Take a photo of a barcode or cover
nastystig 's review for:
Wandering Stars
by Tommy Orange
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.
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.