Published in 2024 by Alfred A. Knopf, Wandering Stars is a novel written by Tommy Orange. The author is a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. Wandering Stars follows his debut novel There There (2018), which garnered widespread acclaim upon its release. This second novel continues to examine the themes of identity and trauma within the Native American community.
The novel begins with the historical backdrop of the Sand Creek Massacre and the establishment of the industrial school in Carlisle. It follows the story of Jude Star who survives the massacre and faces subsequent hardships, including imprisonment and addiction. The narrative spans multiple generations while tracing the lives of Jude's descendants as they navigate the contemporary challenges. Central to the story are the Red Feather-Bear Shield family members grappling with their identities, traumas, and connections to their past. The novel intertwines their struggles with the impact of historical atrocities on modern Native American lives.
The novel delves into addiction, family dynamics, and cultural reclamation to construct an expansive look at the characters and their interconnected stories. The New York Times reviewed, “Orange’s ability to highlight the contradictory forces that coexist within friendships, familial relationships and the characters themselves, who contend with holding private and public identities, makes Wandering Stars a towering achievement.” His reputation as a vital voice in contemporary literature offers a necessary perspective on Native American life and history.
