I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a lovely and thought provoking graphic novel that will speak to a lot of youth and young adults. All of the wilderness survival lends the book a Hatchet like air, but Wang also addresses sexuality, loss, self-exploration, and maturity among other topics. I read it straight through and thoroughly enjoyed it. I cna think of a few kids who will really benefit from it, as well.

I really enjoyed this new graphic novel from Jen Wang. A mix of Hatchet and Into the Wild, Ash's Cabin explores the isolation felt in the company of others who seemingly focus on solely material things. Ash struggles to connect with those around them, and decides to escape to their grandfather's abandoned cabin in the Californian wilderness. There, they struggle to learn at a pace necessary to survive, but luckily happen upon a kindred spirit who teaches them a thing or two about foraging.

While the sentiment shone through, I did feel that the ending was a little patchy, in that Ash's disappearance was unspoken about, and their life returned almost to normal after spending nearly 50 days in the wilderness and almost being taken out by a wildfire. I guess my disbelief could only be suspended so much... Either way, an enjoyable read

Ash is struggling. They just don't feel like they belong, either at home or at school. When they are all alone and able to dream, they dream of finding their grandfather's cabin, of which they have only heard about through stories and family legend. Through some careful planning and convincing, Ash is able to leave their family and seek an opportunity to go and find the cabin in the woods. Part survival, part self-discovery, this graphic novel is one that will entertain and inform readers on multiple levels.

I personally enjoyed this book very much. I'm a fan of Wang's artwork, and that definitely didn't disappoint. There was a little bit of disconnect for me which may have been partly due to the fact that I am not the target audience. As a parent, I couldn't help but feel extreme disappointment and frustration with Ash's attitude and lack of apology towards their parents. While their parents may not have understood them, they did love and provide for Ash and, as a librarian in a Title I district, that is more than a lot of kids can say. I just felt a little apology or even just a knowing look between Ash and their mom could have gone a long way.

The Prince and the Dressmaker left me a little obsessed with Jen Wang's storytelling — her slightly cartoony character design, the humor inherent in her scripts, but above all, how little I could predict any of the details of where she was going within the larger beats of the self-acceptance narrative. I was pretty excited to see a new book of hers on the docket. Ash's Cabin is both a very different book, and visibly from the same creator. The art is more painterly and realistic, especially where it relates to the natural world, and actual plants or outdoor survival tips. The tone is much more serious and grounded, more Julie of the Wolves or My Side of the Mountain than a fairy tale. But it's still an unconventional self-acceptance narrative, again with a well-realized character navigating some deep personal doubts and some well-meaning but stifling family concerns. And it still has that airy feeling, where the lightness of the art and the strong use of open space on the page helps balance out some of the heavier emotions and keeps the story from feeling crowded or cramped.

This reminded me a lot of the kinds of YA books that were in vogue when I was a kid, before YA was a genre name. Back when nominally realistic, detailed survival stories like Island of the Blue Dolphins or The Cay were a big subgenre, usually built around some traumatic tragedy. Ash's Cabin feels like the very modern equivalent of those books, one built more around personal identity, which the Ash of the title is figuring out, and about a person's place in and responsibility to a community. I love that Ash isn't facing some huge, ginned-up drama — just figuring out who they are and who they want to be. I love that there isn't some dark, ugly over-the-top ending here, nor a sentimental, feel-good chunk of uplift. This one feels real and relatable in a lot of ways, both a teaching book about surviving in the wilds and like a book for younger people to read with fascination for what it says about self-exploration and different ways of living in the world.

Ash's Cabin is a beautifully written and illustrated YA graphic novel. This book contains important themes about identity, respect, mental health and climate change. Teens will find a lot to love in this story. Recommended for all YA collections.

Ash's Cabin was a good mix of story, science and interpersonal development. At times it was a little too straightforward with it's message, but I think that will help a lot of people that are going through what Ash feels and experiences. I love how Jen Wang mixes science and survival skills into the story.

Thank you for this ARC.
Ash, a relatable character, on a journey through loneliness and alienation to the California wilderness. Discovering creativity, self-reliance, and determination. The art is beautiful. The writing made the character feel real and relatable to a middle school life. The pages kept turning as the journey kept me engaged.
I just reviewed Ash’s Cabin by Jen Wang. #AshsCabin #NetGalley

Ash doesn't feel like they belong at their high school nor with their family. With summer vacation coming up, Ash is excited to go to their late grandpa's ranch, but Mom surprises the family with a plan to go to an amusement park instead. Environmentally-conscious Ash can't think of a worse vacation, but the parents finally relent but accidentally deadname Ash in the process. It's too much, so Ash decides to find a place they can belong: Grandpa's fabled cabin. Sure it'll take some survival skills, and no one knows where Grandpa's cabin is, or if it really exists, but being alone has got to be better than being lonely, right?

This book poignantly demonstrates the desperation that I've also felt as I try to be honest with myself and the people around me. Sometimes it's stifling. I love that Ash considers environmental concerns and Native history as they research and continue with their survival plans. I don't think Mom ever quite understands, but at least Ash is able to realize what that means and grasp how to deal with it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

A graphic novel about surviving in the wilderness and finding yourself, this book is perfect for fans of survival literature like "Hatchet" and "My Side of the Mountain". 16 year old Ash is fed up with life in the city, and with a family and school who doesn't seem to understand their identity or how they are feeling. Ash then decides to take their dog Chase with them on a journey to find their grandfather's secret cabin in the woods, and to live there permanently. I loved the art in the book, I feel like Jen Wang has really hit her stride and did such a beautiful job with this novel. I also have never read a graphic novel that takes on a diary format, and I loved how Wang wove in illustrations with the diary entries. The reader learns a lot about survival tips, camping, and indigenous methods of surviving off the land, which I found very educational. There are also book recommendations in the back of the book for further reading on survival and environmentalism. I highly recommend this book for tweens and teens of all ages.

What a sad, gorgeous story with equally beautiful art. I think there's a place for this book in every middle grade graphic novel collection.

I loved the survival elements to the story and felt for Ash that they just wanted to get away. The end wrapped up a bit to quickly for me, especially with their return to society, really deemphasizing the impact on their family.

Thank you NetGalley, First Second and Jen Wang for this advance copy. This book was beautifully written and drawn. Ash’s journey through loneliness and alienation brings them to the California wilderness in search of a semi-mythical cabin that their grandfather allegedly built. Along the way, they discover that they are creative and self-reliant, as well as determined. At the end, Ash seems to be finding a way in their world, as well as finding people who they can relate to and be themselves around.

Jen Wang does a spectacular job with the botanical illustrations and beautiful water colors in this graphic novel. Ash's Cabin is a wonderful and nuanced look at the experience of growing up as a LGBTQIA teenager. The details are gorgeous and the art style and writing are very compelling.

**Disclaimer: I recieved a free eARC of this through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this opportunity.  I found Ash's story really beautiful.  The character felt really real, like a student I might find in my classes.  Ash was well-written and well-developed.  I felt for them as they went through their storyline.  The way the story was written was quite well done.  I liked the journal entried paired with the art.  It was very well done.

I really enjoyed the format that the book was in. I enjoyed the slightly more novel format with the inclusion of images and comics. It made the read a lot of fun and enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and First Second Books for this DRC.
Fifteen-year-old Ash is going through a lot of changes. They are an environmentalist looking for a place to be alone instead of just feel alone. Finding Grandpa Edwin’s secret cabin becomes their goal.
Beautiful art and I really liked that it showed Ash studying survival skills before heading into the wilderness. Showing the different types of plants one could eat and different ways of fishing showed the thoughtful research of the author and the protagonist. Ash is definitely a relatable character. I dream of making the same type of trip.

#AshsCabin #NetGalley

A deeply melancholy look at a young queer person and their journey into the wild. Definitely very sad but moving and relatable.

An incredible story about a kid who feels like the world is not a place for them, and goes on a journey to carve out their own space. I wish there was more about Ash processing after being in the woods. But overall wonderful story.