drinking coffee elsewhere (2013) • there there (2018) •
Tommy Orange, born in 1982 in Oakland, California, is a Cheyenne and Arapaho novelist whose work explores Native identity, urban Indigenous experiences, and the lasting impacts of colonialism. He grew up in Oakland and did not initially plan to become a writer, working instead in music and sports before pursuing creative writing. Orange earned an MFA from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he developed the manuscript for his debut novel. Deeply connected to his heritage and community, his writing often bridges personal history with broader cultural narratives, reflecting both contemporary Native life and the weight of historical trauma.
In 2018, Orange published his first novel, There There, which became a critical and commercial success, earning a Pulitzer Prize finalist spot, the PEN/Hemingway Award, and the American Book Award, among other honors. Praised for its polyphonic style and unflinching honesty, the novel follows twelve interconnected Native characters living in Oakland as they converge on a powwow, illuminating the complexities of modern Indigenous identity. In 2024, Orange released his second novel, Wandering Stars, a multigenerational narrative that delves into the origins of the characters from There There while exploring themes of survival, resilience, and cultural continuity. His work has firmly established him as a leading voice in contemporary American literature, celebrated for both its literary artistry and its urgent social insight.
Tommy Orange’s last published work before his Future Library handover is his debut novel, There There (2018).
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