There There: A Novel

"Tommy Orange begins his debut novel There There with an essay. He takes the iconic image of the Indian head, well-known from coins and late-night TV, and transforms it into a searing symbol of the mistreatment of Native Americans. It’s a devastating and brilliant piece of writing. What follows is an equally compelling work of fiction. Orange has created a large cast of characters, all connected in some way to the Native community of Oakland, Calif., and each heading inexorably toward a powwow where the climax of the story takes place. They represent different aspects of the Native American community, but as their connections to one another and to their traditions become clear, each emerges as a fully realized human you will come to care about deeply."