There There

Orange presents multiple examples of how people relate to their Indigenous identity. Using clear evidence from the text, examine at least two characters: one who navigates their identity in a healthy way and one who does so in an unhealthy manner.

The prologue and interlude sections offer a break in narration style from the rest of the novel. What purpose do these sections serve in the larger arc of the novel?

A key underlying story in the novel is about which characters are related to one another. Yet at the conclusion of There There, some of these connections are still unresolved. What do the complex relationships among these characters illustrate?

In the final shooting, some characters’ wounds are fatal, while others’ are not. Explore the possible reasons why certain characters die and others live.

To some extent, the ultimate hero of the novel is Tony. Defend that position, and explain the function “the Drome” serves in creating Tony’s identity and eventual choice to save others.

Powwow dancing and regalia feature heavily in the novel. What purpose do these traditional things have in the novel? Why is Orvil a powwow dancer?

Place is a crucial part of There There, both for individual characters’ sense of identity and because the novel’s center is Oakland. Analyze the importance of place in the novel, including the choice of title.

Dene is an interesting character because he is a storyteller collecting histories from a variety of people—much the way the novel does in sharing stories from 12 different characters. Explore the relationship between Dene’s storytelling and the structure and function of Orange’s narrative.