Pros:
-Beautiful artwork.
-Great message
-Nice mix of journaling with illustrations and comic panels

Cons:
-(SPOILER) That scene with Chase and the bear and what Ash does after. The worst. I get it, Ash needed to be truly alone to realize their mistake, but if they really loved Chase, that would have been the sign to leave.

Meh:
-Ash could have been using they/them pronouns the whole time and nothing would have changed in the story.
-I needed some kind of internal dialogue about why Ash lied to Suzanne about their age. Otherwise, it just looked like a continuity error.

Ash's Cabin is a contemporary My Side of the Mountain. Sick of everyone's crap, Ash runs off to live in the woods with their dog. They find an old cabin their grandpa used to stay in out in the middle of nowhere and begin living off the land. But it's harder than Ash thought it would be. This is a wonderful coming-of-age story for a nonbinary character accompanied by beautiful illustrations straight from a survival journal. I would recommend it to older middle school and high school level students. The format is a nice in between a full graphic novel and a prose novel.

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher through a Publisher's Weekly giveaway.)

Sixteen-year-old Ash has always felt like an outsider, misunderstood by their parents, their siblings, even other teenagers. The world is burning, and Ash's dad can't wait for them to abandon their trusty bike in favor of an emissions-laden car; and, when Ash puts up signage instructing their classmates on how to recycle, the student council is more concerned with enforcing the rules than saving the planet. Oh, and there's also the not-so-little matter of Ash's family continually deadnaming them.

Only two souls have ever really gotten them: Ash's grandfather Edwin, who passed away a few years ago; and Chase, the pup Edwin gave to Ash before he died. Every year, Ash's family vacations at Edwin's old ranch near the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, now owned by Ash's Uncle Jerry, Aunt Susan, and cousin Reese. It's only April, but Ash is already looking forward to the annual August trip. When Ash's mom announces that Jerry and Susan plan to sell the ranch, Ash convinces their family to let them visit the ranch one last time. Only Ash doesn't plan on coming back.

Supposedly Edwin built a secret cabin on the outskirts of the national forest - and Ash is determined to find it, and make it their own. (Tbh Ash is continually giving aspiring Bill from THE LAST OF US vibes: "I used to hate the world and I was happy when everyone died.")

I enjoy Jen Wang's work, and I love the idea behind ASH'S CABIN: a young trans (or nonbinary?) teen connecting with humanity by living apart from it for a while. The artwork is lovely (especially the scenes of nature) and I loved the journal entry format. I really identified with Ash at the beginning - namely, their frustration with the apathy they seem to encounter at every turn - but my patience really wore thin after a while.

I got SUPER PISSED (unreasonably or otherwise, like yelling-at-my-iPad pissed) at most of the stuff involving Chase, from Ash's decision to take the dog with them, when they couldn't guarantee Chase would have veterinary care or even enough food, to simply dumping him by the road after he's injured while protecting Ash from a bear. Okay, "dumping" is maybe a little harsh: Ash sews up his wounds and splints his leg before carrying him to the road and instructing him to walk home - which, again, BROKEN LEG (!) - rather than surrendering themselves to the nearby search party looking for them. Your dog is in a bad way, Ash, and it's kind of your fault. Do the right thing.

Yet another great novel by Jen Wang. I always enjoy this author's stories. Ash's Cabin is full of such sorrow and hurt and longing, but also so much love. Because even if family doesn't always understand, sometimes it's clear that the love is there.

Ash's decisions may have been rash and a bit stupid, but necessary. I would have loved to know more about their grandfather and the story behind the cabin. I liked how the art captured the story and I felt Ash's feelings through it.

Highly recommended!

/ Denise

Ash's Cabin by Jen Wang is a beautifully crafted graphic novel that speaks to the hearts of those who desperately want to be their true selves and also feel a profound connection to nature and a deep-seated frustration with modern society's environmental neglect. Wang masterfully captures the angst and alienation of adolescence through Ash, a character whose love for the natural world is both inspiring and heart-wrenching.

Wang's exploration of solitude versus community is particularly poignant, challenging readers to reflect on their own relationships with nature and society. The story of Ash's quest for Grandpa Edwin's cabin is both an adventure and a journey of self-discovery. It raises important questions about our capacity for independence and the inherent need for human connection. Ash's Cabin is a compelling and thought-provoking read with gorgeous artwork that will resonate deeply with anyone who has ever felt like an outsider in a world seemingly indifferent to the natural beauty around us.

This story was surprisingly more heart wrenching than I originally expected. Mixed with bouts of prose and illustrations, this comic was engrossing and I easily read it in one sitting. Teenager Ash is misunderstood by everyone around them, including their own family. During a vacation away from their family, they decide to find their late grandfather's cabin that is hidden in the woods and live there with their dog Chase. Thankfully, the dog survives the book but not without scaring me a ton! I really enjoyed this but I had to give it a star off for making me worry so much about the dog. Beautiful illustrations and journey.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel! The story was moving and the illustrations were beautiful. I think this book has such an important message for young people! It deals with family dynamics and the feelings of a young adult, which can be crippling at times. I think this book would be a wonderful addition to any classroom library but, my school district would not allow it because if the LBGTQ+ theme, which is a shame because the story is amazing! I also loved the relationship between Ash and Chase. I have a similar relationship with my dog too. I would like to thank NetGalley for the ARC and I will recommend this title even though it won’t be allowed in the classroom at my school. Books like this are so needed!!!

A Stunningly Emotional Take on a Classic Survival Story

Ash's Cabin gripped my heart from the first page. Ash's tender character and love towards nature (and Chase, their adorable dog) made me want to wrap them both up in a blanket and squeeze them tight! Importantly, Ash never loses that sensitivity throughout all their classic survival story ups and downs. Would highly recommend to readers of all ages!

I absolutely adored this book, I couldn’t put it down. I felt abject terror when Chase was attacked by the bear—I already have one specific student in mind that will love this, and I can’t wait to order it and have it in my classroom for all the rest.

Thank you NetGalley, First Second Books, and Jen Wang for the opportunity to read this e-ARC!

Ash's grandpa was the only one who understood them when he was alive. He had a ranch up in the Shasta mountains and apparently built a secret cabin that no one has been able to find. Ash decides that this summer they're going to find the cabin and live on their own - foraging and building fires and writing the novel they've always wanted to write. They watch videos and rent library books to learn as much information as they can.

The rest of the teenagers in Ash's life just seem to care about social media and popularity, but Ash has greater concerns for the environment and sustainability. "Feeling at peace in your heart" is Ash's ultimate goal.
This book is about a teenager trying to find their place in the world - balancing the feelings of isolation with connection to others to bring about change.

This book was a quick read, the illustrations were beautifully done, Ash's character was well-developed. I loved their connection to the dog and the illustrations of the outdoors. Some of the full-page illustration spreads were my favorite pages.

Identity. Family. Survival. Acceptance. Ashe's Cabin is a beautiful graphic novel. Ash, a teenager who no longer identifies as they once did, struggles with those in their life and their trivial concerns instead of serious matters such as the environment. Seeking a new start, Ash attempts to locate her grandfather's secret cabin deep in the forests of California. However, the journey, survival, and solitude are far harder than once perceived. Grappling with nature and one's identity are strong themes. All anyone wants is to be heard, valued, and accepted for who they are. Once again, Jen Wang does not disappoint! Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

The Prince and the Dressmaker, author-illustrator Jen Wang’s first graphic novel, is quite literally the book that made me start reading graphic novels, so I was truly thrilled to read Ash’s Cabin. Although on the surface a very different storyline, Ash’s Cabin holds many of the same elements that made me love The Prince and the Dressmaker so much—a thoughtful storyline and beautiful art contained in a tale that leaves you feeling profoundly more at peace at its conclusion than when you started it.

It’s difficult to create a wilderness story that is at once modern and utterly believable, but Wang does so flawlessly, and Ash’s world absorbed me seemingly at once. Their struggles with the larger world and with their own sense of self feel fundamentally authentic and believable, and as I read, I effortlessly traveled with their thoughts and emotions, something I think is sometimes hard in the graphic novel format.

Ultimately, Ash’s Cabin is a beautiful, authentic, sometimes painful, and thoughtful story of growing up, finding yourself, and the natural world—one I truly can’t recommend enough!

Jen Wang never misses, and Ash's Cabin is incredible. I have some reservations about ordering it for my elementary school library, just because graphic novels are checked out by all ages of students. I may purchase a copy for myself and share it with older students.

This book is perfect for fans of survival stories, such as Hatchet or Alone. The main character is non-binary, though that is not the focus of the story.

Thank you to First Second and NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Almost sixteen-year-old Ash is having trouble finding their place in their family and the world. Ash and their family have always spent summer vacation at the family ranch once owned by their grandfather. Ash remembers hearing stories about a secret cabin in northern California that Grandpa Edwin built in the forest and they are determined to find it. They convince their parents to let them go and stay with their older cousin while the rest of the family goes to Disneyland. Ash spends weeks learning about outdoor survival and using dog-walking money to purchase supplies. When vacation week rolls around, Ash is dropped off with their cousin who promptly ditches them for a party. This is when Ash puts their plan into motion along with their dog, Chase, and hikes into the forest in search of the mysterious cabin and must put survival skills to work. Ash’s identity is front and center with their deadname blacked out in flashbacks.
This story is Hatchet for the modern era. The artwork is as beautiful as the story. This is a young adult graphic novel that I think would be okay for older middle grade readers. I would definitely recommend for grade 6 and up.
#AshsCabin #NetGalley

So I get that this is out yet but I read it in one sitting and man it made me so emotional. I highly recommend this book to everyone trust me you will love it.

Another amazing book by Jen Wang where the main character goes on a journey of self discovery in the wilderness. I like the message that are conveyed in this story and it's unlike any book I've read before. It's also quite relatable for a teenager to just get away and truly feel alone and not feel lonely. My teenage self would have related so much with the main character.

All in all, I had fun reading this book in one sitting and I recommend you to pick up this book.

When Ash discovers that their late grandfather's land, including a fabled cabin he built, is being sold, they make a plan to find the cabin and live there on their own, with their dog. Ash does much research before taking on this journey, but quickly finds that fully living off the land is a greater endeavor than anticipated. Can they survive all alone in the wilderness?

This was a quiet story that still had plenty of action and information for readers interested in survival skills. Ash's gender identity came up in memories where their deadname is blacked out, and makes it clear that their parents aren't always supportive, but mostly this story was about grieving their grandfather and wanting to find their place in the world. While the illustrations made Ash look much younger than sixteen, the soft palette fit the tone of the story, and gives this an appeal for middle school readers.

While I enjoyed the setting and the beginning of this story I did have a few concerns about this story in the end. It appeared to be a finding oneself journey for a teenager, but what started to lose me was when Ash came across a woman hiker in the woods and after fixing some things up, they both were depicted as dancing around in their underwear, which made this feel very problematic. The other thing that I struggled with was that it seemed to romanticize the idea of running away from home, and while I do not feel like that was the intention of the author, that is the way that I perceived this story. I did appreciate how Ash was able to connect with his cousin once they returned from the cabin and grow so much in that. There was also a lot that seemed very disjointed and I wish there were more gaps filled in between different events.

Ash grew up hearing stories about Grandpa Edwin building a cabin who know one knows its clear location in the California forest. Ash is a teenager and feels like one at school of home understands them. Ash gets the idea that they can live in Grandpa’s cabin… if only they can find the cabin. Ash comes along with a plan and with the company of his loyal dog, Chase both embarked on a journey.

I was pleasantly surprised by this graphic novel. I love the plot and the illustrations perfectly depict the mood of the story. The story is beautifully sad with a twist of adventure. Recommend for any teenager and adult who is in a journey of self-discovery.

Thank you NetGalley and First Second Books for sending me an ARC in exchange of an honest review of the e-book received.

Absolutely fantastic. Great queer representation, great artwork, and a great storyline. I feel in love with Ash from the get to. From their environmental justice passion, the frustration of trying to speak your truth and being ignored, and their determination to live in connection with nature. This book absolutely blew me away and I will be recommending it to all my teen patrons.

A gem in the blended genre is Ash's cabin. A graphic novel that mixes coming of age with family history, survival, foraging, love of animals, promoting reading and a pinch of activism. All these ingredients come together in this book, without being contradictory or confusing. I read page after page breathlessly. Simply wow!

Ash feels like an outsider and is saddened by the loss of grandfather. Who always told stories about his mysterious cabin in the wilderness. Ash would prefer to look for Grandpa's cabin. How lucky that Ash can spend a holiday in that region. But can Grandpa's cabin still be found? You’ll discover it in this mesmerizing book...

The natural color scheme makes the illustrations come to life. Exciting framing in this graphic novel. A very ingenious work by Jen Wang!

I would like to thank NetGalley for receiving an e-ARC in return for my honest review.