THE YOUNG FEDERALISTS
Children's Fantasy Adventures with The Federalist Papers
Written by Abigail Readlinger
OUR STORY
and the creation of The Young Federalists
Hi! My name is Abigail Readlinger (I always go by Abby, though), and I am the author of The Young Federalists. I love writing just as much as I love American history and politics, and to have these two loves combined in this children's book is a dream come true.
In the spring of my freshman year of high school, COVID hit. My Humane Letters class (a sort-of hybrid between History and Literature) was assigned to read an analyze certain sections of The Federalist Papers. Reading on my own, I found them almost impossible to understand. Yet, because I knew they were important in why and how our country was founded, I made every effort to grasp and learn as much as I could.
And what I learned was so fundamental, so inspiring, and so beneficial to myself as an American that it needed to be shared. Especially to the younger generation. And so The Young Federalists was born.
After months (and years) of being written, edited, formatted, edited again, illustrated, edited, and printed, The Young Federalists was released on December 6, 2022 by Mascot Books. This book was a dream come true, and could not have been possible without the help and support of so many of my family members, friends, and teachers (especially my mother and best friend, April Readlinger). It is truly only because of them that my dream of encouraging young Americans has now become true.
And it is only just beginning. There is still much work to be done, and many more young Americans to teach, inspire, and encourage.
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OUR MISSION AND PURPOSE
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There has never been a more earnest advocate for encouraging others to read The Federalist Papers than Justice Antonin Scalia. During one of his many lectures, he urged the audience to “get a copy of The Federalist Papers, read it, underline it, and dog-ear it.”
Why?
Because, although written over two centuries ago, The Federalist Papers still hold profound value in understanding and preserving the United States of America. The Constitution is the founding document of our great nation, and through it, we receive the rights, freedoms, and privileges of Americans. But what are the reasons behind the Constitution? How and why did America constitute a completely revolutionary system of government? The answers are found in the words of Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison and each of the eighty-five Federalist Papers.
And yet . . . though so clearly crucial, The Federalist Papers have been largely forgotten, studied only by those in law school or working in government. And that should not be the case. The benefits of the Constitution apply to all Americans, and because of this, every American should not only understand, but long to understand the origin and reasons behind the nature of his or her freedoms.
Without knowing the reasons behind our freedoms, we begin to take them for granted. Once they are taken for granted, we seem to forget their importance. And when we forget their importance, they are quickly and easily taken away.
In writing The Young Federalists, I have taken a step I believe is much needed in America. I am writing to encourage the younger generation to read the fundamental documents behind the Constitution. I am writing for the sake of all those who enjoy America’s benefits, that they might see and understand the reasons behind their rights. I am writing in the belief that our freedoms should never be taken for granted. I am writing with joy, in the great hope that every American will take up their copy of The Federalist Papers, read it, underline it and dog-ear it to their heart’s content.
About the Author
Abigail Readlinger is a current sophomore at Princeton University where she plans on majoring in Politics. Homebound during the pandemic, Abigail was inspired to create her first draft of The Young Federalists. She is now beyond thrilled to have her writing whims become a reality and hopes readers will enjoy the lives of Reagan, AJ, and Dolley as much as she loved creating them.