3.5 stars

Having enjoyed both The Doughnut Fix and The Doughnut King, I was excited when I saw that Janowitz had a new book coming out. As soon as I got my hands on a copy, I started reading it aloud to my family, because my siblings also enjoyed the Doughnut books.

Unfortunately, before we got too far, I realized that the main character had a donor dad…and while that was explained discretely, I still struggle with the fact that that topic is in a middle-grade book. I know that’s something that happens frequently these days, but as a Christian, I do not believe that kind of situation is God’s best plan for either parents or children.

Besides that (admittedly minor) element of the story, the rest of the book is pretty good—and sometimes, downright hilarious! I had a hard time putting the book down, and ended up reading ahead of the rest of the family—and stopped several times to give them teasers of some of the more salient points of humor in the story. I loved the way cats and board games came into the book, and also enjoyed watching the friendship between Milo and Roxie develop.

Overall, I did enjoy this book—and if the aforementioned element wasn’t included in the story, it could have easily been a five-star read for me.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

A hilarious book about not letting people down. This funny book was about chess, and moving on to find new things when you lose interest. Other topics include a single mom, cats, and friendship. Highly recommended.

Quirky but realistic--a great coming of age story with relatable characters that transform their daily lives into adventure. It made me want to learn to play Go.

I'll officially read anything by Jessie Janowitz. All the Ways to Go was such a delightful story of friendship, finding oneself, having tough conversations, and being open to learn as we go. I loved learning more about the game Go and following Milo and Roxie through the summer. Kids will greatly benefit from this story of navigating changes and pressure, the power of an open mind, and finding unlikely friendships.

What happens when you are at the top of your game, when you no longer have the joy that comes from learning new things? This is the problem that Milo is having. He has been playing chess since he was quite young, and he no longer gets the same feeling that he used to. So he purposely loses an important game, just so he can get the whole thing over with. He doesn’t tell his mother though. He can’t think of how to.


And then through a series of events, when he and his mother go to Princeton, NJ to visit friends, he comes across two people playing Go, and he feels that spark he used to feel, and now everything is about Go. But how does he let his mother know. He says “[If only] i was old enough to live on my own and move to a country where chess was outlawed. I know, chess is probably legal everywhere, but it was worth checking.”

I love how organic this whole story is. The internal struggle, the love that grows for the game. Of course, all this could have been solve, if, say it with me, he had communicated with his mother. But where would all the middle-grade and young adults books be if children actually communicated with their parents.

If you aren’t into learning anything about Go, you might find bits boring, but I actually found it interesting, when strategy was discussed. I also liked how Roxie, whose house they are staying at, goes spelunking in the local library after hours. (Spelunking is usually done with caves, but it works here).

This book is coming out the 3rd of September 2024. Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, publisher, and author for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

All the Ways to Go is a charming children's book by Jessie Janowitz that will appeal to both young and adult readers. I enjoyed reading about Milo's bond with his grandmother Ruth, as well as their excursions. The author effectively portrays the concerns and interests of young children, such as wanting to go to summer camp, feeling too tall or short for their age, and how they, along with their interests, change over time. The book uses vivid analogies that both children and adults can relate to, such as the car being as green as a green apple Blow Pop and the cat appearing as large as Clifford the Big Red Dog. These analogies help readers visualize the descriptive writing while also providing them with something to relate to that they might see, do, or have in their own lives. There was plenty of comedy throughout the novel, giving it a lighthearted and amusing tone. The novel also features comedy while highlighting the loveable behaviors of kids, such as flushing a harmonica down the toilet, and the wonders of their brains.
The characters, particularly Milo and Roxie, show excellent character development and growth. The writing is descriptive, well-written, and inventive, allowing readers to vividly picture settings, characters, games, and scenes. The plot is well-developed, simple to follow, and engaging, with each chapter leaving readers curious about the next adventure. The book also provides readers with an opportunity to learn about games like Go and other games like Mahjong and Chess through Milo and Roxie. I liked how the author dedicates pages at the end to explain the history, rules, and plays of the game Go while also providing additional resources for readers to play the game themselves.

However, the author's use of the phrase "truth" pulls the reader out of the story. I understand the author's use of this to make a point about Milo telling himself truths, but I felt the flow of the book would be better without this declaration of sorts since I believe the author's writing does an excellent job of conveying Milo's truths without it.

All the Ways to Go is a gripping children's book by Jessie Janowitz that includes intriguing adventures about interests, life changes, friendships, experiences, and games like Go. This book is appropriate for children aged 10 and older, as well as adults who appreciate stories about adventures in libraries, daycares, the strange habits of cats and humans, and games such as chess and Go.

This book is perfect for fans of middle grade fiction. Milo and Roxie stole my heart! The characters are delightful.

One minor complaint is that the pacing drags a tiny bit. Readers of this category often prefer a pretty quick pace. I wonder if, with some editing, the novel perhaps could have been shortened.

However, ultimately, ALL THE WAYS TO GO is a thoroughly enjoyable novel with a satisfying ending and enough curiousity seeds to keep young readers invested and turning the pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance e-galley; all opinions in this review are 100% my own.