The story begins with Star – a young survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre – forced into assimilation under the harsh authority of Richard Henry Pratt at Fort Marion. Through Star and his son Charles, sent decades later to the infamous Carlisle Indian Industrial School, Orange weaves a harrowing tale of the systematic erasure of Native history and culture. Yet within this darkness, moments of connection and defiance – such as Charles’s bond with fellow student Opal Viola – offer glimmers of hope and resistance.
Orange’s prose is both poetic and piercing, painting vivid landscapes of physical and emotional devastation while celebrating the resilience and humanity of his characters. His portrayal of intergenerational trauma is deeply empathetic, capturing how pain is passed down through bloodlines but also how healing can begin. The novel is grounded in the specific historical atrocities faced by Native Americans, yet it resonates universally as a testament to the enduring struggle for identity and justice.
What makes Wandering Stars exceptional is Orange’s ability to balance tragedy with beauty. His characters are rendered with such care and complexity that their joys, sorrows, and dreams feel achingly real. The novel delves into the weight of history while asserting the importance of remembering and reclaiming it, even when it is unbearably painful.
With Wandering Stars, Tommy Orange cements his place as one of the most essential voices of our time, delivering an unforgettable portrait of survival and community.
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