Andrés N. Ordorica

Set between the United States and México, Andrés N. Ordorica's debut novel is a tender and lyrical exploration of belonging, grief, and first love--a love story for those so often written off the page. When Daniel de La Luna arrives as a scholarship student at an elite East Coast university, he bears the weight of his family's hopes and dreams, and the burden of sharing his late uncle's name. Daniel flounders at first--but then Sam, his roommate, changes everything. As their relationship evolves from brotherly banter to something more intimate, Daniel soon finds himself in love with a man who helps him see himself in a new light. But just as their relationship takes flight, Daniel is pulled away, first by Sam's hesitation and then by a brutal turn of events that changes Daniel's life forever. As he grapples with profound loss, Daniel finds himself in his family's ancestral homeland in México for the summer, finding joy in this setting even as he struggles to come to terms with what's happened and faces a host of new questions: How does the person he is connect with this place his family comes from? How is his own story connected to his late uncle's? And how might he reconcile the many parts of himself as he learns to move forward? Equal parts tender and triumphant, Andrés N. Ordorica's How We Named the Stars is a debut novel of love, heartache, redemption, and learning to honor the dead; a story of finding the strength to figure out who you are--and who you could be--if only the world would let you.

How We Named the Stars

Lindsay

“You know, my whole life I thought if I could just get out of my small town, I could be happy. Like if I aimed for something as big as the University of Cayuga, then maybe, just maybe, I could show my parents that all their hard work was for something. I spent all of high school working toward this idea, an idea I thrust on myself.” I paused. “But what if that isn’t true?”

“What if aiming for such high places won’t end up making me happy? What if none of it matters at the end of the day?”

I have this idea that if I could just get away from here, I might be free. In another city, I imagine there is a version of myself who is a lily floating along a stream, unrooted but blossoming. Birds will come to me and sup on my nectar, they will take what they need and I will gladly give it to them. I will be free. I will float with aimless purpose. I will be happy. I will find him, this other version of myself, and I will learn to be whole.

But it was also true that I was afraid of ruining our friendship by wanting too much— and, trust me, I wanted so much more.

But I know I need this year to bring change. I’m tired of having only written words to speak my truth. I need to live loudly.

Your lips were a freedom, a home for me, a vortex into infinite time, a place just for us.

“If happiness were a destination, I’d need a map.”

It was like a competition between them, spouting off the most loved ones in need of God’s divine intercession.

Summer was looking hopeful, and I wanted as much of that hopefulness as I could get my hands on. I was ready to open myself to all the good things that might come from being a braver version of myself.

“Do you ever think happiness might be a place that will elude you for the rest of your life?”

Is there anything more intimate than watching someone when they don’t realize they’re being watched?

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