In Both Worlds

An Indigenous teen girl is caught between two worlds, both real and virtual, in the YA fantasy debut from bestselling Indigenous author Wab Kinew. Perfect for fans of Ready Player One and the Otherworld series. In the real world, Bugz is 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.

Jake McAllister is just a teenager when he loses his father in a tragic accident. As grief overwhelms his daily life, he finds solace in nightly dreams graced by a beautiful girl who comforts him and quickly captures his heart. But as Jake matures into manhood and attains success as a cowboy boot-wearing CEO, no one ever imagines that he and his stunning guardian angel could ever become a reality. When widowed single mother Yvette Corvelle buys a ranch in Arizona, all she wants is to leave her past behind and raise her four-year-old daughter, Brandi, in a peaceful, safe environment. But when a tire blows on her Jeep one day near the McAllister ranch, her path suddenly intertwines with Jakes. After Jake realizes Yvette is the girl from his dreams, neither can deny their powerful attraction. As Jake attempts to convince her that he is not the womanizer she believes him to be, a mystery unfolds that soon leads them down a dangerous path where nothing is certaineven their undeniable bond. The Best of Both Worlds shares the tale of a cowboy CEO and his beautiful guardian angel as fate brings them together in the Arizona desert and leaves the possibility of a forever romance hanging in the balance.

On a cold Sunday evening in early 1957, Sarah Dewhurst waited with her father in the parking lot of the Chevron gas station for the dragon he’d hired to help on the farm… Sarah Dewhurst and her father, outcasts in their little town of Frome, Washington, are forced to hire a dragon to work their farm, something only the poorest of the poor ever have to resort to. The dragon, Kazimir, has more to him than meets the eye, though. Sarah can’t help but be curious about him, an animal who supposedly doesn’t have a soul but who is seemingly intent on keeping her safe. Because the dragon knows something she doesn’t. He has arrived at the farm with a prophecy on his mind. A prophecy that involves a deadly assassin, a cult of dragon worshippers, two FBI agents in hot pursuit—and somehow, Sarah Dewhurst herself.

The hurricane-force wind jolted her out of her sleep. Sweat drenched the bed sheets as she desperately tried to catch her breath and focus her eyes in the depths of the darkness. Panicked, she reached for her husband, who was quietly sleeping beside her. It was only a dream, it was only a dream...wasn't it? The terror of the dream would cross her path eight years later as she stood glancing out of the family room window with Jake the cat draped across her shoulder. This couldn't be a good sign. A Foot in Both Worlds propels her unsuspecting mind into the world of spirit, synchronistic symbols and messages that often need to be unraveled and understood. At times frightening, the fabric of time and space become confusing and mind bending, challenging her to find the deeper essence of the truth she seeks. Why is she here on this planet called Earth, and what were the meanings of the symbols and messages being sent to her? Venture inside the true-life story of encounters with spirits, energetic relationships, and an awakening that traverses the natural and supernatural worlds

Seven-year-old Anthony has autism. He flaps his hands. He makes strange noises. He can't speak or otherwise communicate his thoughts. Treatments, therapies, and theories about his condition define his daily existence. Yet Anthony isn't improving much. Year after year his remedial lessons drone on. Anthony gets older and taller, but his speech remains elusive and his school lessons never advance. Life seems to be passing him by. Until one day, everything changes. In Two Worlds is a compelling tale, rich with unforgettable characters who are navigating their way through the multitude of theories about autism that for decades have dictated the lives of thousands of children and their families. This debut work of fiction sheds light on the inner and outer lives of children with nonspeaking autism, and on their two worlds. As one of the only works of fiction written by a person with non-speaking autism, it offers readers an unprecedented insider's point-of-view into autism and life in silence, and it does so with warmth, humor and a wickedly sharp intellect.

Wayne Clough, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, asks “How can we prepare ourselves to reach the generation of digital natives who bring a huge appetite—and aptitude—for the digital world?” He explains how the Smithsonian is tackling this issue in Best of Both Worlds: Museums, Libraries, and Archives in a Digital Age. Libraries and archives have already made many documents available through the Internet. The digital world presents a bigger challenge for museums; producing images of 3D objects is more complicated, and collections are built with exhibitions in mind rather than open access on computers. In 2009, the Smithsonian began digitizing its vast collections to make them accessible to the millions of people who do not visit the museums in person. “Digital access can provide limitless opportunities for engagement and lifelong learning.” Clough sees museums gradually moving beyond showcasing collections to engaging the public online so “visitors” can access the objects they find most interesting. Education has always been at the core of the Smithsonian. Today, the Smithsonian offers materials and lesson plans that meet state standards for K–12 curricula; online summits on many diverse subjects; the Collections Search Center website; and apps. The Smithsonian’s website, www.seriouslyamazing.com, draws people in with fun questions and then takes them deeper into the subject. The question “What European colonizer is still invading the U.S. today?” reveals not only the answer—earthworms—but also in-depth info on worms from environmental researchers. Clough concludes with this thought: “While digital technology poses great challenges, it also offers great possibilities.”

Artists' books always contain art, and the art often serves as the primary reason for the book's existence. This title explores more than 70 books that represent the 'best of both worlds'. It features books whose pages reveal the best graphic work of the past century.