THE TWENTY-ONE

A nail-biting account of a still-unresolved landmark case.

In Juliana v. United States, 21 plaintiffs ages 8 to 19 sued the federal government for undermining their constitutional rights to a safe and healthy environment. These young people were helped by Our Children’s Trust, a nonprofit founded by Julia Olson, the attorney whose passion for the environment led her to dream up this initiative in 2010 and seek out young people willing to be plaintiffs. They sought acknowledgment of the kids’ Fifth Amendment rights and that the government cease its “active support of the fossil fuel system.” This taut, quick-moving story told in short, lively chapters employs novelistic suspense and focuses effectively on people and their experiences as much as on principles. Vivid details and the plaintiffs’ own words convey their personalities and passions; the author’s admiration for the kids and their attorneys is clear. Rusch acknowledges the distinct roles of individuals, the impact of economic systems, and the overarching power of government. The young people come from a range of ethnic, geographical, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Quotations from legal experts expand readers’ understanding. Government lawyers did not speak with Rusch, who used court documents to convey the defendants’ perspectives. Extensive backmatter covers scientific and legal information, resources for young activists, and an update on the plaintiffs. Rigorously researched, this work offers a clear summary of a complex and critically important lawsuit.

A moving and absorbing account of an urgent case.