Wandering Stars

by

As a movie buff with a soft spot for tales that resonate deeply, I can confidently say that Tommy Orange’s “Wandering Stars” is a literary masterpiece waiting to be adapted into a cinematic journey. Having spent years immersed in the world of film, I’ve seen my fair share of stories, but none quite like this one.

Tommy Orange’s novel, titled “Wandering Stars,” continues the narrative from his 2019 Pulitzer Prize finalist, “There There.” Following a tragic shooting in 2018, young Orvil Red Feather grapples with comprehending the violence he has experienced. To provide context for Orvil’s challenges, Orange delves into the past, recounting the story of Jude Star, Orvil’s great-great-great-grandfather from 1864. As a teenager, Jude narrowly survived the Sand Creek Massacre, where it is estimated that over 150 Cheyenne and Arapaho people were killed by the U.S. Army in Colorado. After this horrific event, Jude was sent to the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, an institution aimed at eliminating Native history and culture. This traumatic experience had lasting effects on Jude and his descendants, as they struggled to grasp their Native American identity. Through the exploration of the generational trauma experienced by the fictional Bear Shield-Red Feather family, Orange, a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, sheds light on how addiction, displacement, and persecution have impacted an entire community.

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2024-11-13 17:06