This year’s book selected for the Chicago Public Library’s One Book, One Chicago program is the novel “There There” by Tommy Orange.
As announced Wednesday afternoon by the CPL in a ceremony at Harold Washington Library Center attended by Deputy Mayor Jennifer Johnson and library commissioner Chris Brown, Orange’s 2018 book will be the 34th title in the series, which encourages all Chicagoans to read the same book selection together over the next few months.
One Book, One Chicago was launched in 2001 with Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”; some years have had both a spring and fall title. Last year’s book was “Maus” by Art Spiegelman.
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“There There” is Orange’s debut novel and was a finalist for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize. It follows a community of Native Americans living in and around Oakland, California. Orange is a member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes and was raised in the Oakland area.
According to the Chicago Public Library, upcoming One Book, One Chicago program events include citywide book clubs and discussion groups, history presentations, film screenings, walking tours, storytelling, dance and food demonstrations “reflecting Native American voices.” Orange’s keynote presentation will be 6 p.m. Nov. 15 at Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St.; more information at www.chipublib.org