A review by libraryalissa
Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange

dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

5.0

This is an intergenerational family saga following a Cheyenne family central to Orange's debut, There There. The book begins over a century ago, working up to the events in There There, then continuing to follow them on into the present. Though this book is being marketed as a standalone, I felt a reread of the original greatly enhanced my experience and propelled me through Wandering Stars. The book is an exploration of native identity, addiction, family, violence, belief, colonialism, and more. It is a story deeply rooted in Oakland and American history. Orange masterfully weaves together themes and characters in a truthful and breathtaking way. Despite the heavy topics, I flew through this book and it did not slow once for me. A large part of this has to do with the honesty and openness of the characters, who you come to really care for over the course of their journeys, as well as with Orange's writing style, which is the perfect balance of thoughtful and straightforward, and filled with gems. After two novels, I feel I can safely say I love Orange's writing and will be returning for whatever he comes up with next.