This was a great graphic novel. The watercolor textures give the art a wild and slightly fragile feeling, which matches the story perfectly. The parts about survival and loneliness were fantastic. With minimal words and a few images that are often not contained into the 'common' comic panels, the author paints a portrait of Ash and their struggles. You can feel their emotions bleed through the pages, both their joy at being alone in nature and the desperation of surival.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. A coming of age / survival story about finding yourself in the wilderness and the difficulties faced with trying. I felt that a little more could have been made of the survival aspect though. The art work is great and tells the story well with a colour palette that feels appropriate to the mood.

Although I cannot adapt this book in my curriculum, I loved the themes of survival and fitting in. If I recommend this book to a student, we would talk about being confident in the body God gave them and how sometimes we feel alone and unwanted only to discover that we have more value than imagined. I loved how Ash reconnected with his family at the end!

4 stars

As a diehard Jen Wang fan, I could not WAIT to break into this newest graphic novel. Though the content is heartbreaking, the artistry does not disappoint!

Ash, the titular m.c., loves visiting their family's cabin every summer. Since times have recently been uncertain and tough as they've been changing their name, cutting their hair, making some public statements about their identity, experiencing challenges with peers, and grieving the loss of their grandfather, Ash is especially in need of that peaceful time in nature this summer. They go to great lengths to get that alone time and add a twist that surprises everyone.

As is the case with every book that includes a dog, Chase, Ash's dog, is the standout star of this narrative. Ash really needs a friend, and Chase will remind both Ash and the audience more than once that people do not deserve the greatness of dogs. Buckle up for some real cuteness on that front.

Along with some important conversations about who Ash is, there is a solid running motif relating to the environment and people's mistreatment of it. This isn't an uplifter, but it's not a complete downer either, and it is an important, well written, well-illustrated graphic novel that I look forward to sharing with students.

Jen Wang does it again!
Beautifully illustrated, colored, written; overall a perfect execution. The pairing of environmental issues with the question of self is smart. It's natural to question our place in everything, and that *should* include the natural word.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this arc. I fell in love with this graphic novel. It’s a great coming of age YA novel. I felt it covered topics of loneliness and finding your way was handled very good. When reading I felt Ash’s pain. I will for sure be recommending this to any older patrons.

A Trans teen heads to Northern California to find his grandfather's cabin in the woods. It clearly is well researched on camping and hiking. The themesof teen alienation and finding your identity are weaved well together. The focus on just Ash has less of Wang's type expressive faces and more of a focus on landscapes and objects. The muted watercolors with a focus on blues, tans, and biggest make for a more subdued work than Wang's popular The Prince and The Dressmaker.

This is a really touching book, and I'm excited to be able to give it to my patrons. Hatchet is a perennial favorite, and it's wonderful to have a graphic novel that is such a good comparison. Also, Ash's gender representation is fantastic and touches on such a delicate topic in a way that feels natural and unforced.

Ash feels alone and isolated from their peers. They care deeply about the climate crisis, a passion no one around them seems to share. When the opportunity presents itself, Ash takes off to find their grandfather's mysterious cabin and live alone in the wilderness.

Through the journey Ash finds a true friend, and when disaster strikes they are there for each other, finding home in friendship.

This was a bit like George's My Side of the Mountain in a graphic novel format, with a nonbinary character, more information about climate change and forest fires, and parents who actually go look for the teen. I liked the illustration style, which made the outdoor setting feel very real.

Beautifully illustrated and a touching middle grade story about finding out who you are. Some heavy moments but overall a really good book!

A beautiful commentary on gender and mourning. This was gorgeous; I felt so emotionally connected to Ash's story and want to escape. I look forward to hand-selling this title!

Fantastic "coming of age" YA graphic novel. So much heart and feeling. This is the kind of book kids need right now.

Even as I worries so much for Ash I was fascinated by their journey and aspirations to find themselves in nature. Seeing Ash have the space and time to spread their wings was beautiful. Wang is great at capturing the combination of strength and vulnerability in characters' faces.

This was a DNF. I did not like this book and could not finish it. I think this was not my type of story.

Ash's Cabin is a beautiful story of finding one's self when things seem so lonely. When Ash's family has a hard time accepting their personal changes, Ash turns to the memory of her grandfather to try to fine herself. With plans to find her grandfathers secret cabin in the remote Northern California woods, Ash goes on the ultimate adventure. Joined by their trusted "familiar", Chase, Ash quickly leans that living off the land is not what they thought it would be. In this middle grade graphic novel, we learn what loneliness truly is.

The full color beautiful artwork matches this amazing story throughout. The reader visually experiences Ash's varied emotions through their deep facial expressions. With the images of plant specimens and diagrams of traps and shelters the reader also get the feeling we are right there with Ash as they plan and build their new life.

This beautifully emotional story had me tearing up from the start as we experience Ash's deep emotions. The best, most meaningful graphic novel I have read in a long time. Five stars!!!!

This graphic novel is heartbreaking and heart affirming all in one book. I hate how alone Ash feels and wish I could give them a hug and not make them feel like they need to flee. I am impressed by Ash’s determination and survival skills. And I am affirmed by Ash’s future which is on the road to be much better than their past. All of this with the background of Wang’s beautiful artwork.

Great graphic novel about family and what it can mean to a person and learning to find out about yourself if you aren't quite sure who you are.

Ash (with a dead name) is tired of people calling them the dead name. When Ash hears their parents might need to sell Grandpa's ranch, they decide they need to save this mysterious cabin that no one knows if it really exists and Grandpa never told a location if so.

So starts an adventure for Ash which they thought they were prepared for but it doesn't turn out that surviving on ones own is as easy as it might seem.

An incredibly moving and relatable graphic novel. Jen Wang takes the reader on an emotional journey that is engaging, heartfelt, and even instructive. Highly recommend.

Ash's Cabin is a YA graphic novel about a nonbinary teen escaping to a cabin in the woods with their dog. I absolutely loved this story, and Ash as a character was very fleshed out. While the book tends to be very exposition based, largely due to the journal format and the fact that a large portion of the book only has one human character, the art is still expressive and brings you into the story quickly. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys character based stories, cute dogs, or incredible watercolor illustrations.