Grade 8
The Twenty-One: The True Story of the Youth Who Sued the U.S. Government Over Climate Change by Elizabeth Rusch tells the story of
Juliana vs the United States, the highly controversial case that sued the
government over climate change. The account follows Julia Olson, a lawyer, and
twenty-one youth of all ages. They all have one thing in common - a history of
environmental activism and concern.
Julia,
who trained as an environmental lawyer, begins to discover the harmful effects
of climate change on youth. She hatches a plan with professors, scholars,
and other lawyers to file legal action against the United States. They decide
on the most unlikely plaintiffs - teens and children, ranging from as young as
seven to late teens. They file cases in different states, but it doesn’t work.
With their lack of success, they came up with ideas and decided on twenty-one
youth plaintiffs to go to the federal courts. They had to face off against oil
industry attorneys and federal government attorneys to get their case to trial.
The
best part of this book is that it is a real story. Its primary audience is
younger audiences, specifically younger teens. I thought that this book was
very inspirational. It tells teens and children all around the world that they
could do something, anything, to help their communities. This message is
essential to make a change in this world and to become a better society.
Throughout
the book, I found myself checking the Our Children’s Trust website for any
updates on Julianna vs the United States. I always look forward to reading the
latest news and updates.
The
account felt unreal (in a good way). Elizabeth Rusch tells the story in a way
that makes it feel like a novel or a movie. It has a mix of dialogue, a few
pictures, information about how the court system works, and a few thoughts from
the plaintiffs. With the many different types of writing, it felt like a
scrapbook of the whole case, which makes it enjoyable for younger teens.
In
conclusion, The Twenty-One: The True Story of the Youth Who Sued the U.S.
Government Over Climate Change is an essential read. It was captivating,
unique, and enthralling. I looked forward to reading The Twenty-One every night
and telling my friends and family about what I learned. It was inspirational
and motivated me to do something good for the world. I would recommend this
book to anybody interested in environmental politics or even just activism.
