What a powerfully written novel about the REAL Tribal American experience. Thank you @prhaudio for my gifted copy of Tommy Orange’s new release WANDERING STAR.

Tommy Orange is a master at writing the stream of consciousness. This novel follows multiple points of view (audio narration is great- different actors for each!) as it explores the decisions America has made for its natives, as well as the repercussions of our own decisions.

Spanning several varying lifetimes from the Carlisle School (living in PA this was additionally interesting to me) and flows through to present time, we walk with the characters through their suffering, their pain, their unending strength, and love.

I finished Wandering Stars last week and I'm still thinking about this beautiful book. When I picked this book up I didn't realize it served as both prequel and sequel to Orange's first novel There, There. I haven't read his debut novel yet and still loved the story, but I think you will probably get more from the story if you read them in publication order. We get to know a lot of different characters in Wandering Stars (I was so incredibly grateful for the included family tree), but the ones I wanted more information for have their stories told in There, There.

This was an important and moving read. It follows the descendants of Jude Star, a Native American man who survives the Sand Creek Massacre. The story spans about 100 years and we see his descendants face the erasure of Native American culture, the relocation from Native lands, generational trauma, and the seemingly inescapable cycle of addiction. In telling this story, Orange shares the reality faced by many Indigenous families.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for a review copy. I will be going back and reading There, There in the near future.

Tommy Orange should be mandatory reading for Americans—not only for his sharp, nuanced understanding of being a modern Native American, but even more so for the beauty of his writing style. The sentences, the stories can almost feel lyrical in their unfolding and are in and of themselves a gift to read. Cannot recommend this or his other books enough.

4.5 ⭐️
Being a Bay Area resident, I love how this story traces the lineage of modern day Native American families in Oakland. Wandering Stars captures the plight of Native Americans, and uncovers how generational trauma persists long after a distressing cultural event. I loved the characters, the setting, and the interwoven plot lines.

Thank You to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

WANDERING STARS by Tommy Orange is such a stunning, complex book. It's complicated, both in story and structure, and worth every minutes a reader spends with this novel. Absolutely exquisite.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Knopf, and Tommy Orange for an ARC of this book!**

"But surviving wasn't enough. To endure or to pass through endurance test after endurance test only ever gave you endurance test passing abilities. Simply lasting was great for a wall, for a fortress, but not for a person."

The year is 1864. Star is a survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre, a mass execution of Cheyenne and Arapaho people during the American Indian Wars and has made it through the bloodshed, but has been relocated to Fort Marion Prison Castle. Now under the watch of Richard Henry Pratt, he is forced to put his culture and heritage aside and learn both Christianity and English. This will be the beginning of a mission for Pratt, who will later found the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, an institution whose core mission will be much the same: erase and replace Indian culture. This school will find the family several years later, when Jude's son Charles also falls victim to the prison and trapped in these unfeeling and unforgiving walls.

Charles' only solace is his friendship with a fellow inmate Opal Viola, and the bond they share is quick and effortless. They both long for a future on the outside, a world without a motto that states "Kill the Indian, Save the Man." We then jump in time to Oakland in 2018, directly after the violent pow-wow massacre that took place at the end of Orange's first book, There There, and the horrific aftermath of these events. Orvil has survived the shooting, but heads down a dangerous road when it comes to his painkillers, and his family, knee deep in their own trauma, is not much better off. Under the strain of racism, injustice, and pain, can this family band together to rail against the forces that keep them clawing and fighting for their very survival? Or will the legacy of generational trauma, pain, and degradation leave them as 'wandering stars'...forever?

There, There is nothing short of a stunning piece of literature. I remember TEARING through that book in a day or less, enraptured by the cast of characters and Orange's fluid, mesmerizing prose. The voices were SO distinct, SO real, that I felt as though I was reading a collection of journals rather than a work of fiction. So much so, that I honestly GOOGLED There There after reading it JUST to make sure it was fiction: it was just THAT good. The crescendo of action, the perfect climax, the beautiful mix of light and dark that played gently throughout the pages...there's a reason the book was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Oh, and not to mention....that was Orange's DEBUT.

So it's hard to imagine a book that could live up to the sort of impossible precedent Orange laid out for well, himself, after such a jaw-dropping first novel. I went into Wandering Stars with the loftiest of hopes, the highest of expectations...and while I was still thoroughly WOWED by Orange's ability to turn a phrase...There, There this was not.

First off, Orange attempted to do something I don't think I've ever personally read in a book before: he wrote a prequel AND a sequel to There, There...and put them in the same book. This was a strange experience for me as a reader, in the sense that There, There is SO contemporary in flavor from start to finish, and the first part of THIS book essentially reads more like historical fiction...and a very specific subset of historical fiction dealing with the aforementioned battle, at that. This isn't to say this section of the book is BAD by any stretch, and it is certainly informative and provides a different level of context, but like with so many other historical fiction reads, it felt a bit dry and less emotionally driven compared to the in-your-face gut punch that began from page one of There, There. I'm not sure if being more familiar with the context of the events themselves would have been helpful, but many times I felt bogged down by the details rather than simply swept away by Orange's storytelling ability.

There's also the fact that this story works its way through a (somewhat) complex family tree, where family members are often named after one another or have multiple names, and this makes the family tree that Orange puts at the beginning of the book nothing short of essential. Especially for someone whose memory can get a bit muddled when there are LOTS of characters involved, I can't even tell you the number of times I flipped back and forth to remember who was talking or who was related to who and how....it can be a LOT. Always worthwhile, mind you, but although this is more of a personal preference, I wish the chapters were outlined with the narrator's name at the beginning of each section for reference too: sometimes we went into a new character's narration abruptly, and other times it was simply a continuation from the previous chapter, and it would have been wonderful to have a clearer distinction between the two options.

Once we got to the present day (or rather, as close as we get in the novel, from 2018 onward) things began to turn and I felt more of the flow I had been missing thus far. There was one chapter in particular (I believe narrated by Lony) that at its completion, I sat back and honestly wished I could give that single chapter TEN stars. Orange is such a gifted writer, so thoughtful and specific, prescient without coming off as high brow or arrogant, and his ability to craft a compelling sentence is top-notch. There were so many instances where if I'd had a physical copy of this book I KNOW I would have been highlighting it left and right (Or at least, adding Post-It note markers for later reference!) and as time wore on, I started to wish that the WHOLE book had read more like this last section. I know Orange had the ability to make this SEQUEL book happen and in some ways, it became a bit one note with the addiction struggles of sorts experienced by multiple characters. I did miss a bit of the pulse-pounding, adrenaline fueled rush of his first book's third act climax...but this book is more about examination and exploration of past abominations....and the ripples that still are felt, even today.

I'll leave you with an observation from one of Orange's many brilliant narrators, with a sentiment that not only applies to the long-standing struggle and pain of indigenous people, but to a longing and wanting keenly felt by humanity itself: "I think I needed to feel the bottom to know how to rise. Maybe we're all looking for our bottoms and tops in search of balance, where the loop feels just right, and like it's not just rote, not just repetition, but a beautiful echo, one so entrenching we lose ourselves in it."

May we lose ourselves in it, indeed.

4 stars

Tracy from the stacks probably puts into words much better than me on how I felt about this novel, as my feelings are very reflective of hers. The pacing was off at times and while I appreciated what the author was doing, the combined prequel and sequel did not work for me and did not feel like they really belonged together to create a cohesive story. It's very apparent that the author is talented and his prose is gorgeous, however I was left wanting more.

There, There was not a story I ever thought needed a sequel, but Tommy Orange delivers in this masterpiece. The focal point is of this story is addiction, survival and generational trauma. Trauma that can be carried whether we know about it or not. Opal said it best when she said surviving isn't living. Despite all her family has been through, they deserve to live their lives fully outside the shadow of Native American genocide and white supremacy. A difficult, but deeply moving book.

I finished Wandering Stars a few days ago and have been carrying it around inside me, turning it over and over like a handful of pebbles. There is so much going on in this book.

• First off, the stories. So many characters, so many stories, woven together like a basket in the shape of a human heart, not a Valentine's one.

• Orvil! It's a long time since I read There There, so my memories of Orvil weren't vivid, but Wandering Stars made me anxious to go back and spend more time with him.

• The whole prequel/sequel thing. I want to go back and reread Wandering Stars with There There. I want to move back and forth between the books so that I can experience the whole chronology playing out.

• Orange can write! He has a gift for individual voices that are simultaneously wise and surprising. I found myself slowing down on specific sentences because I wanted to hear them in my head in the "best" way possible—the way truest to the characters' hearts. It's been a long time since I've highlighted this many remarkable sentences while making my way through a book.

• The intelligence of all the characters: young, old, together, chaotic, inside, outside. The articulateness of the individuals Orange picks means that I found myself thinking and learning no matter who I was spending time with in any particular moment of reading the book. It's been a long time since I've highlighted this many remarkable sentences while making my way through a book.

Flat out, Wandering Stars is a remarkable piece of fiction that I know I'll return to more than once in my reading life.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley; the opinions are my own.

There, There was one of my favorite books a few years ago when I read it. I was blown away by the storytelling and character development showcased by Tommy Orange and anxious to read more by him. So I was obviously ecstatic when I was approved by NetGalley and the publisher to read a digital review copy. Although I didn’t connect with this one as much as his previous novel, I am still in awe of the beautiful writing and loved following up with some of my favorite characters.

This novel takes even more of a generational approach than the first novel did, giving us a glimpse into the early lineage of the family who survived the Sand Creek Massacre, the Fort Marion Prison Castle, and the Carlisle Indian School. This provided so much background into the psyche of the characters we had already met in There, There as well as shining a spotlight on generational trauma and the indigenous experience through the past 150 years of U.S. history. Bringing us back to the present day with the characters in the aftermath of a tragedy and learning to cope (often unhealthily as addiction can also be a legacy handed down), this book is a heavy hitter in terms of scope and emotional depth.

One of the most rewarding experiences of reading this novel was seeing the present-day characters continue to struggle with their Cheyenne identity given that they don’t know the language or didn’t grow up with a lot of the cultural elements. This is where the historical context offered in the beginning is so important in showing the efforts the United States government went to in order to wipe out these cultures and peoples, and novels like this one are a proud testament to the fact that indigenous Americans are still here and forging their own identities in a modern era.

This is definitely not an easy or quick read as the writing style often forces you to grapple with it, often feeling more like a series of vignettes than a cohesive story. This style is very purposeful and rewarding to read, but this is definitely not a book to just pick up and read casually. If you are a fan of family sagas or want to learn more about the Native American experience throughout history, I cannot recommend this one enough. It is very rewarding for all that take the time to read through it, and I cannot wait to read more by this author in the future.

Wandering Stars was a lyrical multigenerational novel for the same readers who loved Homegoing and Pachinko. The novel covers a broad stretch of American history while showing the roots and vine-like grip of addiction growing through family generations. The prose is predominately a stream-of-consciousness style, with long sentences that grow a bit more contained as we move closer to present day. It was deeply moving to see portrayals of love between people that is bruised and overstretched from both the personal mistakes that come of being human and the societal harms Native people have faced in waves beginning with America’s colonization. My only regret in reading this book was not re-reading There, There first, so my recommendation to future readers would be to read Orange’s first novel if you’re able. The story stands completely alone as a defiant, humanist portrayal of Native families, but I feel certain I would have enjoyed the novel even more with the first fresh in my mind.

Wow, beautiful writing and fantastic storytelling. Tommy Orange has a way of drawing you in and making you feel so many different emotions. While the subject matter is heavy and dark, the writing brings you through it and to the point that you're grateful for having read it. This is much more character driven than plot driven, so some readers may want more story. Its quiet and the pacing is steady-to-slow. But you will hopefully learn and grow from having read it.

Thank you so much to the publisher for the advance copy!

Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange is filled with yearning. This stand-alone sequel to THERE THERE lyrically illustrates the powerful yearning of one family, via descendant Orvil Red Feather, to be themselves after their historical removal from tribal lands and the forced abandonment of their native language and culture. It shows the generational trauma of collective loss. Beginning with the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864 and the subsequent Carlisle Indian Industrial School debacle, Wandering Stars visits the descendants of a single Native family as they struggle with substance abuse and erasure while trying to preserve family ties and their culture. “Everyone only thinks we’re from the past, but then we’re here, but they don’t know we’re still here.” while emotionally difficult to read, it’s an essential lesson. Book clubs need to discuss this one.

Tommy Orange is such a good writer. His words are so gripping and evocative. Even when his characters seem hopeless, there is a fierce and profound beauty to the way he depicts them. Their very existence is the hope in the hopelessness. My only gripe is that Wandering Stars feels disjointed, like two loosely connected books instead of one cohesive story. I understand that he wanted “fast forward” to the present but in doing that the story lost its connective tissue. Still loved this book and the writing. Another Tommy Orange masterpiece.

This Is a sequel to There There that fallows a family through the colonization and forced relocation of Native Americans and the lasting impacts of that on the current generations. The book has themes of perseverance and resilience. This story shows how trauma lasts for generations and impacts them in ways they might not even understand. Would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was the first book I had read from this author. The book was thought provoking and interesting.

I had mixed thoughts while reading this book. The content was very heavy and difficult to read at times. The story was beautifully written. I needed a little bit more plot development to find cohesiveness in the book for all of the history and characters to make sense. It follows multiple generations through traumatic events and contains some content that is horrific. I learned a lot while reading.

Amazing. A dense, challenging read that is mainly a character study that packs a big wollop. I love his writing and get lost in it for pages, despite the lack of true action or much dialogue. This is a study of Native American life as seen through the eyes of those who lived it and their descendants. We see the many atrocities they suffer from their view, told alternatively in first and third person. This is a follow-up to There There but I honestly had forgotten those characters and this stands alone just fine.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow what a book. I feel Tommy Orange really has showcased his talent in the construction and storytelling shown in this book. We follow characters from There There, which felt special to be able to spend time with them again. But we also go back in time to earlier generations of this family and learn of their lives and stories as well.

This story was heavy, and leaves the reader feeling quite heavy after the final page has been turned. This mirrors the themes Orange is tackling and the weight the characters feel. Beautifully done.

This book is full of so much information. I did not do any research and didn’t realize there was another book by this author. I did not feel lost while reading this book and it reads as a stand-alone. However, there are many characters in the book and I had to keep referencing the family tree in the beginning of the book.

It is a very powerful, heavy book. There are multiple point of views and the book spans multiple generations, beginning with the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864. This book is filled with gun violence, mental health issues, alcoholism, drug addiction and the trauma of indigenous people. I really enjoyed this book for the most part, it is beautifully written. Each chapter is told like it’s own little story and from a different point of view. I found that whose point of view was not always clear. And the chapters are very very long. Overall, a great read!

Wandering Stars is a beautiful blend of past and present. Tommy Orange weaves the stories of eight different people to address the very real ramifications that colonization has had on the indigenous peoples. This story inspires many feelings: anger, frustration, heartbreak, resilience, and hope. One of the characters, Orvil (first introduced in There There) had a big impact on me. His journey after the events of There There broke my heart but also made view addiction in a whole new light. Tommy is honest in showing the reader the truth around addiction but makes sure to never forget the person underneath. He shows grace and kindness to Orvil and Simple’s the reader to view this problem with grace and understanding. Tommy Orange is so talented and I hope to read more of his work in the future. Wandering Stars was a great follow up to There There and a book I’ll think about and have with me for a long time. Definitely recommend 4.25⭐️