by Tommy Orange
In honor of National Native American Heritage Month, I wanted to recommend Tommy Orange’s There There.
A member of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Tribes, Tommy was born in Oakland, where he set his 2018 book about the urban Native American experience.
Because I know Oakland, I loved seeing his characters living here and there around the city. At first his characters appear to be swallowed by the surrounding environment and dominant culture that lead to deep personal problems. But as one event leads to the next, and they draw closer together, the truth emerges: they’ve only gone underground until a final cataclysmic event causes their strength and resilience to emerge.
A great read!
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For updates about Martha’s forthcoming memoir, Bliss Road (June 2023), historical novel, The Falcon, the Wolf and the Hummingbird (October 2023), or other books, news and giveaways, subscribe to MarthaEngber.com.