This book was absolutely fantastic. I've already added it to our list for order this year and will recommend it to students.

Walking in Two Worlds was a quick and intriguing read. We follow both Bugz and Feng in their virtual and real lives. I enjoyed the virtual reality game aspect of the book and was excited to dive more into it. The descriptions of the game were interesting to read about and I loved that Bugz recreated aspects of her culture in the game. Unfortunately I didn't completely understand how the game world worked which was a bit confusing. I really enjoyed learning more about Bugz and her culture throughout the book, and it was one of my favourite aspects of it. Bugz deals with a lot throughout the course of the plot and you definitely root for her. The romance in this book also felt a bit rushed and underdeveloped. I think I would have enjoyed this book more if it were longer, to give us more time to see the characters develop.

Walking in Two Worlds by Wab Kinew

Walking in Two Worlds is a young adult science fiction novella (or really short novel, it's on the border) by Indigenous author Wab Kinew. The novella takes the perspectives of two teens who come from peoples who have been the target of cultural and real genocide by their conquering/dominant nations - an Indigenous girl and an Uyghur boy - who struggle balancing their conflicting emotions between their cultures...and their different personas in real life and in a virtual reality game that has major prominence.

The result is a really solid and interesting novella, marrying a future VR-obsessed world like LX Beckett's Gamechanger to a story really based upon the struggles of Indigenous and other peoples, and is a very solid read, even if it has a few flaws in final act execution.

Trigger Warning: Suicidal Ideation.



Quick Plot Summary: In the virtual world, the Floraverse, Bugz is #1 - a woman whose 'Versona is not just physically attractive, but incredibly powerful, armed with weapons and creatures out of indigenous myth that allow her to destroy anyone in her path - like the misogynist right wing clan known as Clan:LESS, which hates her for daring to be a woman in their game. But what Clan:LESS doesn't know is that Bugz' power comes from the intersection of her indigenous heritage and how the game works, in a way that they could seemingly never replicate.

In the real world, Bugz is a teenage indigenous girl on a reservation who is taunted for her weight, and is picked on by other teens her age. She loves her family and revels in her indigenous culture, but feels incredibly frustrated when that culture's traditions force her as a girl to the side for no good reason. But there seems to be no changing either it or Bugz's online life, as good as it is.

And then come Feng, a Uyghur boy reeducated in a Chinese reeducation camp...before he was forced to flee China to his family when Chinese censors decided his online affiliation to Clan:LESS was a subversive activity. For Feng, Clan:LESS was a place he could be accepted when his own family failed him in childhood, not a group of hate - and so when he meets Bugz and her family, it throws everything for a loop. And for Bugz, the presence of this boy with his own persecuted heritage, a boy whose online persona threatens her own, it threatens to overturn both worlds in her life.

Thoughts: Okay that's a longer plot summary than I intended for a novella, so less thoughts, since I think most of them are contained in the plot summary - this is a book very much about its title, with both main characters walking in two worlds in more than one way: for Bugz, it's her real world and her virtual world but also her proud indigenous heritage and her identity as a modern girl who can see when traditions are utterly backwards and still be infuriated; for Feng, it's not just his real world and virtual world, but his existence as an Uyghur boy who has no understanding of that culture due to reeducation and being taken from his parents, while at the same time not being Chinese or North American in the real world, and thus being ostracized.

And these worlds are not wholly part, and that's what makes the story so well done. For example, Bugz' virtual dominance is helped seemingly by the designers of the game not having maps for the rez, resulting in it having strange glitchy properties that give her an edge. Feng's ostracization in the real world is what leads to him joining and excusing a right wing misogynist and racist clan in the virtual one. And trauma in one world leads to trauma in the other, making everything far more difficult, until the two characters in the end, when everything comes to seeming disaster, realize these worlds can be connected - both their good parts and bad - and pulled together to make them stronger.

There's one really annoying trope here of plot-induced pseudo betrayal, but other than that, this is a really solid and enjoyable novel, dealing with some really strong themes. Recommended.

**I received an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for honest review.**

Actual rating: 3.5

Wab Kinew brings a young adult light scifi with Walking in Two Worlds. Readers follow Bugz, a power player in a digital world who has a lot of self-doubt in the real world. Kinew draws upon Anishinaabe culture and traditions heavily in this novel and was kind enough to provide readers with a pronunciation guide for some of the frequently used Anishinaabe terms.

There are some content warnings for this book including but not limited to cancer, self-harm, pandemic mentions, fat-shaming, racism, general bigotry, misogyny, and suicidal ideation. In addition, Bugz is a character that has a lot of self-doubt and is not always kind to herself in her thoughts, which readers experience in italicized commentary.

Kinew mentions in an author's note and in the dedication that he was inspired by students at Pelican Falls First Nations High School and wanted to write a book that represented the shared cultural background that he has with those students. Certainly, Kinew incorporates a lot of Anishinaabe culture and traditions into the narrative which, not being a part of that culture, I really enjoyed reading about.

Kinew also includes love interest Feng, a Uyghur boy who was raised in a Chinese majority school after being taken from his parents. I was not previously aware of the Uyghur people, who are among many ethnic minority groups in China. I am glad for the opportunity to further educate myself in this area as well.

I have spoken predominantly about the representation in the book because the plot itself is not necessarily unique. The book revolves around a virtual reality type game/world and the real world and how Bugz and Feng interact with both. It is the cultural influences and incorporation which gives this plot new life and makes the story feel fresh.

I did feel like the pacing of the story was rather rushed, and did not necessarily feel that the plot was resolved at the end. I understand the author's choice to leave the ending as he did, but it was not a choice I particularly enjoyed.

Overall, I feel this story could appeal to readers who enjoyed Ready Player One, Slay, or Warcross due to the similar themes, or to readers who would like a very light scifi with Anishinaabe cultural representation.

I think younger readers will love this YA fantasy novel from Wab Kinew, a well-known media and political figure in Canada.

Set in the near future, Bugz, an indigenous teen and infamous online gamer, struggles with her insecurities and life on the reservation. Online, she is a beautiful and powerful player, but in real life, Bugz battles with her body image and self-confidence.

Meanwhile, Feng, a teen boy from China, has been sent to live with his aunt on Bugz’s reservation. When the two meet they form an instant connection with each other and together they go on some wild adventures, both in real life and online.

While embarking on these emotional journeys, both Bugz and Feng strive to connect their traditional cultures with the contemporary world they inhabit.

Although this is YA, the story does not flinch in exploring some very dark concepts, such as far right politics, the Uyghur genocide, and self-harm. It’s a lot to pack into a single novel.

This is a fast-paced action story that I could easily envision as a movie or TV show. Personally, I prefer character-driven novels with little plot, so I didn’t completely fall in love with this one. The romance was very insta-lovey, which I am also not generally a fan of.

I’d recommend this to readers who love video games and learning about indigenous culture.

Overall, this is a solid debut fantasy novel and I will certainly read any future works by Wab Kinew.

Thank you to Penguin Teen for providing me with an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm definitely not the intended audience for this one.
The AR/VR world was very confusing and at times it was very difficult for me to tell the real world and virtual world apart.
There was also some construct and grammar issues which I'm sure is going to be fixed in the final copy.
I cannot speak on the rep for any of the main characters but the themes were heavy!
The relationship felt too rushed and forced.
This just wasn't the book for me but thank you to the publisher for giving me a chance to review and I will definitely get this book into the right hands!

A near-future science fiction novel where a girl named Bugz recreates aspects of her Anishinaabe culture in a virtual reality world, fighting to maintain her presence against a band of alt-right gamer boys bent on destroying her avatar and her grip on game. When one of those gamer boys moves to her hometown and meets her in real life, he begins to realize their crusade against her is wrong, especially as he begins to realize how much this VR Spirit World means to her. But IRL bullying alongside VR gatekeeping and personal tragedies begin to consume her life. And can she trust this new kid with his allegiances to her biggest enemies?

There was so much to love here. The near-future exploration of AR and VR was really wonderfully incorporated, those aspects of the story just as important as the real-world ones. And the way Bugz's uses the creation capabilities of the VR Spirit World to feel more connected to her Anishinaabe roots was so great to see, especially the ways in which it melded the cultural and spiritual with the technological. That said, on to some of the aspects I didn't like as much. Bug'z body image issues are not adequately addressed, especially the ways in which she and others view "fat" and "chubby" as pejoratives which can't be neutral descriptors (ie you're not "fat" you're "perfect" and "beautiful.," when guess what those things aren't mutually exclusive and implying they are contributes to societal fatphobia). I also felt like Bugz and Feng's relationship was rushed and parts of the story were underdeveloped. Those things definitely knocked down my rating, but that said, I still enjoyed the book and would recommend it for readers looking for a near-future, gamer-centric YA novel as long as those aforementioned issues won't be a problem for them.

A really cool concept, and a good YA debut from Kinew. Strong world-building, with cool technology and just the right amount of conflict to keep things moving.

This book needs to be on every library shelf for young readers. Enlightening and compelling, Walking in Two Worlds is a story we have yet to see in today's literature and it is desperately needed.

I'm a bit on the fence about this book. The way Indigenous culture is woven into the story is great, as are the overall themes and ideas. It's just that a number of times I was yanked out of the story by abrupt transitions and/or the feeling that I could see the author _trying_ to accomplish certain effects. I'd rate it 3.5 stars.
Thanks the NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read it in advance.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC. 2/5 stars.

I really, really, really wanted to like this. The cover is beautiful. Indigenous rep is important. But...this book was a mess. It takes place in the near future with mentions of multiple pandemics and also tying in the Uighur Genocide in China with the other character. It's also set in the near future where AR/VR is a constant for the teenagers. The plot was a mess. While it's about Bugz finding herself, I don't think there's any reconciliation between her dilemma of who she is by the end. Feng is a nuisance and got tangled up in the White Supremacist group in the online VR world that Bugz is famous in. This book was also just really unrealistic. I know it's set in the near future, but in what world does a White Supremacist group make it to the Rez in their uniforms and destroys an ancient ancestral site and just...walks away? No one on the rez notices. PLUS then there are 5-6 other plot lines running throughout the book. None get resolved.

The Indigenous culture of the Anishinaabe is beautiful. I loved the details of dancing, traditions, ceremonies, etc., and the relation to the online world Bugs plays in...but that was honestly the only good thing about this book.

I really enjoyed this young adult novel. I found the story line very interesting. The characters were really easy to relate to as well. Overall I recommend this book

Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of Walking in Two Worlds in exchange for an honest review.

First off, DON'T LISTEN TO MY OPINION HERE. Plot and character wise Walking in Two Worlds was great, it's just not something I can give a high rating because of my personal preferences as a reader. Even for a video-game book, this is very game play heavy which I know some readers really really enjoy but I can't visualize which means no matter how intricate or descriptively beautiful lengthy fight scenes are, they kind of drag.

If you do like video game books and creative fight scenes, read this! Everything outside of the gameplay was incredible so you'll love it.

Synopsis:
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.

Review:

Thank you so much Netgalley and Penguin Teen Canada for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
Wow! I enjoyed this so much, and I went into the reading of this with actually zero expectations, and I loved finding out what it was about during the way.

Bugz was a simply amazing main character: bold, brave and intelligent, I related to her much more than I expected. I didn't really like Feng, but I warmed up to him towards the end, especially after I learned his backstory. I HATED Clan:LESS, they were terrible. (Obviously not a flaw in the writing, they were meant to be unlikable. It's quite impressive how much the author made me hate them. Racist, Sexist, just ugh.)

The set-up was so imaginative. It reminded me quite a bit of Slay, which I loved. It was so interested that the book was quite literally telling stories from 'two worlds': the digital world and the real world on the Rez.

I'd also like to briefly mention the rep! I can't comment on the quality of the rep, because I don't share the same cultures as the characters depicted, but I still found it to be beautiful and informative.

The writing was super good! Usually I don't read much YA third person, and was a little cautious about that while going into the book, but it ended up working super well for the story!

Overall, I loved this book so much, I can't wait to see what the author does next! (And look at that beautiful cover :)

Anticipation: 4: I love the cover, and it sounds interesting.
Enjoyment: 5: reads like an action movie-in the best possible way!

--> 4.5 stars

Recommended for ages 12 and up!

Pre-order from Blackwell's (UK):https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
Pre-order from Mrs. Dalloway's (US):https://www.mrsdalloways.com/book/978...

Wow this was a really great book! I loved all the background of Indigenous people and their culture. I liked all the gaming references and seeing Bugz outside and inside the virtual world. This is a really great book that needs to be added to every YA self.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Walking in Two Worlds is a great YA story about a girl named Bugz who is caught between two worlds, both real and virtual She is the top player in a massive multiplayer video game universe. Many of the other players are misogynists and she fights back at that. She lives on the Rez and is true to her Anishinabe roots. I really enjoyed the customs, traditions, and Anishinabe language in the story. The plot itself is really engaging. She is trying to fight this group in the game world while juggling family things in the real world. While this takes place several years in the future, I could really get a feel of how the pandemic changes life as we know it. The characters are great, I loved Bugz, she is the sort of strong female lead we need in books right now. The story is solid and the setting is really interesting. This is an all-around great YA book. I can't wait to see what the author writes next.

Loved this book! If you enjoyed Fire Keeper’s Daughter you’ll enjoy this read as well.
Things I liked (that you may, or may not enjoy): the book got straight to the action from page one (no slow start here), some of the topics discussed can be triggering but I feel like Wab Kinew intertwined heritage, culture, hard truths, and modern dilemmas pretty eloquently.
Things I thought I’d see, but didn’t ( which isn’t necessarily a negative because each author is unique, I’m just a needy reader 😅): although the main character evolved throughout the novel I felt like her progression was rushed and that her character was a little naive to certain more minor situations (but on the other hand she endured some significant traumas that happened suddenly), and there were hints of plot twists that weren’t expanded on (like her dad and his past) but this could insinuate there will be a sequel!

I want to begin by thanking NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read this advanced reading copy via e-book. I really enjoyed this read, and the many valuable lessons instilled throughout the story. As a big fan of Ready Player One, I was stoked to see this book included similar themes. Watching Bugz and Feng navigate the challenges they face both individually and collectively was amazing. This book includes many scenarios revolving topics that may be triggering for some folks, so it was incredible to see the list of resources provided at the end of the novel for readers to use if needed.

One of my favourite aspects of the novel was learning about Indigenous cultures and ways of knowing and doing, and being immersed in it all through Bugz' perspective. Her strength and love for the world and those around her is inspiring!