81 pages • 2 hours read
Tommy OrangeThere There
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2018A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In the 2018 novel by Arapahoe and Cheyenne author Tommy Orange, There There, 12 characters collectively recount the events leading up to a shooting at the Big Oakland Powwow. Throughout the novel, each character reflects on their relationship with Indigenous identity and connection to Oakland, California. Underneath the larger story about the powwow is a narrative thread that binds several of the characters together through family lineage.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Tommy Orange’s There There masterfully weaves together multiple Native American voices, offering a poignant, gritty portrayal of urban Indigenous life. Praised for its compelling narrative style and rich character development, it occasionally feels disjointed due to its many perspectives. Overall, a powerful and eye-opening debut.
Who Should Read There There?
Readers who would enjoy There There by Tommy Orange are often fans of modern, multi-narrative fiction that addresses complex cultural issues. Comparable works include Louise Erdrich’s Love Medicine and Sherman Alexie's The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. Such readers appreciate stories exploring indigenous identities and contemporary struggles.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsBook Details
Historical Fiction
Modern Classic Fiction
Race / Racism