Wandering Stars was a highly anticipated read for me this year, but I think it was ultimately a case of “it’s me, not you” with it not working for me. Tommy Orange is a talented writer and Wandering Stars touched on several important topics - history of the treatment of Indians in America, boarding schools, massacres, and addiction.

There were perhaps too many things being covered over a span of time, and I would have enjoyed the book more if it dove deeper into any one or two things. Addiction is the central theme of the second half of the book, and I thought that part was very well done.