1.
According to rumors
2.
According to the facts
3.
Any trace
4.
On the day of promise
5.
Mom's work
6.
Follow the cheetahs
7.
Reason for silence
8.
dark night
9.
Maisha's voice
10.
If that's the case
11.
When you have to fight
12.
When you become an adult
13.
Lioness Malaika
14.
Still a bunch of crocodiles

Author's Note

“A heavy wind was blowing.

But the crocodile herd will run again.”

The journey towards the grand finale has already begun!
The story of a group of crocodiles going through the most brilliant and painful season.

'Blue Lion Wanini' is a series that depicts the journey of a frail lioness, Wanini, growing up with her friends in the African savanna. It has been consistently loved since the first volume was published in 2015.
This year, marking the 10th anniversary of its publication, the book once again proved its literary value by winning the 16th Kwon Jeong-saeng Literary Award, with favorable reviews calling it “a problematic work that broadened the horizons of Korean children’s literature.”
If the spin-off 『Blue Lion Wanini 8 - The Split Paws』 published last July added new vitality to the series by depicting the adventures of baboons, the 9th volume returns to the main story centered around the baboon group, marking an important turning point in the narrative as it heads towards its conclusion.
As the appearance of strange investigators and ominous rumors spread a sense of crisis in the Black Land, Wanini's eldest daughters have grown into full-fledged lionesses and are now firmly protecting the pride.
Among them, Euphe, who was always cautious and responsible and was expected to succeed Wanini, ends up making a big mistake as he is torn between his curiosity about the unfamiliar investigators and his responsibility to protect the group.
As a result, Euphe is left with a sense of lost emotions and guilt, which she has never experienced before, as her father's lions are injured and the Black Land is endangered.
Will Euphe be able to correct his mistakes and return to the fold? How will Wanini and Malaika accept the mistakes of the daughter they trusted more than anyone else? The vivid descriptions of the natural world, the warm yet sophisticated prose that illuminates the inner lives of the characters, and the weighty narrative that offers insight into life all combine to draw readers into the heart of the prairie.


“Being an adult meant you couldn’t hide behind anyone.
It meant that I had to somehow survive the coming days on my own.”

Courage to move forward amidst uncertainty, faith to stand by your side
A delicate coming-of-age story woven by love

As the subtitle suggests, Volume 9 is the story of Malaika, but it also contains the narrative of Euphe, who experiences growing pains for the first time.
Even before Euphe's secret of helping the strange investigators is discovered, he is overcome by loneliness and isolation, as if he were alone in the crowd.
Euphe always stood by her parents' side reliably, even when Wanini, grieving the loss of her baby, left the Black Land, even when the entire group helped their younger brothers gain independence, and even when they searched for the children of 'Maisha' and brought them to the Black Land.
The wandering figure of Euphe not only brings to mind the anxious faces of children and adolescents going through puberty, but also approaches us like a mirror reflecting all those who waver and are afraid in the moments of choice they face in life.
Euphe ultimately refuses to shirk responsibility and steps forward to correct his mistakes, realizing that becoming an adult isn't about "becoming proficient," but rather about embracing the inevitable and moving forward.
And in the process, she learns to break free from the position of 'someone's daughter' and become the master of her own life.
Wanini's heart, watching over Euphe, also leaves a deep impression.
Wanini, who used to feel proud just by looking at the backs of her grown daughters, feels fear in front of the silent Eupe, but remembers her past experience of leaving the black land and being able to return thanks to the group's waiting, and realizes that 'a mother's work' is about faith and waiting.
In this way, Volume 9 presents a poignant narrative of growth that both children and adults can relate to, juxtaposing the struggles of a person at a crossroads in their journey of growth with the presence of someone who silently waits for them with love.


“Don’t hesitate.
Even if it's late and difficult, I have to do what I have to do.

“That was the lioness Malaika.”

Hello, Malaika, the bravest lioness in the savanna.
A beautiful farewell between two lionesses who have run together their entire lives.

Meanwhile, Malaika, who is more direct and emotional than Wanini, is hurt by the fact that her beloved daughter has betrayed the group and initially drives Eupe roughly.
However, he recalls the time long ago when he sent Maisha away with harsh words and regretted it for a long time, and resolves not to lose someone precious this time.
And he risks everything to find Euphe.
The scene where Malaika finally understands and embraces Euphe clearly shows the deep and broad love that Malaika has as a character.
One day, when peace seemed to have returned, Malaika was scouting the plains alone for her pack when she was surrounded by a pack of hyenas.
Malaika's courageous determination to face the end of her life without retreating encapsulates her entire life, always moving forward despite her fears.
From the time Wanini was a wanderer at one year old, driven out from the Madiba herd, to becoming the leader of a large herd at ten years old, Malaika has always been Wanini's trusted and supportive friend and helper.
Even in her final moments, Malaika thinks of the Wanini herd and thinks, “Just as the scars from the hunt become beautiful scars for a lioness, so mistakes will make Euphe stronger” (p. 175).
It reads like a mother's prayer for her daughter who was left behind, and a consolation to all beings who live with sorrow.
From Wanini and Malaika, who have been running together since childhood, to Euphe and her sisters who now know how to run on their own, Volume 9 is a work that will make you long remember the people who made each other shine in 'Blue Lion Wanini'.
Losing his beloved friend, Wanini, devastated by loss, how will he protect the Black Land? Like Malaika, Wanini will overcome her fears and bravely navigate her final journey, no matter what comes her way. The long-awaited 10th volume is scheduled to arrive in the summer of 2026.