Our Next Read + Book Guide
There There - June Read
Book Coven is a free virtual book club dedicated to empowering members through literature as a tool for both personal and collective liberation. learn more
Book Coven! We are ready for our next read- There There by Tommy Orange.
I also encourage you to check your local bookstores and visit your library—many libraries offer physical, digital, and audiobook copies. Additionally, check Libby, a free app that allows you to borrow e-books and audiobooks through your local library. Supporting independent bookstores and public libraries strengthens our communities and keeps knowledge accessible to all.
Register
Our Book Coven meeting will be on Monday, June 30th, at 6 PM Eastern Time. This will be our review and discussion session for There There.
Important: At the end of this guide, you’ll find calls to action in support of Native Americans. It only takes a moment of your time, so be sure to check it out!
Register HERE.
If you need any support please reach me at support@iamjulietdiaz.com
Why There There Is Important and Timely
There There is more than a novel, it’s a necessary disruption of the invisibility that has long shrouded Native lives in the American consciousness. Tommy Orange offers a narrative that reclaims space, voice, and complexity for urban Indigenous people, whose stories are too often erased or stereotyped.
This book is important because it:
• Centers contemporary Native experiences in urban spaces, challenging the myth that Indigenous peoples exist only in the past or only on reservations.
• Exposes generational trauma and the layered effects of colonization, systemic violence, and cultural disconnection—while also highlighting resilience, survival, and reclamation.
• Confronts mainstream narratives by presenting Indigenous characters who are messy, nuanced, real—both ordinary and extraordinary.
• Creates connection through storytelling, showing how identity, community, and ancestry can persist and evolve, even in fragmented or disconnected lives.
It’s timely because we are living in a moment that demands truth-telling. As the world reckons with colonial histories, racial injustice, and stolen land, There There invites us to listen more deeply, question more honestly, and hold space for grief, complexity, and transformation.
Reading Guide for There There - A Novel
By Tommy Orange
About the Author
Tommy Orange was born and raised in Oakland, California. He holds an MFA from the Institute of American Indian Arts and is a faculty member there. There There has received numerous accolades, including being a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and winning the American Book Award. Orange’s work is celebrated for bringing visibility to contemporary Native experiences in urban settings.
About the Book
There There is a groundbreaking debut novel by Tommy Orange, an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. The narrative follows twelve Native characters living in Oakland, California, each grappling with personal and collective histories as they converge at the Big Oakland Powwow. Through interwoven stories, the novel explores themes of identity, displacement, addiction, and the complexities of urban Indigenous life.
Suggested Reading Schedule
To stay on track for our June 30 meeting, here’s a weekly reading plan:
• Week 1 (June 1–7): Prologue and Part I (pages 1–58)
• Week 2 (June 8–14): Part II (pages 59–142)
• Week 3 (June 15–21): Part III (pages 143–202) (audio
• Week 4 (June 22–29): Part IV and Interlude (pages 203–294)
Reflection Prompts
Use these prompts to deepen your engagement with the text:
• How does the urban setting of Oakland influence the characters’ experiences of Indigenous identity?
• In what ways do the characters’ stories intersect, and what does this reveal about community and connection?
• How does the novel address the theme of generational trauma?
• What role does storytelling play in the preservation of culture and history within the novel?
• How do the characters navigate the tension between tradition and modernity?
Discussion Questions For Group Meetings
For our meeting on June 30, consider the following questions:
1. Which character’s journey resonated most with you, and why?
2. How does There There challenge or reinforce your perceptions of Native American experiences?
3. What is the significance of the Big Oakland Powwow as a unifying event in the novel?
4. How does the novel’s structure—interweaving multiple narratives—affect your understanding of the story?
5. In what ways does the novel explore the concept of home and belonging?
Additional Resources
To enhance your understanding of the novel and its themes, explore these resources:
• Interview: Tommy Orange on There There – In this interview, Orange discusses the inspiration behind his novel and the importance of representing urban Native American experiences.
• Tommy Orange at the 2018 Miami Book Fair – Orange speaks about the themes of his novel and the significance of storytelling in Native communities.
• Dua Lipa In Conversation With Tommy Orange, Author Of There There
Here’s a character list you can reference as you read:
Tony Loneman–twenty-one years old, born and raised in Oakland, of Cheyenne descent. Born with fetal alcohol syndrome, which he calls the Drome. Lives with his grandmother Maxine and deals drugs with Octavio.
Dene Oxendene–young documentary filmmaker enrolled in the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. Born and raised in Oakland. Is carrying on a project in memory of his uncle, collecting the stories of Native people in the Oakland area.
Opal Viola Victoria Bear Shield–woman in her fifties of Cheyenne descent. At age 11 in 1970, her mother took her and her half-sister, Jacquie Red Feather, to Alcatraz to participate in the Native American occupation of the island.
Edwin Black–biracial young man: his mother, Karen, is white, and his father, Harvey, whom he has never known, is Native. Once dreamed of becoming a writer; earned a master’s degree in comparative literature with a focus on Native American literature. Loves the Internet. Recently started an internship assisting with the Big Oakland Powwow.
Bill Davis–boyfriend of Edwin’s mother, Karen. Lakota. Longtime maintenance worker at the Oakland Coliseum. Vietnam veteran who spent five years in San Quentin for stabbing a man. Read almost the whole time he was in–Raymond Carver and William Faulkner, Hunter S. Thompson, Oscar Zeta Acosta and Ken Kesey.
Calvin Johnson–young man; Native; down on his luck and staying with his sister, Maggie. Owes drug money to his brother, Charles (who works with Octavio).
Jacquie Red Feather–half-sister of Opal; a substance abuse counselor who is herself newly sober. Gave a child up for adoption in her youth; raised another daughter, Jamie, who passed away. Now has three grandsons for whom Opal is caring.
Orvil Red Feather–fourteen years old; one of Jacquie’s grandsons. Cheyenne. Is deeply interested in his heritage and plans to dance at the powwow.
Octavio Gomez–the drug dealer for whom Tony and Charles (Calvin’s brother) work.
Daniel Gonzales–cousin of Octavio.
Blue–head of the powwow committee at the Indian Center.
Thomas Frank–Cheyenne; drummer who formerly worked as a custodian at the Indian Center. Was invited to perform at the powwow with a group called Southern Moon.
Calls to action
1. Learn Whose Land You Are On HERE
2. Revoke the Federal Holiday Status of "Columbus Day" HERE
3. Abolishing Racist Native Mascots: A Toolkit for Change HERE
4. Read the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples HERE
5. Attend a local Pow Wow & support - North America, see HERE
If your location is not on this map, do a simple search for Pow Wow events near you.
BOOK COVEN
Welcome to Book Coven— Book Coven is a free virtual book club dedicated to empowering members through literature as a tool for both personal and collective liberation.
I’m so grateful you’re here. This is more than just a book club; it’s a Coven for those who believe in the power of literature to create change, heal, challenge, and transform. Whether you’re here to deepen your personal journey or to connect with a community dedicated to collective liberation, you are in the right place.
Rooted in Literary Activism At its core, Book Coven is about more than books—it’s about action. We believe literature has the power to spark change, and we are committed to using this space to amplify urgent causes, share calls to action, and keep each other informed. Together, we engage with stories that challenge systems, honor voices too often silenced, and imagine new possibilities for ourselves and our communities.
Join us
What You Can Expect
As part of the Book Coven community, you’ll receive:
• Monthly Reads – One book each month (with extended time for longer reads when needed).
• Curated Book Guides – Reflection prompts, discussion questions, reading schedules, and deeper resources to enrich your experience.
• A Private Chat Space – Ongoing conversations, insights, and support.
• Monthly Virtual Gatherings – Discussions where we come together to share thoughts, questions, and reflections.
• Guest Author Visits – Whenever possible, we invite the authors of our chosen books to join us for conversations.
• Polls to Help Shape Our Selections – You’ll get a say in what we read next.
• Event Announcements – Be the first to hear about upcoming virtual and in-person gatherings.
Note: You’ll receive the registration link for each virtual meeting directly in your monthly book guide.
Thank you for being part of this journey. I can’t wait to read, reflect, and grow alongside you.
With appreciation and solidarity,
Juliet Diaz (Founder of Book Coven)
By Juliet Diaz:
Juliet Diaz is an Indigenous Taino and first-generation Cuban American, as well as an award-winning and internationally bestselling author and literary activist. Her writing is rooted in liberatory and decolonial themes, empowering others to reclaim their voices, align with their truth, and embrace their innate magic and humanity.
As the founder of the Literary Craft Society, she leads a revolutionary writing community dedicated to fostering change, healing, and liberation through the transformative power of words.
Her works, including Witchery: Embrace the Witch Within, Plant Witchery, The Altar Within, the Seasons of the Witch Oracle Deck series, and the Earthcraft Oracle Deck, have inspired thousands across the world to create meaningful change within themselves and their communities.
I have my own newsletter:
A monthly community newsletter: The Altar Within—notes on life, magic, and liberation.
“Writing is a way of making sense of the world, of uncovering what’s hidden and reclaiming what’s ours. Here, I share reflections on life, the unseen forces that shape us, and the ongoing work of liberation—personal and collective. No fluff, no pretenses—just honest writing as a tool for deeper understanding and transformation.”
I love this book and I'm excited to re-read it for book club.
https://youtu.be/z5plHAdBums?si=DR2tHK95yuSbtjGq
Found this visual short story created by the author and wanted to share.