I thought this was a great MG Graphic novel. The description of family and what that can mean, the coming of age story, and the broader message about finding yourself was really well done. I enjoyed the art work as well.

Fans of Hatchet by Gary Paulsen and Alone by Megan E. Freeman will love this YA graphic novel by @wangstagram
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The adults in Ash’s life don’t seem to get them or care about much of anything happening to our planet so when the opportunity arises for Ash to go to their grandfather’s ranch for the month of August, they jump at it. No one knows that Ash plans to find Grandpa Edwin’s secret cabin and live there forever. Ash and their dog head out into the wilderness, thinking they’ve thought of everything, but can they really survive alone?
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Wow. What a devastating clifi book that broke me in the best possible way. Ash’s character tried so hard. It was difficult to watch them struggle to make a difference and then struggle to survive in the woods with little to no training. An effort to go off grid has them discovering they might need others more than they thought. I loved this title and can’t wait to recommend it to students in the fall when it releases August 13! Thanks @01firstsecond for sending a copy to review.

CW: deadnaming, coming out (theme), blood, animal attack (the dog lives!), runaway child, fire, grief, death of a grandparent (recounted)

Ash's Cabin had so much potential. Ash is struggling with feeling like they are being listened to and heard. So, when the chance comes, they are eager to runaway and live off the land. There is a determination to Ash that was wonderful to see. Spending months saving money and researching so they have the best chance to live off the land.

I loved the conversation of how to live off the land and respect it–allowing it to respect people in return.

The watercolor illustrations are stunning. They allow for such a soft feel to the story as Ash is navigating and trying to figure out who they are and who they want to be. I loved how the illustrations added to the journal layout by not fitting into typical panels.

After everything, the ending felt like it was missing some details. There was a lot that happened here that felt like it was glossed over. Part of it was kinda discussed and maybe this really felt like it was glossed over as it was all from Ash's POV and there was still some trust being built back up.

Overall, I really did enjoy this. The illustrations alone are stunning, but also the topics that are discussed are important and done at an age appropriate level.

Ash's Cabin is another excellent graphic novel by Jen Wang. If you've liked any of her previous ones, give this a try as well.

Ash has always felt othered by their family, a family that continues to use their deadname when they think Ash cannot hear them. The only place Ash has felt themself is their Grandfather's ranch house near a national park. Ash's Grandfather was quiet like them, understood them, and had told them about a secret cabin he had built deep in the forest of the park where he went to be alone. Now that Ash's Grandfather has passed the family plans to sell his ranch house, and therefore Ash's family decides to spend their summer at Disney instead of the ranch. Ash begs their parent's to spend one last summer at the cabin, their parent's agree as long as they are watched by their older cousin. But, Ash's plan is to slip away and finally find peace by living alone in the hidden cabin.

This is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel about a person wishing to escape from a world that refuses to understand them. Ash's family tries, but continues to belittle who Ash is and to truly never try to grasp what Ash says or who they are as a person. This causes Ash to feel isolated and to dream of finding a place where they can be themselves and rely on no one else. Even at school they are mistreated by the other students and find their ideas being torn apart by tedious rules that make no sense. Ash is especially angry about how the world is being destroyed by others and finds that simpler living would help everyone.

Ash works hard to pack and train for the wilderness. They read survivalist books, foraging books, books about building, etc. It is amazing the skills that Ash learns and how they are able to accomplish so much. It is through their time in the wild that Ash learns the most about themself. The are strong, they are passionate, they are caring, they are smart and independent. I love also that they make many sacrifices for their dog, and the dog cares deeply for Ash and their safety.

But, Ash also learns what true loneliness is, they learn what it means to be truly hungry. Danger is at the forefront of their mind at all times and relying on yourself for everything is hard. A simple mistake in the wild can prove fatal. Sometimes having a community is a good thing. Maybe teaching that community how to truly accept you can help others like you or help you to find friends who understand you and embrace you for who you are.

The colours in this book are muted, but in such a way that you feel you too are one with nature like Ash. The story blends together in a calming way and it soothes as you journey from city to country to wilderness. And as the story continues, Ash's viewpoints about the environment and themself do not change, but their mindset that they must be alone to create happiness and changes reshapes itself. A really good book for younger kids to learn about acceptance, endurance, courage, and community.

Visiting their grandfather's ranch every summer was a highlight of the year for Ash. Since Grandpa has passed away, this summer, the family is going to Disneyland instead. Grandpa always seemed to understand Ash and often talked about a cabin in the woods that he enjoyed spending time at. Ash convinces their parents that he is old enough to visit the ranch with them and be under the care of an older cousin. Secretly, Ash plans to find that cabin and try to live in it. Surviving on your own is harder than Ash realized. Lovely artwork, sweet story. Lot's of readers will connect with Ash's story.

This was such an interesting graphic novel! I really enjoyed the storyline and the artwork was really pretty. I loved all the beautiful landscapes throughout the book.

I always find it so fascinating how different each of Jen Wang's stories are, despite each being beautiful in their own way. Ash's Cabin is about Ash, a nonbinary teenager who ends up getting fed up with the modern day world and runs away to live off the land in an abandoned cabin. The story is gorgeously illustrated and has a quiet tone to it. I think there will be plenty of teenagers who resonate with the message of this book.

Ash seems unhappy with everything, and is looking forward to some self-examination, and alone time in their grandfather's cabin while the rest of the family goes to Disneyland. First order of business, however, will be finding the cabin.

This is a very melancholy read, and I disagreed wholeheartedly with how Ash went about arranging for their solitude. (They basically ran away and hid.) Kudos to the way Ash's parents are portrayed - understanding and patient. I'm not sure how I would have handled such a morose teen.

This is a very involving read, and outdoorsy types will undoubtedly enjoy all the hints for surviving the wilderness. Wang's artwork is always a treat.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC and amazing book!

I agree and recommend this book to anyone exploring identity and connection to nature. The artwork beautifully captures the serene landscapes and emotional journey of Ash. With themes of teen alienation, this story resonates deeply with those searching and grieving. The well-researched details on camping and hiking to the narrative. While different from Wang's previous works, the subdued watercolors and focus on landscapes create a captivating visual experience. A compelling tale of survival, self-discovery, and the search for belonging, 'Ash Alone' is a must-read for YA readers.

This book was fantastic. I suggest this to all kids who are on their journey of finding themselves. It would also be good for those going through grief. Overall a great story of resilience.

4.5/5

This graphic novel was such an emotional journey and a beautiful lesson on our relationships with nature.

When I was in grade 3, our class read Hatchet by Gary Paulson and I LOVED it. So, when Ash started to learn all about survival and camping skills, it brought me right back to my old classroom! (Funnily enough, the author even included Hatchet as a reference at the back of the book!) Learning about the camping skills as well as all of the ethnobotanical facts of that area was so interesting and I think this book would be an excellent choice for classrooms.

This book is told primarily through Ash’s journal entries and follows their emotional journey of grieving their grandpa, figuring out and embracing their identity, and self-actualization - all topics that could have been extremely heavy and slow for some readers, never mind younger readers. However, I thought the pacing was just right and the setting was used very thoughtfully to demonstrate the bigger picture and theme of the story.

There was a moment near the end where I thought I was going to cry because I was so invested in Ash and Chase’s adventure! I am so glad that the author didn’t kill Ash’s familiar because I wouldn’t have been able to handle that.

I really enjoyed this book and can see myself reading this every late summer/early fall.

Ash doesn't fit in at school, and doesn't fit in at home, and decides to run away to find a cabin in the woods that their grandfather built decades ago. I loved the illustration style, and how much of the story was told without spoken dialogue through Ash's journal entries to help convey the total loneliness of the woods. I also loved how the author handled Ash's nonbinary identity and blacked out their deadname rather than unnecessarily reveal it while showing how some family members didn't accept the change.

Ash has always felt alone and the only person who ever understood them was their Grandpa Edwin. Before he died, Grandpa Edwin used to talk about the secret cabin in the woods he was building, deep in the California wilderness. Not really knowing if it was real or not, Ash decides to go find it and start fresh, completely on their own - well, with their dog, Chase.

I didn’t realize when I first asked for an ARC of this book, that it was from the same author as The Prince and the Dressmaker, so it was really fun finding that out.

I really loved the artwork in this graphic novel and the structure of it almost being like a memoir of Ash’s. I of course loved Chase and their relationship with Ash (loved that Ash called Chase their familiar, cause I say that about my oldest cat).

Was Ash really naïve when it came to living on their own in the wilderness? Yes, absolutely. Did the graphic novel look at all this with rose colored glasses and kind of “fix” or “solve” everything bad that happened? Yes, but it’s also a YA graphic novel, so I’ve kind of given it the benefit of the doubt.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story that talked about really finding your own place in the world and what it really takes to do it all on your own. Yes, there is a big focus on climate change and what one can do about it, but I didn’t feel like it was the absolute main focus of the book.

*Thank you First Second and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Teen Ash, feeling metaphorically isolated from both their peers and family, embarks on an unsanctioned quest to their deceased grandfather's possibly aspirational rather than actual isolated Northern California wilderness cabin. Ash's journal entries provide full insight into their thoughts and emotions, even when their interactions are mostly limited to their aging canine companion, and Wang expertly chooses to periodically broaden the storytelling lens to provide greater context for their experiences. Readers are sure to make a compassionate connection to Ash's struggles, even if they don't share their concerns about the environment and more.

I'm a big fan of Jen Wang’s storytelling and artwork, so I was really excited to read Ash’s Cabin. As expected, it’s another beautifully illustrated story from Wang. I really felt for Ash, and I think young teens will relate to their character—especially the feelings of loneliness and alienation.

I've seen comparisons between this graphic novel and Hatchet, but since I haven't read Hatchet, I can’t speak to that. Ash’s Cabin is more somber in tone than Wang’s previous graphic novels. However, I think if you’ve enjoyed Wang’s past work, you’ll appreciate this one too.

I enjoyed this book, though it wasn't always an easy read. The artwork was gorgeous, and the story hit me where it hurt at times. It ended on a relatively hopeful note, despite the inability to resolve some of the issues that lead to the problems in the first place. Unfortunately, that is just where the world is right now. We just have to keep working together to improve it.

Ash's Cabin is a coming-of-age tale with a nonbinary protagonist at its heart. Ash feels like a typical teenager with their fantasy of living alone, but Ash actually puts this fantasy into action. Their struggle that becomes the norm is a great adventure tale for teens, especially with the message at its heart: peace happens wherever you want it to, not just alone. The mix of illustrated prose and graphic novel segments make it a good start for readers who are reluctant to read traditional novels. The only hang-up I have is that it may glorify running away a bit too much, but I am reading this as an adult, so take that opinion with a grain of salt.

Feeling out of place and unheard in their everyday life, Ash makes a plan to find their grandfather's hidden cabin and escape to live there on their own. Ash spends a considerable amount of time and thought on the planning process, but of course it all goes wrong when they begin the actual journey. But, Ash is strong and smart and determined and manages to work out the kinks. Ash and their dog Chase are all alone in the wilderness. But is this really the life Ash wants? Absolutely gorgeous art highlights a quiet story of inner examination and reflection.

I received an ARC of this from a Publisher's Weekly Grab a Galley event. I really enjoyed it. The art is warm and soft and very nice, and the story speaks to the search for identity, connection, and need to be heard that we all experience. As an adult, I found myself internally screaming at Ash for the preparations they were making to live alone in the wilderness. But at the same time, I could help but root for them to succeed, seeing the pain and loneliness they felt so much of the time. Overall, a solid read!

Ash's Cabin is the perfect outdoorsy coming-of-age tale. Jen Wang's art style never fails and, having loved The Prince and the Dressmaker, I knew this was another one I was going to have to read immediately. With wonderful artistic depictions of the outdoors, mountains, and camping as well as nonbinary and Chinese representation, this is a graphic novel you won't want to miss!