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.