A Land So Wide begins with the discovery and settlement of the town of Mistaken, its name suggesting a brutal and imposing landscape, a wilderness that doesn't seem to want these 18th-century Scottish explorers there. The Canadian wilderness provides physical challenges and …more harsh weather, along with the bounty of natural resources; the townsfolk are at the mercy of bears, wolves, and ruthless beasts known as Bright-Eyed. The town is protected from these monsters by Warding Stones, and the townsfolk make offerings to an invisible Benevolence to keep them safe.

Greer MacKenzie feels trapped in Mistaken, bound by its traditions, but is deeply in love with Ellis Beaufort, someone who is not deemed worthy of partnership by her father, wealthy landowner Hessel MacKenzie. She dreams of continuing to draw maps and exploring the wider world that she knows must be beyond the stones' boundaries.

This dark fantasy, Erin A. Craig's adult debut, is divided into two parts: Mistaken and The Wilds. The first half, set in the town of Mistaken, is steeped in the ideas of the 'old country,' including one where young women must commit to The Hunt, which happens once every seven years. They must hide in the woods, and the men seek out their new wives. Rich folklore and backstory occupy this space but do little to move the plot forward (the first half is similar to The Grace Year by Kim Liggett).

The second half tells a quite separate story, where Greer goes into the woods to search for Ellis, who disappeared during the Hunt. There are dangers she only imagined, and she uncovers a secret that steers the book in an unexpected direction. She is generally a strong 27-year-old protagonist, but sometimes seems like a hapless teenager whom the author may be accustomed to writing.

The landscape is so imposing that it is a character in its own right; foreboding and atmospheric, this is what Craig has done so well with this novel. Where it falters is with the different storylines, which could've been served better with either more in-depth development (to connect the story and character arcs) or a significant edit of the first half, so that it didn't occupy as much of the entire novel.

Since this novel is marketed as an adult publication, and while the fantastical and horror elements are captivating, Craig could have ventured further to step out of the young adult arena, which she already writes with finesse. The ending comes to an obvious, if not rushed, conclusion and may leave the reader wanting more from the land of Mistaken. Despite the flaws of Craig's first foray into adult publishing, it will be interesting to see what comes next. (less)

This coming-of-age graphic novel is from best-selling author and illustrator Jen Wang, a story about young Ash, who feels alone and misunderstood, and decides that finding Grandpa Edwin’s cabin in the woods could mean a fresh start. Ash leaves home, with survival gear, …more supplies, and dog, prepared to create a new life in the California wilderness. It is a powerful and heart-wrenching story on multiple levels.

Firstly, this is a beautiful book. Looking at a single page—drawings of nature, rich in color and detail—sometimes stopped me in my tracks, even though I read this book in one sitting. The artwork is why I would go back and look through ‘Ash’s Cabin’ again, because it was that visually captivating,

Thematically, this is one of the most ambitious middle-grade/YA graphic novels I’ve read in a while, not just for the fact that it approaches gender identity and self-discovery, but while Ash is on this personal journey, there are complexities, especially surrounding the implications and dangers of running away, that may need further discussion with some readers;. Two themes that be explored further are the family relationships, as well as mental health. The emotional gravity behind some of the actions, as well as the weight of understanding gender identity remain with you. Even though Ash embarks on a journey that could have had a far more serious outcome, we applaud the courage but empathize with the motivations.

A young person, one who learning about their place in the world, their gender identity, and sense of self; will hopefully take away the beauty of Ash’s story … and not feel so alone. (less)

There was a lot to like about this book, although I can see why some people would find it frustrating; there is a huge cast of characters, and there are multiple timelines. The writing style is also very pointed; Liz Moore uses a lot of very detailed writing, a matter-of- …more fact style that isn’t very flowery, or ‘pretty.’ It doesn’t help that most of the characters are unlikeable, so if that bothers you when reading, you might not enjoy this for that reason alone.

I like getting swept along in all the details, but they have to move the story forward to be necessary. (I think they were all necessary, but I didn’t have the time to pore through the text to analyze whether that was the case, when all was said and done.)
Overall, this must have an incredibly complex book to write (and edit), and I was mostly in awe of that, even if I was a little underwhelmed by the actual mystery or climax upon finishing. (less)