I was obsessed with There There by Tommy Orange back when it came out in 2018, so I was so excited when I learned that Wandering Stars was being released. It was so great getting background chapters on earlier members in the Bear Shield/Red Feather family. And also getting to see more of the aftermath and evolution that came after the events of the Big Oakland Powwow.

Throughout the multi-generational story, topics such as historical massacres, Native kids being sent to boarding schools to eradicate their culture and language, addiction, PTSD, and trying to reconnect with Native heritage are touched upon within the book.

Wandering Stars is great, however I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as There There. I didn’t feel the same urgency I did when reading the first book, having the story built around everyone getting to the Big Oakland Powwow at the end gave the story a bit more structure. With this book I couldn’t really tell where it was ultimately going, it just felt like being along for the ride of the characters’ lives. And I do love the characters, so it did work for me. But it just didn’t have that 5 star feeling.

Definitely pick this one up if you were a fan of There There. It’s so great to be able to see more of the characters after the end of the first book. And to learn more about their family’s history. Tommy Orange’s writing is so impactful, I’m really interested to see what he comes out with next.

History repeats itself again and again. Ignorance of past truths has a clear role in the repetition of humanity’s most egregious atrocities. The truth of the massacre, atrocities and genocide of Native Americans by European settlers was never taught to me in school so I relish the opportunity to read about what actually occurred in my homeland before my ancestors stepped foot on American soil - and continues still.

Wandering Stars follows the tale told in Tommy Orange’s Pulitzer contender, There There. It goes back even further in history to chronicle the Sand Creek Massacre ( 1864) and the horrors and legacy of Marion Prison Castle. The attempt by white conquerors to wipe out the heritage of Indians ( as Orange refers to indigenous people) in schools designed to remake their identity to conform to white society is heartbreaking. This is a generational story from those early days until current times. There are a substantial numbers of characters in each era and sometimes it takes some work to follow them all. But it’s worth it.

Orange is a very talented writer. Much of this book is written as a train of thought without complete punctuation. This technique allows the reader to enter the minds and absorb the thoughts and feelings of particular characters. Abandonment, death, search for a lost heritage , the bond of family, and the scourge of various addictions such as alcohol, drugs and even on line games, are described with a scrupulous blunt honesty that only a very talented author can bring to life on a page.

Important, compelling and educational, Wandering Stars is not for readers interested in a piece of fluff or a quick read. Instead it radiates with truths, disturbing as they are, in a time when truth is a rare and valuable commodity. Four well earned stars for a piece of historical fiction that I will not forget. Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for providing me with an advance reader’s copy in exchange for an unbiased review. Publication date is February 27, 2024.

Wandering Stars
By Tommy Orange

Both a sequel and a prequel to There There, Wandering Stars is the story of four successive generations of the Red Feather family, starting in 1864 with Jude Star, a survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre. Wandering Stars is a searing portrayal of family and survival, colonization and forced assimilation, abandonment and loss, generational trauma and addiction. On it’s deepest level, it is about legacy, the story of souls searching for an understanding of self, of a culture which has survived despite the many destructive forces that have attempted to eradicate it, of the power of tradition to take one away and into, and provide the spiritual sustenance to come out “better made.”

Who hasn’t asked themselves, Why? Why me? Or how did I get here? following a traumatic event. These questions are at the heart of Wandering Stars. Like a brilliant constellation, each Star a part of a whole, asking where did it all begin? And how do I make myself whole again?


“In the dream he didn’t know when the line would come that would knock him over and end his life. He knew that being knocked over meant that, and that the line was his family line, that something had begun long before he was born that was coming to knock him down, but that this was true of everyone, each family line falling down on top of the living when they die, all that they couldn’t carry, couldn’t resolve, couldn’t figure out, with all their weight.”

If you’re ready to have your heart pierced and shine with hope, read Wandering Stars.


Many thanks to the author Tommy Orange, @Knopf and @NetGalley for the pleasure of reading this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

"It is a sad thing to let go of. That everything leaves. But life has too many seasons to get caught up about one of them. And other seasons return."

In this quasi-sequel but not really a sequel to There There, we primarily follow one family - the Stars/Bear Shields/Red Feathers. The narrative opens immediately following the Sand Creek Massacre in 1864, as the reader learns that young Jude Star suddenly has no family and no home and must figure out how to survive. As the story progresses, we learn about the lives, trials, and tribulations of Star's offspring and his offsprings' offspring and his offsprings' offsprings' offspring (etc.) until we land on Orvil Red Feather, a teen who was shot at a powwow in California in 2018. While Wandering Stars follows a plethora of characters, the same central themes of drug addiction, struggling to survive, and hope for the future.

While I thoroughly enjoyed There There (I rated it 4 stars as well), I'd say Wandering Stars is definitely a step up. Stars follows fewer characters and in more depth, making it easier as the reader to keep track of everyone. The addition of the family tree at the beginning was definitely helpful - I referred back to it a number of times as I read this tale. Orange's writing style and ability to capture the innermost thoughts of his characters is one of the highlights of this book - just as with There There.

While the first half of the book was enjoyable, it didn't grab me like the last half did. Orange doesn't describe the first three or so generations of characters in enough depth to make me really care that much about them. I believe this was a deliberate stylistic choice, as when the novel focuses on Orvil and his immediate family, I was sucked in. It felt like Orange was telling his readers that Orvil was the main focus of the novel, and everything up to the point where he enters the narrative is just back story. While I understand why he chose to write the book in this manner, for me, having half of the book be quite meh doesn't make up for the half that was exceptional.

I am thankful this book was written and I am glad I have read it but I also could not wait to finish it. Wandering Stars addresses the horrific treatment of Native Americans in the United States and the generational impact of trauma and addiction. It is also about family and belonging. It is not an easy read but it is an extremely important one.

I just finished this book from a NetGalley copy. I am in complete awe of this follow up to There, there by Tommy Orange. He has done it again and put out a book that is truly original and tells a story that is much needed. On of family, trauma, guilt, shame, self, others, love, friendship, relationships and life and has done it in 249 pages. Each page is full of spirit, emotion and life. I can’t tell you any other way than to just get these books and read them. I am a huge fan of Tommy Orange and will be for as long as I am alive.

The Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange is an emotional history of the Sand Creek Massacre and the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. I was particularly interested in reading this book because my family has connections to the Carlisle Indian School and I have visited the cemetery and wondered about the children who are buried there. This book brought the anguishing story to life.

I didn't realize that The Wandering Stars is a follow-up to Orange's best-selling There, There when I read it. I think I would have appreciated it even more if I had read the first book, but it also stands on its own as a moving testament to resilience in the face of generational trauma.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wandering Stars made me want to immediately reread There There, which I first read in 2020. I found this to be beautiful and devastating in equal measure. Tommy Orange was somehow able to give a sense of hopefulness while describing one heartbreaking tragedy after another. I appreciated the thoughtful way in which the difficult subjects of addiction, generational trauma, mental health, and structural violence were handled. I feel certain this will remain one of my most liked books of the year.

Wandering Stars shares the gritty light of life's unextinguished glow emanating from the souls of this family of stand alone everyday people.throughout their lives and times. Generational trauma and residual pain from the gutting of their ancestral identity has left a bottomless hole in each of the hearts of Tommy Orange's characters. These are Orange's stories of those lives; living with those holes as they are waiting to be filled. A charmed attraction to his literary mastery and relatable world building will pull you through the hurt of this family's stories of survival. For each he shares a unique ability to cling to each other when they can, and to celebrate each other in the best of times and to hold on with or without each other when the times are hard. A literary song of poetic pain that brings you down with it as it goes deep. I came back with the gift of a new ache of knowing.

There, There is one of my favorite books and I was anxiously awaiting Mr. Orange's next novel...and definitely wasn't disappointed. Wandering Stars is, once again, a beautifully written novel that takes us back to the world of the native Americans. It's both a prequel and a sequel wrapped up in one wonderful novel.
The first third of the book takes us from the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864 to the 1970's and introduces us to a number of new characters and memorable events. The focus then turns to present day and Orvil, recovering from being shot at the powwow at the end of There, There. More interesting characters flesh out Orvil's story: in particular, his brothers, Lony and Loother, and grandmothers Opal and Jacquie.
Beautifully written, eye opening (for me at least) and so difficult to read at times, Wandering Stars takes the reader on a rollar coaster of a ride along 7 generations of a family. It tackles shameful historical events, discrimination, PTSD, drug abuse and addiction, and other struggles in the lives of these individuals struggling to survive as a family. The book covers 7 generations of the Star/Red Feather family and the family tree in the beginning was very helpful.
Thanks to Netgalley and Knopf, Pantheon and Vintage for the opportunity to read Wandering Stars.

What an incredible book. I knew this would be good, and it *was* so good, I enjoyed it so much. I was a fan of Orange's short stories and this was a great addition to his oevre.

I became an immediate fan of Tommy Orange when I read There There around the time it came out. This brilliant sequel takes the reader on quite the journey to catch up to the climactic ending of There There. A story that has always been about the Cheyenne people beginning with Sand Creek in a past that will never cease to amaze me seems not distant enough.

This story begins with the end of the Native people's lives as they new them. The beginning of Americanizing them into something that even generations later doesn't feel right. This author is such a force through their words, giving me, the reader, a very clear picture and sentiments that no matter how eloquently shared I know can only touch on these feelings. About halfway into the book, it goes back into the present and faces the aftermath of the horrifying event that ends There There.

This book is nothing if not brutal in its honesty and also done with the utmost care, making this an unforgettable experience.

Out February 27, 2024!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf Publishing for a digital ARC of this book.

This is the second book I've read by Tommy Orange and I found it quite captivating.

Wandering Stars is a generational story that focuses on two main characters that are living in the present day.
Both of these characters experience an event that was traumatic, physically painful and required medical care. They were both prescribed pain medication which they began to rely on to function. The narrative skillfully portrays their descent into addiction and the complex ways individuals grapple with its grip while rationalizing continued medication use beyond prescription.
It offers a poignant insight into the consuming nature of addiction, often blinding individuals to anything beyond their immediate needs.

Tommy Orange's handling of such a crucial topic is commendable, showcasing his mastery in addressing sensitive issues. I found myself captivated by his writing once again, as he sheds light on the profound struggles of addiction. I hope this book reaches a wide audience, fostering greater understanding of addiction's pervasive grip and the formidable journey to recovery.

Saw the author speak at an online event and wanted to read the book. Just can't get into it, unfortunately, and for me, it's a DNF. Thanks for the opportunity to read.

History must be told! I enjoyed the newest novel by Tommy Orange. I was curious to see how he would move forward from There There. I was drawn into the story quickly and thought the many generations telling their stories kept me engaged. I loved the characters throughout the story and felt vested in what happened to them. The Sand Creek Massacre was an important focal point of the story and I previously knew nothing about this event. I found myself wanting to know more and I certainly googled plenty to find out more. Some of the story may be unpleasant to read but history is often unpleasant. I thought the story felt honest and honored the message in the book.

This emotional tale is a very worthwhile read and may stay with you after the book is finished. Thank you Netgalley and Tommy Orange for the oppurtunity to read and review this book.

In this second novel, following up on the astonishing award-winning There There, Tommy Orange continues to testify about the Indigenous experience in North America, tracing the family trauma of some familiar characters –– Orville RedFeather and Opal Viola Victorian Bear Shield——through generations. This is not an entertainment. This is not a novel to pick up and breeze through. Instead, it's a brutal, brutalizing, beautiful chunk of writing that deserves every accolade it's sure to garner. It's a novel to work though and savor and allow to percolate.


Thank you NetGalley and Knopf for the eARC in exchange for my unfettered opinion.

An incredible story about the impact of generational trauma and how folks try to cope with and come back from it.

The first part of the story goes back 5 generations from the Red Feather family we met in "There, There" and thoughtfully addresses the history of massacres, Christian missionaries, and Indian boarding schools and their impact on the individuals and the community. We then come to the timeline of "There, There" where Opal is trying to keep her family in tact after the shooting at the PowWow and the fallout they all experience from that. They each are coping in their own way at times seeking each other and yet pushing each other away.

I loved how the star theme was pervasive in obvious and subtle ways throughout the story. While readable as a standalone, it was helpful having already read "There, There" to have background knowledge of the characters and connect with their ancestors in the first part of the book.

Thank you netgalley.com for providing me an advance ebook copy!

WANDERING STARS is a poignant exploration of the Native American experience. It’s both prequel and sequel to Orange’s earlier novel, THERE THERE. The prose is poignant and illuminates the impact of colonization and its individual and generational consequences. The narrative reads more like a collection of short stories, which is a positive for me, though some readers may prefer a more focused storyline. Reading Orange’s writing is a singular experience, and this novel is a worthy addition to the canon of literature by Native authors.*


* I recommend reading THERE THERE first for character context. Content note for substance abuse and generational trauma.

I have mixed feelings about this book. The book is well written but the events of much of the book are very heavy and depressing. I am a fast reader but this book took me a long time to read. I would take breaks and then come back to it.
The story follows a Native American family consisting of three brothers . Grandmother Jacqui and grandson Orvil are dealing with addiction.
I did enjoy the last few chapters of the book. The sense of hope lifted my spirits. If the synopsis sounds interesting, give it a try. Just realize that it is a heavy storyline.

This book is a prequel to Tommy Orange's award winning book There, There. Like his previous book it is heartbreaking, beautifully written and one that will be remembered long after reading the final page. The family first portrayed in There, There story continues in Wandering Stars. It discusses the impact of the Sand Creek Massacre and the Carlisle Industrial School for Indians. Both incidents affected past generations of the family as well as the current generation. It is an important part of history not usually highlighted. Mr. Orange has done us all a great service by turning a spotlight on these sad historical incidents.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read prior to publication.