ALL THE WAYS TO GO, by Jessie Janowitz, Sourcebooks Young Readers, Sept. 3, 2024, Hardcover, $16.99 (ages 8-12)
A chess prodigy struggles to tell his mom he wants to quit the game in All the Ways to Go, a middle-grade novel by Jessie Janowitz.
Milo Bloom, chess prodigy, has a secret: he doesn’t want to play chess anymore. So, he blows a major tournament on purpose instead of telling anyone. If no one knows he wants to quit, then no one can be disappointed.
The problem is, winning that tournament was a ticket to chess camp, and the loss means his summer plans are shot. Enter Roxie, a girl he’s never met, who shows up at his door to tell him he and his mom will be spending the summer at her house…what?
Surprise! Before Milo knows what’s hit him, he’s living at Roxie’s house, where creepy cats rule, meat products are banned, and Roxie, who doesn’t seem to understand the concept of personal space, won’t give him a second alone.
But when Milo and Roxie stumble across two people playing a fascinating game they’ve never seen before, they become determined to learn the ancient game of Go. Between late-night library adventures and creating a Go club at their camp, Milo and Roxie form an unexpected friendship, but none of that matters if Milo can’t face his fears and tell his mom how he really feels. —Synopsis provided by Sourcebooks Young Readers
Sometimes you’re really good at something, but your heart isn’t in it. Maybe you started out loving it, but something changes, making it a chore rather than a passion.
That’s what happens to Milo in All the Ways to Go. Milo’s life used to revolve around chess — the strategies, being in the zone. Chess is what defined him. Now, not so much. Milo’s predicament is relatable — both to kids and adults.
Milo is smart, likeable kid with a great dislike of cats. Roxie is the kind of kid that would get labeled “odd.” She doesn’t understand social cues and has a great love for cats. The two of them make for a compelling pair. And though Milo is the star of All the Ways to Go, Roxie is as equally well developed. There’s a large cast of supporting characters that really round out the story, providing humor and heart.
Go becomes a metaphor for real life as Milo and Roxie progress, learn and teach the game. I’d never heard of the game before, but author Jessie Janowitz explains it in such a way that it’s easy to follow.
All the Ways to Go is a quieter contemporary fiction novel. There are no explosions or magical wizards. Janowitz, however, creates a kind of magic of her own with a story about friendships, family and choosing your own path.
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