Wandering Stars – Tommy Orange

Expectation: A study in modern Indigenous life in California told through interwoven stories.

Reality: A powerful but uneven exploration of Native American identity that falters a bit as both a sequel/prequel to “There There” but shines with a stellar audiobook narration.

My Take:

Literary sequels are tricky and prequels can be even more difficult, so I need to give Tommy Orange credit for trying to do both with “Wandering Stars.” 

He mostly succeeded at each, delivering a powerful exploration of the Native American experience that weaves together history, intergenerational trauma and the fight for identity that is unflinching, but rarely heavy-handed and often funny.

Fans of “There There” will appreciate the story continuation, and additional insight into previous generations of the Star/Bear Shield/Red Feather family, but it’s worth noting that a re-read of that novel should be attempted prior to tackling “Stars.” 

With a six year reading gap between the two novels, once the focus shifted to the immediate aftermath of the Big Oakland Powwow, I had to regularly skim “There There” for a refresher. An inherent understanding and remembrance of the first novel is asking a lot of people — especially when this isn’t categorized as part of a series.

Therefore, I wish Orange would’ve doubled-down on either the prequel or sequel approach rather than trying to cram them both into one book, because ultimately “Stars” felt disjointed and a little haphazard.  

You can essentially split this into two. The first 40 percent is the prequel, and the remainder is the sequel. Following a similar structure to “There There” it starts with a brief synopsis of early Indigenous and U.S. military conflicts, leading up to the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864, where we meet Jude Star, who is an Opal Viola Victoria Bear Shield ancestor. 

Orange writes a captivating backstory for Jude, exploring the “kill the Indian, save the man” ideology of Richard Henry Pratt (also a minor character), which manifested into numerous assimilation tactics, and led to an identity crisis for his offspring that lasted decades. Honestly, these chapters were an easy five-star read. It’s streamlined storytelling that is raw and heartbreaking. 

While the sequel section started promisingly — we learn how Orville Red Feather is recovering after being shot — it slowly becomes overburdened by too many competing narratives and characters that weren’t weaved together effectively. 

I was only really captivated by Orville and Opal Viola Victoria’s stories, largely because they were given the most development and page time. Everything else — especially Sean Price’s chapters — felt like a loosely connected interlude. Near the end, my interest waned, but I did appreciate that he left us feeling hopeful with a nice coda about healing and recovery.

Despite the unevenness, “Stars” showcased why Orange has emerged as one of the most interesting voices in contemporary fiction today. His exploration of racial perceptions, psychological safety and spirituality feel significant and unique. It’s for these reasons that “Stars” will likely make its way on my honorable mentions list at the end of the year. 

What’s definitely going to make my “best of” ranking is the audiobook. Fantastically narrated by a full cast with each person fully inhabiting their character(s). Shaun Taylor-Corbett (Orville) and Alma Cuervo (Opal Viola Victoria Bear Shield and Jacquie Red Feather) reprise their roles from “There There” and are probably the standouts among a well-rounded troupe.

MacLeod Andrews (Richard Henry Pratt), Curtis Michael Holland (Sean Price), Calvin Joyal (Lony), Phil Ava (Loother), Emmanuel Chumaceiro (Charles Star), Christian Young (narrator and Jude Star) and Charley Flyte (Opal and Victoria) all gave arresting performances. The men are sturdy. The women are sharp. I was captivated. If you find yourself struggling with the text, definitely give it a listen. 

Rating (story): 3.5/5 stars

Rating (narration): 5/5 stars

Format: Audiobook (library loan)

Dates read: March 4 – March 8, 2024

Multi-tasking: Okay. The beauty in Orange’s writing is how he brings each character to life with subtle details. If you aren’t paying close attention, you’ll miss those nuances.