Welcome to Litsy!

Alright this is getting 5 stars in the YAL category for sure- because for what it is it slays Ready Player One- which at the time I really enjoyed. This near future adventure living in two worlds is just very cool even if heart wrenching in the end as various plot threads move to inevitable ends. A powerful YAL read!

Kinew offers great messages in this YA novel about an Indigenous gamer's real life on a reservation and her parallel life in the digital world. However, I found the plot on the weak side.

This novel was nominated for the 2022 Aurora YA award. #auroraawards

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Anishinaabe author Wab Kinew has created a wonderfully nuanced character in Bugz, short for Bagonegiizhigok. (Wab btw is short for Wabanakwut.) Bugz is a star in an online multiplayer game, but struggles with her self-image in the real world. The two worlds of the title could be Indigenous/mainstream; real/virtual; or inner/outer self. Exciting gamer-centred YA about being authentic. #Audiobook is read by Joelle Peters #Canadian #Indigenous

Watching Wab Kinew at the Vancouver Writersfest online reminded me that I haven‘t yet posted a review of his new book, which is the first he‘s written for younger readers. Kinew is a former journalist and is currently leader of the Manitoba New Democratic Party. In the author event, he said writing helps him to reflect on issues he deals with in the Legislative Assembly. #Indigenous

Highly recommend snagging this ALC from Libro.fm before it‘s gone. Bugz is ranked #1 in a game used by kids her age around the world. She uses her fame to showcase and support her indigenous culture both in and outside of the game. An alt-right clan is trying to take her down. One member unknowingly transfers to her school. Meeting IRL affects them both.
Reminds me of Ready Player One, but with more complex characters.

I am posting one book per day from my to-be-read collection. No description and providing no reason for wanting to read it, I just do. Some will be old, some will be new - don‘t judge me I have a lot of books.
Join the fun if you want. This is day 240.
#bookstoread
#tbrpile
#bookstagram

A near future sci-fi novel about a girl using the VR world to recreate aspects of her Anishinaabe culture and a boy who belongs to a gang of right-wing warriors bent on taking her down who realizes they're not so different after being forced to move halfway around the world. Really creative. There were parts I loved but others fell flat and felt rushed.

TW: racism, fatphobia, body image issues, cyber-bullying, cancer, self-harm, talk of suicide