Noa, at sixteen, sets out with the twelve tribes of the Exodus, dreaming of a life of freedom and the Promised Land that her father says will be theirs. When religious fanatics kill her father, Noa and her four sisters are in danger of being sold into bondage. Noa vows to win women’s rights of inheritance to protect her sisters and herself. Pleading her case before ever-higher courts, Noa encounters a malicious judge and the dark side of power.

Gaining strength and complexity as she approaches the highest judge, Noa and her pursuit causes turmoil among the tribes: she is a notorious troublemaker, and heroic. Based on a few biblical verses, the turbulence of Noa’s life is set against the sweeping turbulence of the Exodus. In Judging Noa, Noa’s quest for justice is a journey that has as much meaning today as it did then.

“With great attention to detail, Strutin takes these characters—who are mentioned in only three Bible verses—and spins out an in-depth account of the joys and hardships of womanhood in the ancient world…A good choice for readers who love historical tales of strong-willed women.”

— Kirkus Reviews

“Strutin… succeeds very well in depicting both the Biblical landscape and women’s lives in this novel. Noa, her sisters, and even minor figures are well-rounded characters.”

— B. J. Sedlock, Historical Novel Society Reviews 

“Michal Strutin’s debut novel, Judging Noa, brings the Exodus to life in language that is spare and lyrical. Noa seeks justice from a patriarchal society…in the midst of the wrenching cultural upheaval that is turning them from slaves to a free people.”

— Mary F. Burns, author of J – The Woman Who Wrote the Bible