Elizabeth
Award Winning Author
Government, Youth Activism, Environment, Science
Travels from: Portland, OR

“A nail-biting account of a still-unresolved landmark case.” — Kirkus, Starred Review

Elizabeth Rusch writes propulsive stories both true and fictional on topics as diverse as democracy and dog heroes, climate change and color, equal pay and asteroids. Her writings on vital, high-interest topics pose essential questions and celebrate human ingenuity and the power of collective action.

A skilled and enthusiastic generalist, Rusch writes both fiction and nonfiction for adults and children. She is the award-winning author of more than 25 books, which have received multiple starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, Horn Book, Booklist, School Library Journal, and the BCCB, among others. Her work has won the Golden Kite Award, the Subaru Prize for science writing, the Cook Prize, the Green Earth Award, the Oregon Book Award, and the Oregon Spirit Award and has landed on many notable and best of the year lists produced by ALA, NCTE, NSTA, Bank Street College of Education, Kirkus, SLJ, NBC News and the New York and Chicago Public Libraries.

Rusch also the author of more than a hundred articles in publications such as The New York Times, Smithsonian, Harper’s, Backpacker, American Craft, Mother Jones, and Portland Monthly, among many others.

She speaks and holds workshops at schools, colleges, libraries and many other settings around the country and the world. Please see her list of talks or feel free to inquire about an event tailored to your needs.

Elizabeth's Featured Titles

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Do We Have a Constitutional Right to a Stable Climate?

As people across the country and the world suffer from flooding, wildfires, extreme heat, and other climate emergencies, youth-led state, federal and international lawsuits are transforming the conversation and outlook on climate change. Young people are asking the courts: Can we truly have life, liberty, and property when the seas are rising; torrential floods and extreme hurricanes flood our homes, schools, businesses and streets; drought strangles our land, water and food supply; and wildfires threaten our homes and health? Youth will live with these dangerous climate impacts longer than adults, so they are leaning into powerful governing documents such as the U.S. Constitution and state constitutions that protect their rights to try to protect their lives. Learn the exciting inside story of remarkable landmark lawsuits such as Juliana v. United States, Held v. Montana and Lighthiser v. Trump, which just may change how you think about climate change – and what can be done about it. This dramatic, one-hour presentation will change the way you think about climate change. Rusch also offers extended Q&A sessions and can lead workshops to help attendees tell their climate stories for publication, to educate others, and to lobby representatives for change.
Teen/Adult Ages

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How Our Democracy Really Works

An inspiring nonpartisan TED-type talk. If we want to make headway on the seemingly intractable problems we face as nation – with health care, immigration, poverty, gun violence, climate change – we have to make sure our democracy truly reflects the ideal of one person, one vote. What keeps us from this ideal and what can people, young and old, do about it? Based on Rusch’s timely, award-winning book You Call THIS Democracy?, this talk will inspire listeners to become active citizens not just on election day, but throughout the year.
Teen/Adult Ages

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Finding Hope in Our Democracy

Elizabeth Rusch has written three books which bring to life the strengths and flaws in the three branches of our democracy: A Greater Goal, The Twenty-One and You Call THIS Democracy? In a lively journey through these three books, Rusch offers inspiring stories of real people working successfully to improve our government and our world through actions both big and small.
Teen/Adult Ages

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How To Research Anything

For writers in the research phase of a substantial project, this interactive presentation uses audience members’ own research questions to model how a real writer attacks a research challenge. This workshop also covers the art and science of finding and interviewing experts.
Teen/Adult Ages

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Research, Writing and Revising (For Nonfiction and Fiction)

A lively auditorium slide-show on Elizabeth Rusch’s life as a writer, where she gets ideas, how she researches and develops her books and articles, her writing and revision process, and some funny and scary adventures she’s had along the way. (Tailored to grade level.)
K-Grade 12

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Classroom Writing Workshop (For Nonfiction and Fiction)

Students learn how to use all five senses to make a setting come to life. Lively examples and exercises show students how to see, hear, and feel like a writer. The workshop concludes with a competition that leaves kids begging to write more and to share their writing.  “Senses to Setting” is my most popular workshop with students and teachers alike.
Grade 3-8

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STEM Can Save The World

Award-winning science writer Elizabeth Rusch shares dramatic true stories of scientists saving the world and making it a better place to live. She takes the audience on a hunt for asteroids, onto the flanks of dangerous volcanoes, onto snowy mountains and stormy seas and even into quiet laboratories to witness real science in action. Learn what inspired these science heroes and all about their ongoing quest to make this a better, safer world.
Grade 6-12

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Elizabeth’s Discussion Guide Link

Elizabeth’s Articles Link

Elizabeth’s Editing Link

Elizabeth’s Creative Retreats Link

Honors, Awards & Recognition

AWARDS/WINNER
Cook Prize
Golden Kite Award
Green Earth Award
AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books
Gelett Burgess Award for Biography
Washington Reads Pick
Oregon Book Award
Oregon Spirit Award
Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection (12 times)

HONOR/NOTABLE
American Library Association Notable
NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor
YALSA Nonfiction Honor
Cook Prize Honor
Best Spanish Picturebook Silver Medal
Eureka! Nonfiction Silver Medal
ILA’s Teachers’ Choice Reading List
Sigurd Olson Award for Nature Writing Honor
Notable Books for a Global Society
PNBA Book Award finalist
IRA Children’s Book Award finalist
Crystal Kite Award finalist

BEST BOOK OF YEAR LISTING
New York Public Library
Chicago Public Library
Kirkus
School Library Journal
Booklist
NBC News
Bank Street
CCBC
Nonfiction Detectives
NSTA/CBC Outstanding Science Tradebook
Best STEM Trade Book (NSTA-CBC)
Natural History magazine
Smithsonian magazine
Children’s Bookwatch

AWARDS/STATE LISTS
Texas Topaz Nonfiction Gem
Jefferson Award winner (Virginia Library Association)
Monarch Award finalist (Illinois State Children’s Choice Award)
Grand Canyon Award finalist (Arizona’s children’s choice)
Towner Award nominee (Washington State’s children’s choice)
Young Hoosiers nominee (Indiana’s children’s choice)
Volunteer State Book Award nominee (Tennessee’s children’s choice)
Pennsylvania Readers’ Choice Award nominee
Utah Children’s Choice nominee
South Carolina Children’s Choice nominee
Horned Toad Tales nominee

OTHER
PNBA Bestseller
Amazon #1 and #2 Hot New Release

TRANSLATIONS
Chinese
Korean
Spanish
Turkish

Media Kit

By clicking the link below you will be directed to a Google Docs Folder
where you can download author photos and cover images.

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