4 stars.

Tommy Orange’s *Wandering Stars* is a powerful, heartbreaking, and beautifully written exploration of generational trauma, identity, and survival. With his signature style of weaving multiple narratives across time, Orange takes readers back to the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864, while also continuing the stories of beloved characters from *There There*. It's an ambitious novel that delves deep into the experiences of Indigenous people and the profound, often devastating impact of history on the present.

The way Orange traces the lives of characters like Orvil Red Feather and Opal Viola Victoria Bear Shield, as well as their ancestors, is deeply affecting. From Jude Star's survival of the massacre to Charles Star’s painful experiences at the Carlisle Indian School, the book moves through generations with a relentless focus on survival, the loss of culture, and the struggle to connect to one’s heritage. This is a story about the personal cost of survival and the way history lingers within the bloodlines, often taking shape in addiction, violence, and a need for healing.

What really stands out in *Wandering Stars* is how Orange makes history feel alive. He brings readers into the minds of his characters, showing not just what happened, but how it felt, how it shaped them, and how it’s carried forward in ways that often seem beyond control. The exploration of addiction and self-destruction is raw and honest, as is the ever-present struggle to reclaim identity amidst a culture that constantly seeks to erase it.

It’s not all bleak, though. Orange subtly threads moments of resistance and resilience through his characters' stories, from Orvil’s attempts to piece together his cultural identity to the hope and connection that survives even in the face of overwhelming odds. There’s an undeniable beauty in how the characters fight to maintain their traditions, sometimes without even realizing that they are doing so.

Though I didn’t feel the emotional cohesion of *There There*, *Wandering Stars* is a powerful novel in its own right, one that should be read widely for its insight into the Indigenous experience, both past and present. Orange’s prose is as gripping as ever, and while this novel may be heavy at times, it is an important and illuminating read.

Wandering Stars was, unfortunately, a miss for me. I read There There and had a similar disjointed feeling while I was reading it. However, There There came together for me at the end and I have found myself thinking about it for years afterward. Wandering Stars may just have been too smart for me but I had a hard time following it and, having worked so hard, felt dissatisfied when I finally finished it. I could only give it 3 stars.

I loved There, There and was excited for this title but it fell a little short for me. I will read his next book though.

I read There, There in college and it still has stayed with me years later. I was so excited to read Wandering Stars knowing the connection to his previous novel. So well written and thoughtful and moving. Tommy is one of the most talented writers I've encountered.

Tommy Orange has written another masterpiece. Readers will learn so much about Native American history. Can't wait for his next one.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me. I couldn't connect with the story and characters and the writing was not really engaging.

Thank you Knopf and the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

There, There by Tommy Orange is an important work of contemporary fiction, and I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of the prequel/sequel Wandering Stars. This book is another important work that is a mix of ambitious and flawed that sheds light on the complexities of Native American life today.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.

I love reading Tommy Orange and am so moved by the writing. So of the pacing of the story was off for me but the writing is worth it.

Another absolutely stunning work of art by Tommy Orange. Exploring difficult and painful topics with a poetic aptitude that is so unique to him as a writer. Amazing!

Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange is a striking collection of interconnected short stories that explores the lives of contemporary Native Americans, blending their struggles and triumphs with poignant insights into their identities, histories, and the complexities of modern life. There are themes of belonging, displacement, and cultural resilience, all while addressing issues of trauma, hope, and the search for connection. Each story is a reflection of the varied experiences of Indigenous people today, capturing both the pain and beauty of navigating a world shaped by colonialism and systemic oppression. With his masterful storytelling, Orange weaves a narrative that is both intimate and expansive, shedding light on the often overlooked yet deeply important lives of Native Americans in the 21st century.

I really enjoyed Tommy Orange's follow up to There There. I don't disagree with other reviewers who believe this should have been two books, a prequel and a sequel separately. However, it did really work for me. I loved the historical fiction/prequel part a little more than the modern day/sequel, but I thought the whole book was very well done and very compelling. Just as in There There, Orange explores some really hard and really important topics. I can't wait to see what he does next.

Although fictional this book follows loosely history and research. It’s not an easy read and centers trauma, addiction and other hardships in indigenous communities which makes it hard to read. Definitely not a book you sit down and read in one sitting.
I feel like more editing would have benefited this book.

Such an emotional collection, anyone who loved There, There will feel the same about this book. The author does a great job of displaying raw emotion and the real human experience with the nuance of trauma.

I really enjoyed Orange's debut, There, There and was excited to see that he was releasing a prequel/sequel. I'm happy to say that Wandering Stars lived up to my expectations, even if it left me wanting a little bit more.

Wandering Stars explores the displacement of indigenous populations in the USA, the erasure of their cultures and languages, and addiction. All of these themes appear in There, There, but are explored much more in-depth in this novel. The novel starts in the 19th centuries, with some of the ancestors of the characters we met in There. There. Then time jumps forward to be a sequel to the first novel. Personally, I found the historical parts of the novel stronger overall. However, it was also nice to revisit the brothers Lony and Orvil as well as Opal and understand more of the aftermath of the shooting at the Pow Wow.

Many critiques of this book discuss how it does not feel like the first and second parts come together. I can see where those criticisms are coming from on a basic level. The plot points, for example, do not all follow through (though there are references to things we saw and heard about in the historical portion of the books). What does follow through strongly are the realities of generational trauma, as well as the continuing violence to indigenous populations. I felt that Orange did an excellent job connecting past and present along those themes. It made what was initially a confusing premise of both prequel and sequel make complete sense in execution.

I am curious to see where Orange goes with his next work!

I loved Tommy oranges last novel so was really excited for this one. I found this harder to get into even though it’s quite short. Orange is a beautiful writer and I look forward to what he does next but this won’t end up being a fave.

3.5 stars - This book was hard to rate for me. It would have been a four-star read because I think Orange's writing is so captivating. He has a really unique way of structuring his sentences that feels fresh to me. However, I had to bump this down half a star because it just felt really hard to follow. It's both a prequel and a sequel to 'There There,' but I just could not keep track of all of the characters (especially in the first half of the book). It was a little easier to track everyone in the second half, which is focused on modern-day characters. I think my brain is just not organized enough for this kind of storytelling. I truly appreciate Orange's characters and his focus on addiction and mental health (and of course Native American culture), but not being able to follow the whole journey of the book makes me a little hesitant to pick up his books in the future.

If you liked There There, you will love this one. Same gorgeous writing, biting commentary, but more character connection. I loved spending more time with Opal's grandsons after they survived the powwow shooting. The first half of the book tells more about the family, starting with Jude Star in the 1800's, What a great book-no surprise it's long listed for the Aspen Words Literary Prize!

I wasn't as blown away by this one as I was There There, but that may have been due in part to the format. I really struggle to read on a device vs. a physical book, but I was so excited to get my hands on this one! There There still tops my list of favorites even after all this time, and I will absolutely read anything Tommy Orange produces. This was no exception. The writing is exquisite.

Sadly I missed the window to read this here on NetGalley -- will read and review on GR.
Thank you for the arc

Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange is the follow-up to There, There. I did enjoy There, There. But I'm not so sure about this second book. These books do a great job of explaining the horrors of American history towards Native Americans. Reading historical fiction is an amazing way to learn about history while reading a well-written story. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.