Walking in Two Worlds

Bugz is caught between two worlds. In the real world, she's a shy and self-conscious Indigenous teen who faces the stresses of teenage angst and life on the Rez. But in the virtual world, her alter ego is not just confident but dominant in a massively multiplayer video game universe.

Feng is a teen boy who has been sent from China to live with his aunt, a doctor on the Rez, after his online activity suggests he may be developing extremist sympathies. Meeting each other in real life, as well as in the virtual world, Bugz and Feng immediately relate to each other as outsiders and as avid gamers. And as their connection is strengthened through their virtual adventures, they find that they have much in common in the real world, too: both must decide what to do in the face of temptations and pitfalls, and both must grapple with the impacts of family challenges and community trauma.

But betrayal threatens everything Bugz has built in the virtual world, as well as her relationships in the real world, and it will take all her newfound strength to restore her friendship with Feng and reconcile the parallel aspects of her life: the traditional and the mainstream, the east and the west, the real and the virtual. (From Penguin Teen Canada)

Wab Kinewis the leader of Manitoba's New Democratic Party. Prior to his career in politics, Kinewwas a hip hop musician and broadcaster, hosting the CBCseries8th FireandCanada Readsin 2015.As a panellist on CBC's battle of the books, Kinewwon the 2014 edition for his defenceofJoseph Boyden'sThe Orenda.

Kinew is the author of two books:The Reason You Walk,a memoir about mending his relationship with his father before his death, andGo Show the World,a children's picture book about Indigenous heroes throughout history.

Go Show the Worldis on the2018 Governor General's Literary Award shortlistfor young people's literature illustrated books. Kinew lives in Winnipeg.

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