Jessie Janowitz does a fantastic job of writing books about boys, like Milo, in difficult situations that ultimately let them shine. I also loved learning about Go, and fell in love with Roxie's character who struggles socially. Excellent fiction!
— JamieFrom the author of The Doughnut Fix comes another funny, heartfelt book about overcoming the fear of letting down the people you love and the amazing things that can come from a summer of nothing going your way.
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.
Jessie Janowitz grew up in New York City and is still living there with her husband and three children, all of whom love doughnuts as much as she does. She is the author of All the Ways to Go, The Doughnut Fix, and The Doughnut King. Visit jessiejanowitz.com.