Selah is a novel by author Liana Richmond, published by Agathos press in 2025. Although the main character is sixteen, there is no indication that it was published as YA, and it seems to be literary fiction geared towards mature readers. Besides simply being a well-written story, Selah will be of special interest to anyone interested in the world of fundamentalist homeschoolers. I have tried to write this review without revealing too much about the plot, so that anyone who is interested can go read Selah’s story for themselves.
The end shouldn’t hurt me. I would be whisked away to Heaven. The future shouldn’t hurt but it did (5)
Selah Bowman never expected to grow up. Her parents live in expectation of the imminent Second Coming, having chosen to divest themselves of worldly things. Since even small-town Ohio is deemed too worldly, Selah and her sister Chalice are kept in a tightly controlled bubble. They are homeschooled and faithfully attend their independent Baptist church. Any outside ideas or activities are heavily scrutinized and liable to being withheld at their father’s disapproval. And their father always has the final say as head of the household. Selah’s somewhat lonely existence is haunted by visions of the final judgement, and even mythical creatures that do not belong in her Christian worldview. She finds solace in art until her parents discover her notebooks filled with anatomical drawings. Shocked and horrified, they are desperate to fix whatever led their daughter astray from their rules. So begins the end of Selah’s sheltered childhood. Soon, she will be forced to question her beliefs and the only life she has known. It will be the hardest thing she has ever done, but necessary to save herself.
I will warn readers that Selah’s story not always easy to read. There are themes of anxiety, abuse, misogyny and even sexual assault, all mixed in with the many harmful beliefs held by the characters. Selah an abused, manipulated, psychologically disturbed girl who is forced to take on adult responsibilities before she is even eighteen. However, it is ultimately inspiring to follow along with her journey and see her gain her freedom. Liana Richmond is a talented writer. I enjoyed reading her vivid descriptions of the setting, like the woods Selah loves to visit. Richmond also excels at character development. Selah is a complex character with many musings about religion and the world. The people surrounding her are also multifaceted. Even her father is not a one-dimensional villain and genuinely wishes to protect his daughters in his own misguided way. There is also some nuance in the discussion of religion. It is shown that Christianity is not only fundamentalism, and Selah makes the personal decision to hold onto her faith despite suffering.
The homeschooling representation is what initially drew me to this book. I would not say that Selah represents all homeschoolers, but I would say that it does an excellent job at representing some specific homeschoolers. The author herself is a “second-gen homeschooler” according to her Substack, which gives her credibility. The everyday scenes of Selah and Chalice completing their schoolwork remind me of my high school life even though I was not raised fundamentalist. Ironically, despite their misogynistic upbringing and parents’ confidence that the world is ending, the Bowman girls are still decently educated. Selah studies physics, algebra and classical literature right up until she quits schoolwork altogether. It is this homeschooling combined with fundamentalism that leads to Selah’s very plausible negative experiences. Families like ones in the book do exist, as you will know if you are from one yourself, or have done any reading on the “Quiverfull “movement. I think that for this reason, Selah deserves serious consideration for the Homeschooled Voices Book Award. Homeschoolers from fundamentalist subcultures may see themselves in these pages, and others can develop better empathy and understanding for them. Furthermore, some parts of Selah may have broader relatability. Dealing with doubts and anxiety about the future is a common experience for many teens. Regardless of your background, I would say that Selah is a fascinating novel well worth reading.
Homeschooled Voices 
