There There Summary
Tommy Orange

There There Overview

There There, a novel by Tommy Orange, follows a Native American community in Oakland. The community members' lives become increasingly intertwined as the day of the Big Oakland Powwow approaches, with all its promise of belonging—and of tragedy. An essay-style prologue and interlude provide trenchant cultural criticism and historical perspective on the embattled community. There There provides a rich and nuanced portrait by exploring various themes, including identity, heritage, systemic oppression, mental health, modernity, history, and storytelling.