Claudia Rowe
@claudiarowe.bsky.social
Journalist and author. Child welfare, juvenile justice and public schools. All the happy things. New book WARDS OF THE STATE coming from Abrams in May 2025.
I always wanted to have something I'd written appear on @literaryhub.bsky.social. To finally land there in the company of so many brilliant folks -- what a dream!
The 2025 National Book Award Finalists answer our questions about their books, their reading habits, and their writing lives.
Meet the 2025 National Book Award Finalists
The winners of the 76th National Book Awards—given every year in Young People’s Literature, Translation, Poetry, Nonfiction, and Fiction—will be announced next week in a ceremony hosted by Jeff Hil…
buff.ly
November 11, 2025 at 4:21 PM
I always wanted to have something I'd written appear on @literaryhub.bsky.social. To finally land there in the company of so many brilliant folks -- what a dream!
What a pleasure to be interviewed about WARDS OF THE STATE by a master of the craft. Thank you @markarms.bsky.social and @niemanstoryboard.org!
On this week's @niemanstoryboard.org podcast, I spoke with @claudiarowe.bsky.social, author of “Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care,” which has been named a finalist for the 2025 National Book Awards.
niemanstoryboard.org/2025/10/23/n...
@nationalbook.bsky.social #booksky
niemanstoryboard.org/2025/10/23/n...
@nationalbook.bsky.social #booksky
National Book Award finalist Claudia Rowe on writing about teens and the foster care system - Nieman Storyboard
The author of ‘Wards of the State’ on preparing sources to be part of a book and covering the foster care system-to-incarceration pipeline
niemanstoryboard.org
October 23, 2025 at 4:59 PM
What a pleasure to be interviewed about WARDS OF THE STATE by a master of the craft. Thank you @markarms.bsky.social and @niemanstoryboard.org!
Reposted by Claudia Rowe
Big congrats to Claudia Rowe, National Book Award Finalist!
What a journey. From a Seattle courtroom to the National Book Awards! An honor I would not have dared to imagine. Thank you, literary agent superstar @stephanierostan.bsky.social.
www.nationalbook.org/2025-nationa...
www.nationalbook.org/2025-nationa...
2025 National Book Awards Finalists Announced
Twenty-five Finalists to contend for National Book Awards in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature
www.nationalbook.org
October 7, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Big congrats to Claudia Rowe, National Book Award Finalist!
What a journey. From a Seattle courtroom to the National Book Awards! An honor I would not have dared to imagine. Thank you, literary agent superstar @stephanierostan.bsky.social.
www.nationalbook.org/2025-nationa...
www.nationalbook.org/2025-nationa...
2025 National Book Awards Finalists Announced
Twenty-five Finalists to contend for National Book Awards in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature
www.nationalbook.org
October 7, 2025 at 8:27 PM
What a journey. From a Seattle courtroom to the National Book Awards! An honor I would not have dared to imagine. Thank you, literary agent superstar @stephanierostan.bsky.social.
www.nationalbook.org/2025-nationa...
www.nationalbook.org/2025-nationa...
Me too, @editorstoltz.bsky.social! So much gratitude for your heart and courage.
October 7, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Me too, @editorstoltz.bsky.social! So much gratitude for your heart and courage.
When life becomes like a dream. Thanks to all who have embraced WARDS OF THE STATE. Just speechless. And so very grateful.
@claudiarowe.bsky.social congratulations !!! Wards of the State, National Book Award nonfiction longlist!
September 10, 2025 at 6:16 PM
When life becomes like a dream. Thanks to all who have embraced WARDS OF THE STATE. Just speechless. And so very grateful.
Even in our public schools, foster kids are mostly invisible.
Gratefiul to @alexanderrusso.bsky.social at The Grade for posting this excerpt from my new book, WARDS OF THE STATE, which shows how much impact one person can have.
alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/45f6acd7-a...
Gratefiul to @alexanderrusso.bsky.social at The Grade for posting this excerpt from my new book, WARDS OF THE STATE, which shows how much impact one person can have.
alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/45f6acd7-a...
Alexander Russo's The Grade
Taking a Closer Look at Education News. Click to read Alexander Russo's The Grade, a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.
alexanderrusso.substack.com
August 20, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Even in our public schools, foster kids are mostly invisible.
Gratefiul to @alexanderrusso.bsky.social at The Grade for posting this excerpt from my new book, WARDS OF THE STATE, which shows how much impact one person can have.
alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/45f6acd7-a...
Gratefiul to @alexanderrusso.bsky.social at The Grade for posting this excerpt from my new book, WARDS OF THE STATE, which shows how much impact one person can have.
alexanderrusso.substack.com/p/45f6acd7-a...
People are connecting the dots. Foster care is an invisible system with profoundly serious outcomes that affect us all. Check out this fantastic interview about my new book, WARDS OF THE STATE, on "Here & Now!"
www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...
www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...
Does the foster care system endanger children? New book 'Wards of the State' asks that question
More than 350,000 American kids are now wards of the state — that means the government has assumed the parental role for these foster children.
www.wbur.org
July 17, 2025 at 5:31 AM
People are connecting the dots. Foster care is an invisible system with profoundly serious outcomes that affect us all. Check out this fantastic interview about my new book, WARDS OF THE STATE, on "Here & Now!"
www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...
www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2...
WARDS OF THE STATE launches into the world with a pack-to-the-walls event at Elliott Bay Books. Thank you, Seattlites, for coming out in force!
May 26, 2025 at 5:34 PM
WARDS OF THE STATE launches into the world with a pack-to-the-walls event at Elliott Bay Books. Thank you, Seattlites, for coming out in force!
Reposted by Claudia Rowe
Happy publication day (or close enough -- it was yesterday!) to @claudiarowe.bsky.social, whose latest book, "Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care," is just out. "An eloquent and compelling call for change," says Booklist.
“An immersive, devastating look at foster children’s lives and a systemic pipeline to homelessness and prison.”
Thank you, Seattle Times!
www.seattletimes.com/entertainmen...
Thank you, Seattle Times!
www.seattletimes.com/entertainmen...
Seattle journalist's book is a devastating look at the foster care system
The Seattle Times spoke with Claudia Rowe about where the system has failed, how it might improve and what gives her hope.
www.seattletimes.com
May 22, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Happy publication day (or close enough -- it was yesterday!) to @claudiarowe.bsky.social, whose latest book, "Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care," is just out. "An eloquent and compelling call for change," says Booklist.
This was a fantastic interview! Thank you, @johnfugelsang.bsky.social!
Last night on TME, @claudiarowe.bsky.social spoke with @johnfugelsang.bsky.social about her new book "Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care."
May 21, 2025 at 10:55 PM
This was a fantastic interview! Thank you, @johnfugelsang.bsky.social!
“An immersive, devastating look at foster children’s lives and a systemic pipeline to homelessness and prison.”
Thank you, Seattle Times!
www.seattletimes.com/entertainmen...
Thank you, Seattle Times!
www.seattletimes.com/entertainmen...
Seattle journalist's book is a devastating look at the foster care system
The Seattle Times spoke with Claudia Rowe about where the system has failed, how it might improve and what gives her hope.
www.seattletimes.com
May 18, 2025 at 5:28 PM
“An immersive, devastating look at foster children’s lives and a systemic pipeline to homelessness and prison.”
Thank you, Seattle Times!
www.seattletimes.com/entertainmen...
Thank you, Seattle Times!
www.seattletimes.com/entertainmen...
When your employer covers your book....Whew! Check out WARDS OF THE STATE in the @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social!
www.seattletimes.com/entertainmen...
www.seattletimes.com/entertainmen...
Seattle journalist's book is a devastating look at the foster care system
The Seattle Times spoke with Claudia Rowe about where the system has failed, how it might improve and what gives her hope.
www.seattletimes.com
May 16, 2025 at 11:37 PM
When your employer covers your book....Whew! Check out WARDS OF THE STATE in the @seattletimes-rss.bsky.social!
www.seattletimes.com/entertainmen...
www.seattletimes.com/entertainmen...
One week to launch!!! WARDS OF THE STATE comes out May 20. Readers in WA: Come to the launch on May 23 to hear how foster care is all around us but invisible. I'll be interviewed by the always incisive @mikelew65.bsky.social
elliottbaybook.com/events/45363
elliottbaybook.com/events/45363
Claudia Rowe
Full-service, general bookstore operating since 1973. Frequent author events, cafe, over 150,000 titles
elliottbaybook.com
May 16, 2025 at 4:01 PM
One week to launch!!! WARDS OF THE STATE comes out May 20. Readers in WA: Come to the launch on May 23 to hear how foster care is all around us but invisible. I'll be interviewed by the always incisive @mikelew65.bsky.social
elliottbaybook.com/events/45363
elliottbaybook.com/events/45363
Reposted by Claudia Rowe
"A powerful indictment of a child welfare system seemingly designed to 'pump out' adults 'ill-equipped' to flourish." WOW! Fantastic review of WARDS OF THE STATE. So grateful.
www.publishersweekly.com/9781419763151
www.publishersweekly.com/9781419763151
Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care by Claudia Rowe
Journalist Rowe (The Spider and the Fly) rips the Band-Aid off the ugly wound that is the American foster care system in this se...
www.publishersweekly.com
May 6, 2025 at 9:53 PM
"A powerful indictment of a child welfare system seemingly designed to 'pump out' adults 'ill-equipped' to flourish." WOW! Fantastic review of WARDS OF THE STATE. So grateful.
www.publishersweekly.com/9781419763151
www.publishersweekly.com/9781419763151
WARDS OF THE STATE about #fostercare lands in the world May 20. I could not be more grateful to the thoughtful writers like @grahamrayman.bsky.social who've lent their support. #booksky.
May 4, 2025 at 12:16 AM
WARDS OF THE STATE about #fostercare lands in the world May 20. I could not be more grateful to the thoughtful writers like @grahamrayman.bsky.social who've lent their support. #booksky.
WARDS OF THE STATE: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care publishes May 20. And I could not be more grateful for the team at Abrams Books. I mean, that cover, c'mon!
April 28, 2025 at 5:05 AM
WARDS OF THE STATE: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care publishes May 20. And I could not be more grateful for the team at Abrams Books. I mean, that cover, c'mon!