Jen Wang

(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 show more 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. show less

Not just charming, but emotionally and socially profound without ever seeming to be so. It's astounding how many social themes Wang covers with the warm and colorful patchwork quilt of the story--like a cat rolled up underneath, unless you're looking out for them you probably won't even notice they're there until you sit on them. And sit on them you should--this is a definite read-it-twice, not just for the art but also for the nostalgic (and less-than-nostalgic) reminder of the show more simultaneously simple and complicated world of friendships and family relationships at the end of childhood. This book is probably a keeper for me--which is both good and bad, since my graphic novel shelf is now officially overflowing.

If This Was Our Pact and Stargazing are both nominated for Goodreads choice awards (as they should be!) I have no idea what I'm going to do! show less

Ash has only recently come out to their family as nonbinary, and while their parents agree to call them by their chosen name, Ash knows that their parents are not entirely happy about it. An outsider at school, Ash is concerned about environmental issues, enjoys writing, and is eagerly anticipating their annual family vacation to their aunt and uncle's ranch in northern California. When it's announced that the family will be going to Disneyland instead and the ranch will be sold, Ash is show more devastated. They convince their parents to let them go to the ranch one last time and stay with an older cousin. Ash has a plan: to sneak into the nearby National Forest lands, locate the cabin built by their grandfather, and stay there permanently, living off the land. Ash and their dog Chase venture into the woods, and despite losing their GPS, they eventually stumble upon the cabin. Getting it back into habitable shape involves a lot of projects, some of which Ash is more prepared for than others. They also have the daily struggle of finding food, exacerbated when they leave their food stores out and Chase eats most of the remaining supplies. Can Ash and Chase survive on their own, or will they have to retreat to civilization?

Jean Craighead George's book My Side of the Mountain was hugely influential in my childhood, and I often planned how I could live in the forest at my grandparents' house (I never stayed out for more than a few hours, but I had grand plans). This graphic novel encapsulates the spirit of that book for a new generation of disaffected nature-loving kids. Ash makes some believable rookie/teenage mistakes, and I found them all the more relatable for that. (And, for those who worry about these things, both Ash and Chase are alive at the end of the book). Recommended for fans of realistic graphic novels, especially those who have an interest in woodcraft and outdoor survival. show less

When Frances, a seamstress with dreams of taking the fashion world of late 19th century France by storm, is brought to the palace, she has no idea who her new client is. Prince Sebastian, whose parents are trying to find a suitable princess for him to marry, wants nothing more than to take the fashion world by storm as well, only as the Lady Crystallia. Together, Sebastian and Frances create fabulous gowns and are the talk of Paris, but when Sebastian’s secret is threatened, will he be show more able to let Frances strike out on her own? What I appreciated most about this charming story is the way Wang thoughtfully and carefully handles gender fluidity. While Sebastian does face discrimination, it is how the story is resolved that made this jump from a solid 4-star story to a 5-star joy to read. show less