Review Source: Rethinking Schools
Book Author: Elizabeth Rusch
The 21 offers an inspiring example of young people who challenge the status quo. Based on the landmark court case Juliana v. United States, the book reads like a courtroom thriller and is a must-read for young people who want to act against climate change. Although the narrative includes dense legal details and extended descriptions of hearings and trials, the personal stories of the 21 plaintiffs are both relatable and inspiring.
The plaintiffs are a diverse group of students — white, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, neurodivergent, transgender, nonbinary. Their complaint asserts that, through the federal government’s manifold actions that cause climate change, it has violated the youngest generation’s constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property. More than a story about ongoing legal battles, the book is filled with evocative personal stories told in the voices of many of the 21 young activists.
Find more books on this topic on our Environment / Climate Justice booklist.
The Twenty-One by Elizabeth Rusch
Published by HarperCollins Publishers Genres: Environment
Reading Level: High School
ISBN: 9780063220874
Review Source: Rethinking Schools
Publisher's Synopsis: From severe flooding in Louisiana to wildfires in the Pacific Northwest to melting permafrost in Alaska, catastrophic climate events are occurring more frequently — and severely — than ever. And these events are having a direct impact on the lives (and futures) of young people and their families.
In the ongoing landmark case, Juliana vs. United States, twenty-one young plaintiffs claim that the government’s support of the fossil-fuel industry is actively contributing to climate change, and that all citizens have a constitutional right to a stable climate — especially children and young adults, because they cannot vote and will inherit the problems of the future.
Elizabeth Rusch’s The Twenty-One is a gripping legal and environmental thriller that tells the story of twenty-one young people and their ongoing case against the U.S. government for denying their constitutional right to life and liberty. A rich, informative, and multifaceted read, The Twenty-One stars the young plaintiffs and their attorneys; illuminates the workings of the United States’ judicial system and the relationship between government, citizens’ rights, and the environment; and asks readers to think deeply about the future of our planet.
Features extensive backmatter, including a timeline, glossary, call to action, additional resources, and photographs.
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