Recommended Reading Path: Where to Start
For readers new to Andrés N. Ordorica’s emotional and lyrical world, your starting point will depend on whether you prefer fiction or poetry. Because Ordorica’s works are not part of an ongoing narrative series, you have the flexibility to explore his catalog in a few different ways. Here is our recommended reading path:
The Novel Route (Recommended)
If you prefer narrative fiction, start with his debut novel, How We Named the Stars (2024). It serves as the perfect showcase of Ordorica's prose style—vibrant, raw, and deeply felt. Following this, you can anticipate his second novel, What the Light Would Say, scheduled for release in May 2027.
The Poetry Route
If you appreciate verse and want to see how Ordorica established his literary voice, begin with his debut poetry collection, At Least This I Know (2022). Once you have experienced his initial collection, move on to his second book of poetry, Holy Boys (2025), which deepens his exploration of manhood and identity.
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
Ordorica’s fiction focuses on deeply personal experiences, character-driven narratives, and the intersection of queer romance, heritage, and transient lives. The novels should be read in order of release to appreciate his growing maturity as a storyteller.
- How We Named the Stars (2024) – Published by Tin House in the US and Saraband in the UK. This debut novel follows Daniel de La Luna, a first-generation Mexican-American college student, who undergoes a life-changing summer romance with his roommate Sam, followed by devastating grief and a journey to México to uncover his grandfather's past.
- What the Light Would Say (Expected May 2027) – Published by Saraband. Set during the final days of the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, this upcoming novel follows Julían Ortiz as he returns to a military base in Okinawa, Japan, to help his parents pack up. There, he meets Sergeant Williams, a widower, sparking a tender, risky friendship that challenges Julían’s traditional upbringing.
Publication Order of Poetry Collections
Ordorica’s poetry is highly biographical and serves as a companion to the themes found in his fiction. Reading them chronologically offers a beautiful window into his self-discovery.
- At Least This I Know (2022) – Published by 404 Ink. A debut collection charting the poet's journey from childhood through to adulthood, reflecting on ancestry, activism, country, and finding one's place in the world.
- Holy Boys (2025) – Published by Polygon. A collection that excavates masculinity, faith, and desire, tracing the transition from boyhood to manhood under the weight of traditional expectations.
Contributions to Anthologies
Beyond his individual collections and novels, Ordorica has contributed to collaborative projects that support social causes.
- All The Way Home (2022) – Published by Taproot Press. Ordorica contributed to this anthology, which was created in partnership with the charity Rock Trust to raise awareness and support for youth homelessness in Scotland.
What to Know Before You Start
To fully appreciate Ordorica’s writing, it helps to understand the biographical influences that shape his bibliography. Born in the United States to a Mexican-American family with a military background, Ordorica spent his childhood moving frequently, living in places like Turkey, Japan, and various parts of the US, before eventually settling in Edinburgh, Scotland.
This transient lifestyle is the foundation of his recurring theme: "ni de aquí, ni de allá" (neither from here, nor from there). His characters and poetic narrator often struggle with the feeling of being caught between worlds, languages, and cultures. Furthermore, Ordorica’s writing is linguistically diverse; he frequently weaves English, Spanish, and even Scots together, capturing the complex linguistic reality of his diaspora experience.
Chronological vs. Publication Order: Does It Matter?
Since all of Ordorica's works are standalones, chronological order in terms of plot continuity is not a concern. However, reading his books in publication order is highly recommended. By starting with At Least This I Know (2022) and progressing through How We Named the Stars (2024) to Holy Boys (2025), you can track his thematic evolution from poetry to long-form fiction, and back to verse, observing how his voice refines over time.