The Girl Who Draws on Whales

From Ariela Kristantina, artist of the Eisner Award-nominated graphic novel Adora and the Distance, The Girl Who Draws on Whales is a testimony to the power of stories--their uncanny ability to entertain, educate and, ultimately, unite us.

Reminiscent of stories like Moana, Princess Mononoke, The Never-Ending Story, Frozen, and Snow Angels, The Girl Who Draws on Whales is an epic YA grahic novel adventure about two siblings struggling for survival, who must use their art to save their world.

The Girl Who Draws on Whales is set in a fantasy world, several centuries after "The Great Flood." Sister Wangi and younger brother Banyu live in a sea-village. Wangi has a special bond with the Great Whales that visit their sea-village and they allow Wangi 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 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 new drawing on her back that doesn't look like the previous drawings. Inspired 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 brother Banyu--embark on a wondrous journey to investigate where the drawings are coming from only to find much more than they were expecting.

Praise for The Girl Who Draws on Whales

"I already loved Ariela's work, and this book sets a new benchmark -- beautifully evocative artwork coupled with a touching tale for the ages. Highly recommended."--JOCK (Gone, Wytches, Detective Comics)

"I vibed following these kids on their epic journey, trusting their own compass even when every adult warned them off. The art pops with color, and honestly, it felt as refreshing as biting into a watermelon on a summer day."--Alexandre Tefenkgi (Eisner-winning artist of THE GOOD ASIAN)

Author: Ariela Kristantina
Publisher: Dark Horse Books
Published: 03/31/2026
Pages: 120
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.60lbs
Size: 10.10h x 6.50w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9781506746951
Audience: Young Adult


Review Citation(s):
Booklist 02/01/2026

About the Author
Ariela Kristantina is an artist from Jakarta, Indonesia. Since her debut in 2014, she's best known for her work on InSeXts, Mata Hari, Deep State, and The Logan Legacy. She has contributed covers and illustrations to a range of companies including Image, DC Comics, Top Cow, Vault and more. Kristantina is the artist of the 2022 Eisner award-nominated original graphic novel Adora and the Distance which she co-created with Marc Bernardin. The Girl Who Draws on Whales is the first YA graphic novel she has written and drawn.