Published by Knopf Publishing Group Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
Format: ARC, eBook
Wandering Stars is not a BIG book in terms of pages (336) but HUGE in what it contains. I have not read There There and plan on making time to do so after reading this powerful book. Tommy Orange’s writing is quite beautiful while detailing and describing horrible injustices against Native Americans.
Colorado, 1864
Star has survived the Sand Creek Massacre and is taken to the Fort Marion Prison Castle, where they are hellbent on removing his identity and culture through violence and barbaric treatment. He is made to learn English and convert to Christianity. Years later Star’s son, Charles, will be sent to the same place and will be brutalized by the man who once brutalized his father. There he will meet Opal.
Oakland, 2018
Opal is coping with all that has happened and all that is currently happening in her life and to those she loves by experimenting with drugs.
This book touches on several horrific things that occurred to Native Americans. The things discussed are on a drop in the bucket of injustices, harms, abuses, eradication, and violence that has been committed against Native Americans. I appreciate the author for giving voice to them. I am a firm believer that we should never shy away from things that make us uncomfortable. It is how we learn, how we grow, how we are educated, how we learn empathy, and how we gain insight. The atrocities against Native Americans have included cultural devastation, assimilation, violence, loss of land, abuse, forced relocation, discrimination, removal of children, and death to name a few.
The Sand Creek Massacre, Fort Marion Prison Castle, and drug/alcohol abuses are mentioned in this book. There is not only physical trauma, emotional trauma, but family trauma and cultural trauma detailed as well. These are shown through the POV’s of several characters.
This family saga was well written, gripping, and hard to read at times. It has me wanting to read the author’s previous book. I found myself thinking about this book after I finished the last page.
Thank you to Knopf and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.