(Columbia, SC) – Richland Library invites the public to a thought-provoking evening with nationally acclaimed author and journalist Elizabeth Rusch on Friday, July 25, 2025, from 7 – 9:30 p.m. at Richland Library Main (1431 Assembly Street). The event, which is part of the Broader Bookshelf Reading Challenge, will feature a live author talk followed by a reception, book sale, and signing. This after-hours event is free and open to the public. The library will close at 6:00 p.m. and reopen at 6:30 p.m. for attendees of the evening program.
An accomplished nonfiction writer, Rusch will discuss three of her most timely and impactful works: You Call This Democracy?, The Twenty-One: The True Story of the Youth Who Sued the U.S. Government Over Climate Change, and A Greater Goal: The Epic Battle for Equal Pay in Women’s Soccer and Beyond. Her books, which are at the intersection of activism, policy, and youth-led movements, perfectly align with the 2025 Broader Bookshelf prompt: “Read a nonfiction book about democracy or governance.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elizabeth Rusch is an award-winning author of more than two dozen books for children, teens, and adults. Her investigative and narrative nonfiction often explores the role of everyday citizens—especially young people—in shaping a more just, equitable, and sustainable world.
Her 2023 book The Twenty-One chronicles the landmark constitutional climate change case in which 21 young plaintiffs sued the federal government for failing to protect their right to a stable climate. The book received starred reviews from Kirkus and Booklist, was named a New York Public Library Best Book of the Year, and won the prestigious Golden Kite Award.
In You Call This Democracy?, Rusch dives deep into the mechanics of government and how it often fails to represent the people it serves, while her most recent work, A Greater Goal, explores the ongoing fight for equal pay in women’s soccer and beyond.Rusch has also published more than 100 articles in prominent publications including The New York Times, Smithsonian, Mother Jones, and Harper’s. Her work has been honored by organizations such as the American Library Association, NBC News, the Green Earth Book Awards, and the Oregon Book Awards.
