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A review by heykellyjensen
Ash's Cabin by Jen Wang
There aren't enough survival stories featuring protagonists of color. This is one of those rare stories, and it's an exploration of identity and acceptance. It was immersive, and throughout, all I wanted was for Ash to find acceptance for themselves and see it reciprocated by their own loved ones. Their love for their grandfather and his stories–as well as his literal cabin off the grid–was relatable.
Much as I dug this book, I wanted more. Ash was in the woods alone with their dog Champ for weeks, but it felt like those days were quickly condensed. A lot of what happened would be boring and tiresome, but given the visual nature of a graphic novel, more of that would have been warranted. The inclusion of Ash's passion for the environment and climate activism, in conjunction with what sent them fleeing from the woods, was well done.
I read this one back to back with THE DEEP DARK by Molly Knox Ostertag and boy, do they read well together. There's a lot of overlap thematically, particularly when it comes to accepting who you are and understanding one's own queerness.
Much as I dug this book, I wanted more. Ash was in the woods alone with their dog Champ for weeks, but it felt like those days were quickly condensed. A lot of what happened would be boring and tiresome, but given the visual nature of a graphic novel, more of that would have been warranted. The inclusion of Ash's passion for the environment and climate activism, in conjunction with what sent them fleeing from the woods, was well done.
I read this one back to back with THE DEEP DARK by Molly Knox Ostertag and boy, do they read well together. There's a lot of overlap thematically, particularly when it comes to accepting who you are and understanding one's own queerness.