There There by Tommy Orange was the 34th selection for One Book, One Chicago.
From September to December, Chicagoans read There There with other readers across the City. A Pulitzer Prize Finalist, the book has received many accolades including being named a Pen/Hemingway Award Winner, Center for Fiction First Novel Prize Winner, National Book Critics Circle Award Winner, and New York Times Best Book of the Year. There There follows twelve characters from Native communities: all traveling to the Big Oakland Powwow, all connected to one another in ways they may not yet realize. They converge and collide on one fateful day at the Big Oakland Powwow and together this chorus of voices tells of the plight of the urban Native American - grappling with a complex and painful history, with an inheritance of beauty and spirituality, with communion and sacrifice and heroism.
As always, the book is just the beginning! From September through December, One Book, One Chicago explored themes and ideas from the book with programming across Chicago. Community members had the opportunity to not only read this year’s One Book, One Chicago selection, but also browse related recommendations and attend events like book discussions, neighborhood tours, workshops, lectures, and film screenings.
Highlights included:
- Keynote program: There There author Tommy Orange appeared on November 15, 2023 at 6 p.m.
- Book clubs and discussion groups citywide.
- History presentations, storytelling, dance and food demonstrations reflecting Native American voices.
- Neighborhood walking tours exploring the impact of Native Americans on Chicago.
- Community Cinema film screenings of films uplifting Native voices and stories.
This page last updated May 8, 2024.
