Reviews - Wandering Stars | The StoryGraph

3.44k reviews for:

Wandering Stars

Tommy Orange

4.02 AVERAGE

mauracait's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I was halfway through this book when I realized it was a continuation of the story of the family introduced in There, There. If I had read that first, I probably would have understood better and wouldn’t have been so confused by what was happening when I got the present day chapters. I had some mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I found it confusing and hard to follow because of all the time jumps and switches between the points of views of different characters. At the same time, I appreciated the context that Orange added to the story by including the perspectives of the generations who came before. I had more compassion for characters struggling with addiction and depression because I understood that they were affected by the generational trauma of violence, displacement, and parental loss. While the writing was beautiful, the book was slow-paced and a heavy read.

bookswithstacey's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

gmarquardt's review against another edition

4.75

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

kevineagan's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

carrie's review against another edition

3.5

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

nastystig's review against another edition

5.0

I hadn’t read There There yet, so I didn’t realize this was a kind of prequel/sequel—but it absolutely stands on its own. Wandering Stars is a powerful, beautifully written exploration of personal and generational trauma, and what it means to exist in the wake of a culture that a government has tried to systematically erase.

Orange’s writing is rich with intention. While I wished a few plot threads were followed through more fully—especially to circle back to the novel’s beginning—I also understood that choice as part of the book’s larger themes: loss, disconnection, and the long shadow of forced assimilation.

What really stood out to me was how grounded and thoroughly researched everything felt. There’s nothing sensationalized here—just truth, grief, and resilience. The novel also does an incredible job connecting these themes to issues that continue to devastate communities today, particularly the opioid crisis and gun violence.

slknight13's review against another edition

3.0

I love Orange and will read any books he writes. He is lovely and very personable. I am just not sure that I was in a good place mentally to read such a depressing book of such generational trauma. (Note: The last couple of chapters were inspirational and uplifting but it was a slow arduous climb to get there.) There, There is definitely my favorite of the two novels (although my signed copy has disappeared from my classroom library).