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shay43geek's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Colonisation, Addiction, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent
readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gun violence, Blood, Murder, Racism, Death, Addiction, Drug use, Genocide, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Mental illness, Grief, Child abuse, Colonisation, Hate crime, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Toxic friendship, Medical content, Animal death, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Ableism, Cancer, War, and Alcohol
Minor: Slavery, Domestic abuse, Confinement, Animal cruelty, Cultural appropriation, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Antisemitism, Car accident, Pandemic/Epidemic, Ableism, Sexual assault, Bullying, Transphobia, Vomit, Body shaming, Rape, Racial slurs, Child death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Dementia, Misogyny, Excrement, and Abandonment
emelynreads's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.0
I'm not sure what the purpose of having one nonbinary character was when it's only brought up twice and not for development. This was a turn off.
Graphic: Drug use, Blood, Addiction, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Self harm
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Animal death
dingokitty14's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Addiction
Moderate: Genocide
deedireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Damn, Tommy Orange just plain knows how to write sentences.
Wandering Stars isn’t as propulsive as There, There was, but don’t worry; it twists the knife. It begins with a look through the eyes of several generations of Orvil Redfeather’s ancestors, from the Sand Creek Massacre to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School and up through present day. Then we join back up with Orvil and his family in the aftermath of the events of There, There.
I’ve seen people say they didn’t feel like this book pulled together as well as they’d hoped, but I don’t agree. I thought the two sections worked great in concert, and I think the way they highlighted the generational trauma forced upon Native Americans was really effective.
I recommend reading There, There first because it’s truly excellent and the characters here are dealing with its aftermath, so the emotional impact will be greater if you’ve read it. But it’s not 100% necessary. In fact, I read it a long time ago and remembered very few concrete details, but I still loved this one.
Also! The full-cast audiobook was fantastic. I started the first few chapters on audio only (successfully) and loved listening along as I read once I settled in with my print copy.
What’s next, Tommy? I’ll be there.
Graphic: Drug abuse and Addiction
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual assault and Mass/school shootings
taylornredmond's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Suicide, and Drug abuse
lena_mercedez's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Moderate: Addiction
womanwill's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
4.75
I most loved being back with the characters, particularly Opal Bearshield as she fiercely loves her family and 3 grandkids: Orvil, Lony, and Loother Redfeather. As well as their true grandma and Opal's sister, Jacque Redfeather as she worked through alcoholism. This book, also, at parts spans centuries in their family line of Cheyenne ancestors: a family that survives the Sand Creek Massacre, boarding schools, alcoholism and addiction.
This is not a light read but it is well worth its emotional depth and a must read for anyone who wants to read about the harsh survival of "Native Americans".
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC.
Graphic: Addiction, Colonisation, Suicide attempt, Drug use, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Self harm
Moderate: Alcoholism, War, Cancer, and Gun violence
Minor: Racial slurs and Mass/school shootings
morethanmylupus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Like in There There, this book's topics largely stem from the overarching generational trauma theme. But I found that in this book, there are fewer punches pulled. We see the massacres, the horrific schools like the Carlisle School, and later impacts like high levels of drug use and mental health needs. Yet despite all these heartbreaking elements, the writing is beautiful and moving. There's a sense of bearing witness to the traumas inflicted even as there is a sense of triumph and resilience that is completely independent of us as readers.
As we continue to bear witness to the ongoing, long-reaching impact of colonialism both within the US and abroad, these stories are increasingly essential reminders of the way colonialist ideology has a very real impact on real people.
Graphic: Racism, Alcoholism, Violence, Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Suicide, Cancer, and Mass/school shootings
Minor: Child death
tamtasticbooks's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
I loved this choice, showing the history and trauma built up and passed down over generations, and then how similar the current situations were. Addiction was a prominent theme, and death and everyone's constant proximity to it. Tommy Orange writes so well, it makes me heart hurt for these characters as if they were real people I know.
I probably would call this a follow-up rather than a sequel to There, There, and maybe that's because for some reason, even though I had long ago read the synopsis for this story, I forgot that it was going to end up dealing with characters from There, There. So when I got to the Part 2 of the book, I was BLOWN AWAY by the connection. That's on me and my poor memory, but I wouldn't have changed that experience.
Excellent story, interesting set-up, and beautifully written. Loved.
Thanks to Netgalley and Knopf for the e-ARC!
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Minor: Gun violence