A review by imtashamonet
How We Named the Stars by Andrés N. Ordorica

dark emotional hopeful 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

4.0

Disclaimer: I received a free advance review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. (Releases January 30, 2024)


How We Named the Stars by Andrés N. Ordorica is a beautifully written story of love and grief intermingling in the memories of Daniel, a young Mexican American man, who has experienced both love, grief, and growth in the short span of his first year of college and the summer that follows. 


There are many things I can say about this book and how it lyrically captures the newness and uncertainty of first love, loss, grief, and heartbreak, but I think what I appreciated most about this book was the tenderness in which these subjects were handled. I cannot say that I did not cry because I most definitely did. However, I was not absolutely gutted by the trauma while still feeling every part of it and I believe Ordorica has a beautiful way of turning life's pains into poetry. I also appreciated how though I am not like the main character, Daniel, I saw myself in him. Perhaps this is because Daniel read as more than just a character in a book I was reading. He felt real as if I knew him and as if at some point in my life (maybe even now) I am dealing with things quite like him, learning to deal with and move forward from/with grief.


Structurally, the way the chapter (section?) titles mirrored where Daniel was in the world was excellently executed. When he was at his elite university in Ithaca the titles were in English and when he was in Mexico for the summer, they were in Spanish. They also served to help ground me in the passage of time as well as how Daniel viewed time as his experiences changed. Additionally, the usage of Spanish within the text was done without alienating non-Spanish speakers. While I do speak Spanish, I was pleased to see that everywhere it was used within the novel also included context clues or translations to help non-Spanish speakers get the message. 


As much as I loved this book, there were small things that I wish were handled differently. For instance, early in the book there are clear moments or racism and homophobia being displayed as Daniel is living his life in Ithaca, but after those moments pass they just seem to fade away and we're living in the bubble of first love and heartbreak. The characters do continue to live their lives at school, but there aren't many more mentions of how those things impact them. Granted, this book is not completely about that and the focus is on Daniel's story. I do just feel it was brought up so blatantly and then swept into the background not to be seen explicitly again.


Still, this was an emotional read for me and I am happy I read it. 

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