The Twenty-One: The True Story of the Youth Who Sued the US Government Over Climate Change

by Elizabeth Rusch

Compelling and timely, The Twenty-One tells the gripping inside story of the ongoing landmark federal climate change lawsuit, Juliana vs. The United States of America. The Twenty-One is for readers of Christiana Soontornvat’s All Thirteen, fans of Steve Sheinkin’s titles, and anyone interested in the environment and climate change, as well as youth activism, politics and government, and the law. Features extensive backmatter.

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. The 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.

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 multi-faceted read, The Twenty-One stars the young plaintiffs and their attorneys; illuminates the workings of the United States’s 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.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Environment, Climate Change, Law, Audiobook, Social Justice

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 8, 2023

About the author

ELIZABETH RUSCH is an award-winning book author, magazine writer, editor, writing teacher and speaker. Her wide-ranging passions include astronomy, volcanology, art, music, history, nature, waves, jokes, crayons, and mud — anything that catches her fancy. She is inspired by stories of exploration and discovery, stories that have been overlooked by history, and stories that grapple with persistent questions. Whether writing fiction or nonfiction for children or adults or teaching workshops, she hopes her work opens doors, opens minds, opens possibilities.

Reviews

[Mirabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for the writing and flow, but the topic and the story of these amazing kids (but they're all older than me now, so not really kids?) is incredible and truly demonstrates a few of the major issues happening right now.

I'm in both a civics class and a speech and debate class where we're debating about the Arctic Circle, which so drastically connects to climate change, and this book connects the two classes!
Kids and teens really don't get much, if any, representation in our government, and this book displayed one of the few (albeit challenging) ways we can get representation

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative, educational, quick chapters, incredible kids.

Some parts felt repetitive, but isn't that the reality for anyone involved in a major lawsuit? I found this fascinating.

If nothing else, grab a copy and skip to the back where you can read up on the basics - The Science of Climate Change, We Can Fix It, & Meet the 21 (where are the plaintiffs now?).

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admire these young adults for their passion and commitment to pursuing this legal action. They were not just following the crowd or padding their resumes, but were genuinely scared for their futures. The story of this group of individuals gives me hope for the future.

[Megan Cina-Bernard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was such an interesting book to read. I have not read about any court cases that didn't involve a crime between people as we traditionally think about it. So I was really curious to see how this works. When the youth were excited and it felt like the case was making progress, I was also excited as a reader! But the U.S. judicial being what it is and how it operates, there were a number of places where things were incredibly slow and frustrating. As a result, my interest would kind of come and go and it took me a while to finish this book.

I understand that it's important to keep spreading the word of this case and I loved hearing how, even before a trial has been had and a verdict made, I do wonder if this book was written too early.

This book was well-written, broken up nicely, and when things were going well in the trial, I was really engaged. I'm excited to see what happens with Juliana!

[Alejandro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you interested in climate change or activism? If so, this book is for you. “The Twenty-One” tells the story of 21 young people who sued the U.S. government over climate change. It can be confusing at first because you might expect the lawsuit to be the focus. Instead, the book first introduces each plaintiff, sharing their background and motivations before delving into the lawsuit itself. One surprising thing is that the lawsuit began during Obama’s presidency and remains unresolved. While I was hoping the book would conclude with the lawsuit being resolved, the fact that the case is still ongoing adds a layer of reality and urgency to the story. This fascinating account of youth-driven activism is a captivating read, even for those who aren’t normally interested in climate change or activism, so I would really recommend it, no matter what.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt that the author made a good attempt at making a dry subject interesting. It's a very educational book for novices of politics and the judicial system. I will be definitely monitoring the future of this lawsuit.

[Gabby Banyacski · Rating 4 out of 5]

very inspiring!! and does a great job at explaining the judicial system and processes along the way!

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Twenty-One: The True Story of the Youth Who Sued the U.S. Government Over Climate Change by Elizabeth Rusch is a must read piece of YA Nonfiction. It does a great job of laying out the facts and all of the important elements of the title figures story. I also appreciated that there are plenty of photos to put faces to all the names. This is one of those books that makes me want to feel hopeful about the future, but that said it's been tough these last few months. Anyway, if you're looking for impressive YA Nonfiction, this is a good one to pick up.

[Allie Ford · Rating 2 out of 5]

*The 21* by Elizabeth Rusch follows the true story of 21 young people who sued the United States government and executive branch for its active participation in climate change. Under the leadership of lawyer and environmental activist Julia Olson, this team of children and volunteer lawyers accused the government for—more than just being inactive in the fight against climate change—actually and actively causing a host of climate-related injuries and trauma. After numerous roadblocks and delays, Julianna vs. the United States is predicted to be a landmark case that will change the future of environmental law.

Personally, I am highly interested and passionate about environmental injustices, so I enjoyed *The 21*’s topic. However, I felt like Elizabeth Rusch as an author was very cheesy and elementary. I found myself wanting to roll my eyes at her word choice and use of quotes. I also wished the book went into more depth about the legal process and evidence Julia Olson used. The book seemed like a long-winded description of the 21 plaintiffs’ emotions. I also felt like using children for the lawsuit—children as young as six-years-old—was an interesting and potentially traumatizing decision. The children seemed incredibly and borderline toxically emotionally invested. That being said, I am intrigued by the case and pray for their success!

[Anne Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating 4.5

This topic is so important for all of us to grasp! Mother Earth is our only hope. Without her we all die. These courageous 21 kids, from all parts of the U.S. brought a lawsuit against the U.S. Government claiming they have the right to live in an environment that does not take away their health and safety. Juliana vs. the United States has been kicking around the courts for seven/eight years and it still hasn't gone to trial yet. But as of Dec. 2023 it is set to go to trial.

In the meantime read this book to find out what these brave kids and their lawyer have done during this long, long, long delay. And here is a summary on Wikipedia

[Jennifer Keniry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received as a Goodreads Giveaway. Pretty damning evidence dating back to JFK of the US Government’s direct involvement in causing a warming planet. It all boils down to the 1-2% powerful elite who do not want to disrupt their profits. Their greed is dooming us all. Proud of these young plaintiffs for standing up to them but also sad that they have already spent half of their young lives sacrificing during 8+ years of bureaucratic red tape and government inefficiencies. As far as the writer’s style, she simplifies the complicated court system. And when it gets too “court heavy,” she transitions to the plaintiffs and the effects climate change has on their lives. This would be a great read for young people.

[Yomari Lobo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a captivating read! Delving into the narratives of these young visionaries is genuinely uplifting. Witnessing their proactive efforts to combat climate change resonates deeply, especially for those of us who are eager to see our generation take charge. I'm Gen Z or a Zillennial and we inherited a world that is dying and we are trying to stop it while the older generation continues to destroy it stopping us at every stop. A compelling testament to youthful determination and a must-read for anyone looking to be inspired and see the new generation in a new light!

[Ailie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so gripping, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I love how Elizabeth Rusch writes nonfiction that reads like fiction, but the subject matter of this book is also so important. I had never heard of Juliana v. United States or Our Children’s Trust before reading this book, it’s very inspiring to learn about the plaintiffs’ stories and how they’re doing so much even though many of them also deal with climate anxiety. Sometimes everything feels hopeless and scary, but this book presents a lot of hope, too.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Twenty One very clearly documents the series of steps this case went through before ruling that there is a right to a stable climate, and it also makes clear why this case was exceptional / what barriers it faced. So in that regard, this book is terrific. I wanted it to be meatier and have more rhetorical teeth (such as Parkland by Dave Cullen). The Twenty One seems to be written for a younger audience or an audience less familiar with law. I thought the audiobook was a bit melodramatic when doing the “voices” of the kids.

[Lucy Safir · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this so much! It’s so awe inspiring and I hope that all of the hard work over the last 8 years will pay off. I honestly wish I could have been involved in something like this, or wish I’d known about it sooner so I could join the crowds in support of the plaintiffs! Really needing advances in our government to take climate action because time really is running out. Overall a super easy and motivating read!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

21 students from the ages of 8 - 18 were fed up with the government not only not doing anything to stop climate change but also actively doing things that were making it worse. They had been doing as much as they could on their own but when approached by lawyer and activist Julia Olsen, they agreed to bring it to trial and sue the US government. Highly recommend

[riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 - Some of the writing felt a little childish for me or just written weird but that could have easily been because this is a book about 21 CHILDREN. Overall, an amazing overview of an incredibly important case. Breaks down how the courts really do work and there is no such thing as quick justice if justice is even served.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this YA nonfiction book as part of a prompt for Book Riot's Read Harder challenge. I thought the book was well-written and approachable, and I learned some interesting things. But I ultimately decided to give it only 2 stars. I would recommend this book to others, but I wasn't as engaged as I would have hoped.

[Erin Grigson Baylis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a nice change of pace for me in the midst of fiction reads.
I felt like there were a lot of names, so listening to the audiobook was sometimes confusing. But I found the story and the young people inspiring.
Standing up for their future was hard, but they did it and their voices were heard.
9/10 I enjoyed this, but there were times when listening was confusing.

[Revere P Kinkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clearly, written, inspiring book for anyone concerned about climate change in the interface of politics, science and law as a confronts this issue in the courts. The teenage plaintiffs in the remarkable case saga of Juliana versus the United States demonstrate the power of positive thinking and persistence.

[Adelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great! I love hearing the stories of these kids, it's so inspiring. And I love hearing how they are working to change the climate, it's really cool to hear about other kids like me taking action against real problems. Overall, great book!

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tells the gripping inside story of the ongoing landmark federal climate change lawsuit, Juliana vs. United States of America, in which 21 children and teens sue the federal government for their role in climate change.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down. I read this for the 2025 Book Riot challenge and thought the author did a pretty decent job of making me interested in a topic that I'm really not interested in. I did find it dragged on at times.

[Helena · Rating 3 out of 5]

62/100

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a necessary, fascinating book. I feel so inspired by these kids, and challenged to make bigger changes in my own life. These kids are my role model!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read. Truthfully my rating might be as much about the actual case and plaintiffs as the book, but that’s okay by me.

[sundew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really informative about how our justice system works. Would recommend to anyone interested in the politics around climate change.

[Emily Hopkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Informative but frustrating with the names / keeping track of who is who

[Mahie Panjwani · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit childish in the writing style, but quite good.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating ongoing case which plots a thoughtful route for future youth to change the world. Provides clarity on complicated legal process.