to have accepted their place in Oakland as Native Americans.

I’m completely awed by another Tommy Orange book. This one picks up where the equally stellar There There left off—and readers again get an engaging mix of Native American history framed within the stories of modern-day Indigenous characters living in Oakland.

We learn of Jude Star, a Native American who escapes the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre only to end up in a Florida prison. His son, Charles, is a “student” at the Carlisle Industrial Indian School in PA. Interestingly, Orange even puts a brief spotlight on the real-life creator of the school, Captain Richard Henry Pratt.

We then get to the meat of the book: the Bear Shield-Red Feather family who populated the previous novel. Orvil Red Feather is recovering from the gunshot he experienced at the powwow. He slowly becomes addicted to the opioids he’s using to manage the pain. His friend Sean, whose father makes drugs in their house, keeps Orvil supplied, while also being an addict himself.

Addiction is a central topic of this book, affecting almost everyone from Jude on down. Orange seems to be using it to highlight how the atrocities of Native American history have manifested themselves in today’s Native generation. Instead of assuming that Native people are susceptible to addiction because they’re weak, he highlights how it’s because they have centuries of traumatic history & systemic horror to deal with. Seeing Orvil devolve from a carefree dancer to an addict broke my heart. I appreciate how Orange explores the complexity of Native people & their experiences, while also educating readers about history & lived-in experiences we don’t know.

This novel does what lit fiction does best: educates AND entertains. The struggles and tragedies described in this novel are permeated by a current of hope. Here, family is the catalyst that will heal and make things better.

Another lit fiction standout from Tommy Orange! I loved it.

I read Tommy Orange’s debut novel a few years ago, and was blown away by both the story and the way Orange told it. It felt like a standalone novel, so I was thrilled to hear that a second book was coming out. I didn’t realize that this book was simultaneously a prequel, a sequel, and a standalone, although I do suggest reading There There first to get the most out of this novel.

The story starts out with a harsh depiction of the Sand Creek Massacre, where we are introduced to Jude Star, a young Native survivor of the massacre. His people are all dead, and he has nowhere to turn, so he just travels around. Jude is incredibly perceptive, and he is highly connected to his spirituality. When he is placed into a brutal residential school where the motto is “Kill the Indian, save the man,” everything is designed to strip their culture and heritage from them. Their hair is cut, they aren’t allowed to speak their tribal languages, practice their own religion, eat their traditional foods, or even dress in their usual clothing. Coming from one traumatic event and landing in another situation that is traumatic in a different way, Jude’s life has been taken out of his control and the intergenerational trauma that he already carries is further compounded by his present day trauma.

Orange provides us with a family tree at the beginning of the book, starting with Jude Star and his wife and Victor Bear Shield and his wife, leading all the way to the three Red Feather brothers, Loother, Orvil, and Lony. We take a meandering trip through the family line, learning more about each of them and the journey that they take in life. It was a heartbreaking and fascinating look at how the trauma of hundreds of years of genocide, dehumanization, and colonization have impacted the lives of Native Americans—Jude’s own son Charles is sent to the same residential school, where the relationship with a female student, Opal Victoria Bear Shield is what gets him through. But the echoes of being separated from their heritage, their culture, their people echoes through the generations. Charles and Opal and their offspring all struggle in different ways, whether it is with forming a connection to their heritage, addiction, alcoholism, depression, suicide, or a breakdown in traditional family and community structure.

I quickly found myself engrossed with each member of the family. Often in generational stories I find myself more interested in some stories than others, yet Orange is immensely talented in creating complex, multilayered, and alluring characters that it is near-impossible to look away from. His writing makes it easy to be fascinated by each generation of this family, and their fight to stay connected and maintain their heritage in a meaningful way. Each character does this in a unique way, so it was interesting to watch them find their own path.

Towards the end of the book, we see characters from There There, and learn what has happened in the aftermath of the Powwow shooting. A massacre bookends the story and it somehow feels fitting in a story about a people who have suffered so many massacres over time. After being shot, Orvil becomes reliant on pain medication to numb his emotions, while Lony copes with his PTSD by cutting to try and connect with his Cheyenne ancestors after learning that they used to cut themselves in a ritual, and Opal is attending rituals and using peyote in an attempt to heal her family. Everyone is struggling, and rather than coming together to heal collectively, they’re all working on themselves independently and not doing a great job of it.

This is a book of joy and pain, happiness and sorrow, rage and acceptance, trauma and healing, grief and hope, the past and the present. It was beautifully written and it felt like the author really changed his writing style to be a little more almost flowery, painting an even more beautiful picture with his words. This was a tough story to read, but fulfilling and exquisite, and I strongly recommend Orange as an outstanding writer. I look forward to seeing what other books he puts out in the future.

I really enjoyed Tommy Orange's first novel There, There and was somewhat hesitant to read this follow-up but I am very glad that I did. Wandering Stars is an important novel, painful and profound. There, There more easily captured my attention and kept it throughout - I struggled with Wandering Stars a little at times. But his writing is beautiful and the characters and their intense struggles with addiction, trauma, and identity stay with you long after you read the last page.
Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel.

Only now, after reading other reviews, do I realize that Tommy Orange’s Wandering Stars is a pair to his 2018 debut, There, There. Do not let this stop you from picking up this book if, like me, you have not taken the opportunity to read There, There. I found Wandering Stars worked wonderfully as a stand alone.


Wandering Stars is a profound exploration into the tragic history of Native American life, skillfully interwoven with the fraught past and a turbulent present. Opening in the immediate aftermath of the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre, the narrative introduces Jude Star, enduring harsh assimilation policies at Fort Marion Prison Castle, setting themes of trauma, identity, and resilience. As the saga unfolds, it traces the scars passed down through generations to Opal Viola Victoria Bear Shield and her nephew Orvil in 2018 Oakland, whose struggles against cultural genocide are depicted with compelling depth. Orange's narrative is both vivid and immersive, marked by his poetic prose and deep character development. We bear witness to a cycle of historical violence and the resilient quest for healing. Wandering Stars is a testament to the endurance of spirit and the profound strength required not just to survive but to reclaim identity against the erasure of time and policy.

Received as a free e-book from Net Galley.

Tommy Orange is a beautiful writer. His introspective prose is a pleasure to read, and he has an ear for natural sounding dialogue from characters I wanted to meet or could imagine knowing. I love the way he uses multiple voices to honor indigenous American storytelling traditions and share intertwined, multi-faceted narratives.

This book builds on the story begun in "There, There" and expands it to both the ancestors of a family line, future generations, and the people they encounter. I especially loved to hear about Orville and his brothers. The character Lony shines.

As with any story that deals with addiction, there are intense moments of dread that build as you wait for the terrible thing that seems inevitable. But I've never read such a thoughtful exploration of addiction and drug use, with "therapy speak" embedded in very organic ways. I think this book itself could be a path for people to understand themselves and their families in a more accessible way.

It's heartbreaking at times but ultimately provides a path for characters and readers to heal. I know I'll read this (and his first book) again.

Review published on Goodreads

Thank you #knopf for a free copy of Wandering Stars in exchange for an honest review.

First, I loved Tommy Orange’s book There, There, so I knew I was going to read Wandering Stars. I did not fly through this book, but I enjoyed the time I invested and spent with it because it allowed me to spend time with these characters and sit with the trauma that they endured.

The book starts in Colorado in 1864 when Star, a survivor of the Stand Creek Massacre, is forced to a prison “castle” in Florida where he is forced to learn English and practice Christianity. A decade later, Star’s son is send to the same place, now a school, founded to eradicate Native Culture and Identity. The book follow’s Star’s blood line and the impact of generational trauma up until the present day.

The last part of the book focusing on the present-day ancestors of Star is a standout and haunting.

This is not an easy book to read, but it is worthy of your time. I would also love it to be taught in high schools across the country.