Ariela Kristantina will release The Girl Who Draws on Whales, a new YA adventure about a sister and a brother who use their art to save their world.
The Girl Who Draws on Whales is set in a post-apocalyptic world, several centuries after “The Great Flood.” Siblings Wangi and her younger brother Banyu live in a sea-village. Wangi has a special bond with the Great Whales that visit the sea-village and they allow her to draw on their backs. Sometimes they return with new drawings on them. Wangi believes that there are other sea-villages or island settlements scattered around their oceanic world and that they are sending her messages but none of the elders listen to her.
One day, a new whale arrives in the village alone, wounded, and dying—this whale has a drawing on her back that doesn’t look like the previous drawings. Motivated by this mystery, Wangi vows to investigate. Although forbidden by her parents and the village elders, Wangi—along with a stowaway, who happens to be her younger brother Banyu—embarks on a wondrous sea journey to investigate where the drawings are coming from—only to find much more than they were expecting.
“Creating The Girl Who Draws on Whales has been a deeply personal and exhilarating experience. Living in the island nation of Indonesia, surrounded by the beauty and mystery of the sea, I drew inspiration from the rich landscapes and diverse cultures of our islands. Through Wangi and Banyu’s story, I wanted to capture the bravery it takes to defy expectations and the strength found in siblinghood. This journey of art, courage, and discovery reflects the resilience of our spirit and the magic that storytelling brings to life. I hope readers feel the same sense of wonder and connection that I felt while crafting this tale,” said Kristantina in a press release.
The Girl Who Draws on Whales is set to arrive digital via Comixology Originals on October 8, 2024, and in print from Dark Horse Comics on March 25, 2025.
via Comixology Originals. and Dark Horse Comics
