A review by plethora
There There by Tommy Orange

emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

There There is a merciless window into the modern Indigenous experience, in all its complexity, its hope, and its underlying chronic pain. 

Through its cast of intergenerational characters, Tommy Orange masterfully brings the reader up to speed on North America’s shared history with First Nations. The raw nature of each character’s journey brings the reader on multiple compelling journeys of a yearning for truth, for connection, and for a future forged by and for the Indigenous community. 

With an ending that will make you feel
cheated and searching for answers,
Orange pulls no punches in sharing what I can only imagine is the reality for many Indigenous people today. There There brings you on a walk alongside its characters, while sharing the beauty that lies within their resiliency through circumstances none of them deserved. 

You’re going to want to sit with this read. 

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