Reviews with content warning for Racism - Wandering Stars

Beautiful sequel to There There. The author fixes a lot of issues I had with the last book, I appreciated the genealogy page.
Just as heartbreaking as the first book. We start at the beginning great grandfather and we go through multiple generations. You see the cycle of trauma and substance abuse that each of them faces. I will say this ends more hopeful than There, There

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ashvaberle16's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

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liamliayaum's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

There are multiple POVs and the novel is split between the Sand Creek Massacre and present day. A meandering story of violence, of erasure, of trauma (both original and inherited), and addiction.

I don't quite grasp what I have read. Be warned that this book does tackle some heavy topics so check out content warnings! It was also a slow read for me, which I think was do to the long, verbose, and wandering sentences.

If you are a fan of more plot, this book may not be for you, as it's more character driven with a tangential plot.

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lvleggett's review

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Wandering Stars picks up where There, There left off - in terms of characters and themes. But you can enjoy as a standalone book.

First, Orange takes us back a few generations to when things initially shifted for the family. A massacre of a Shawnee village sends Jude Star on the run. He and the generations that follow are wandering through the world, separated from who they once were and unsure how or if they can get back to it.

As with There, There, the narrative takes on the POVs of the different characters. Wandering Stars is a more reflective book. Plenty of plot, centered on the newest generation of Stars in modern-day America, but with a strong internal dialogue that brings us deep into the experiences of these characters. This book explores how you figure out who you are in a world that has sought to eradicate your family, history and culture across hundreds of years. Yet you exist. We meet characters across the generations who are striving to hold onto what's been lost, to reclaim & rediscover, and to define the future for themselves.

Orange writes young men especially with such precision and care. I can see many generations of readers connecting with their struggles and joys.

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faduma's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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ecn's review against another edition

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4.5

So so good, excellent mesh of prequel and sequel, and an absolute KNOCK out ending

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