Sean O’Brien served as director of speechwriting to Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden, special assistant to President Barack Obama, and senior advisor to the Secretary of the Navy. He performed comedy with Chicago’s Second City and Annoyance theaters as well as DC’s Capital Fringe Festival while serving as a chief of staff in the US House of Representatives.
He earned a BA with Honors in American Culture from Northwestern University and an MS in National Security and Strategic Studies from the US Naval War College.
Sean teaches at Georgetown University in Washington DC, where he lives with his family.
"This engrossing, well-rounded story combines adventure, daring, humor, history, and uplifting, kid-centric messaging as it explores the power of nature and the importance of protecting natural resources...Hope abounds in this clever, empowering story."—Kirkus Reviews
"In his debut novel, Sean O’Brien creates a wildly unique club every kid will want to join. With a blend of suspenseful action, laugh-aloud humor, solid history, and a White House insider’s knowledge,White House Clubhouseis a page-turning time-travel romp. Marissa and Clara, First Daughters of a female U.S. President, find a secret portal in the State Dining Room and are whisked into a cross-country train adventure that will test their courage to go toe-to-toe with Teddy Roosevelt in order to change history. The plot rockets along, never sacrificing clarity, and important environmental themes are handled with a light touch that manages to preserve gravity and reverence for nature. It’s deft, fun, full of surprises, and a must-have for bookstores and school libraries."—Peter Lerangis, New York Times bestselling author of the Seven Wonders and Throwback series
“I had a blast journeying through time and across America with Marissa, Clara, and their historic companions in Sean O’Brien’s delightful (or DEEE-lightful!) debut, White House Clubhouse. The story was suspenseful, propulsive, and a lot of fun. O’Brien masterfully weaves together history, adventure, and purpose, to convey the power of action and daring—of being in the arena—in a way that is both inspiring and accessible to kids.”—Ruby Shamir, award-winning author of What's the Big Deal About Elections
From a former White House speechwriter: a middle grade series following two First Daughters who team up with historical presidential children to save the nation.
Marissa and Clara’s mom is the newly elected president of the United States, and they haven’t experienced much freedom lately. While exploring the White House they discover a hidden tunnel that leads to an underground clubhouse full of antique curiosities, doors heading in all directions—and a mysterious invitation to join the ranks of White House kids. So they sign the pledge.
Suddenly, the lights go out, and Marissa and Clara find themselves at the White House in 1903. There they meet Quentin, Ethel, Archie, and Alice, the irrepressible children of President Theodore Roosevelt. To get back home, Marissa and Clara must team up with the Roosevelt kids “to help the president” and “to make a difference.”
White House Clubhouse is a thrilling and hilarious adventure that takes readers on an action-packed, cross-country railroad trip, back to the dawn of the twentieth century and the larger-than-life president at the country’s helm.