New YA Historical Fiction Novel Earns Early Accolades

Sept. 10, 2014 - PRLog -- The new Young Adult historical fiction novel,Fighting for Freedom and George Washington, has been named to the Mamie Eisenhower Library Project’s (MELP) Recommended Book List. The MELP is the National Federation of Republican Women’s oldest program, celebrating more than 45 years of book donations from an approved list to schools and libraries.  Lee’s book will join a list of notable titles including America the Beautiful by Ben Carson, Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson as well as another historical fiction novel for kids, Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims by Rush Limbaugh.  Lee, an immigrant whose family escaped communist China, wrote the book because of his concern for what his kids were learning in school about American history.

“It became apparent to me that my kids were not learning enough about the glory of our country’s founding and the honor of our founding fathers in their history classes,” says Lee.  “To remedy that, I tried to teach my children at home. But then I realized that a more effective way would be to put my teachings in the form of the kind of book they most enjoy reading-- adventure stories. I believe many immigrants who arrived here as children, as I did, do not take our freedoms for granted. As I grew older and learned about the atrocities that my parents escaped in Mao’s China, my own appreciation for America intensified. I literally thank God daily that I was blessed to grow up on American soil. However, I am acutely aware that my children and their entire generation may not have that same appreciation for our nation’s struggles and triumphs.”

Lee was honored at the Outstanding Book Awards of the American Society of Journalists and Authors for his first book The Chinese Way to Wealth and Prosperity (McGraw Hill), and served as editor of the historical anthologies Heroes of American Freedom and Heroes of American Prosperity. Currently a professor at the University of Maryland, Lee has formed his own publishing company, Capital Stewardship Publishing, with the ambitious goal of helping children appreciate what Lee describes as the "glory of the United States and the greatness of the nation’s founders."

Lee is in the process of developing three more volumes in the Young Adult historical fiction series to cover World War I, World War II, and the Civil War. For more information, visit
www.MichaelJustinLee.com.

About Michael Justin Lee:
Lee is a graduate of Brown University and NYU. Previously Professorial Lecturer at Georgetown University and Practitioner Instructor at Johns Hopkins University, he currently teaches at the University of Maryland where he is a former University Senator. Professor Lee is a member of The Authors Guild, The National Press Club and The Dramatists Guild of America. His stage play entitled “Grandmothers” was produced Off-Broadway in 2013.

About National Federation of Republican Women:
Founded in 1938, the National Federation of Republican Women is a grassroots political organization with thousands of active members in local clubs across the nation and in several U.S. territories, making it one of the largest and most influential women's political organizations in the country.