The Story of Moleena’s Adventure

Bethany Pardoe

See it On Campus: Level 2

Find me at the 'Cave Nook' and the comic/book section.

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‘Nimona’ meets ‘The NeverEnding Story’ in this coming-of-age graphic novel about loneliness, magic, and monsters.

Moleena is a creature of the Underworld. Born elsewhere, she was brought to the First Village as a baby by her parents. Despite the villagers’ suspicious nature, the family of strangers are welcomed into the community, and Moleena’s childhood passes quietly and contentedly.

Twelve years after Moleena’s arrival, on the night of the moth festival, everything changes. Moleena’s best friend, Ed, goes missing, triggering a chain of events that leaves all but Moleena transformed into monsters.

Moleena wants things to go back to the way they used to be, more than that, she wants her best friend back, but as she sets off into the unknown in search of help, she discovers the world is not as simple as she had always thought.

About this Story

After three years of developing this story across sketchbooks, random scraps of paper, and many hastily written notes, I was finally able to begin illustrating it in my final semester at Emily Carr.

I have always struggled with vulnerability and expressing myself and this story has allowed me to translate my experiences of growing up feeling strange and different into a fantastical tale of friendship and loneliness. Imbued with my love for storytelling and the otherworldly, ‘The Story of Moleena’s Adventure’ is for young people transitioning from childhood to adolescence.


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Bethany Pardoe

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Situated on the the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations, Bethany Pardoe is an author and illustrator passionate about character-driven stories set in strange and fantastical worlds. Majoring in illustration, Pardoe completed her bachelor of fine art in 2025 at Emily Carr University of Art and Design. During her studies, she received an individual scholarship award from the British Columbia Arts Council and began her first graphic novel, ‘The Story of Moleena’s Adventure’. When she’s not dreaming up stories or filling her sketchbook with colour, she spends her time consuming black tea and fiction.
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Connect with Bethany!
email: bethanypardoeart@gmail.com
instagram: @bethanypardoeart

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