The Foreign Service Journal, November 2020

62 NOVEMBER 2020 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL on constitutional drafting and governance. He argues that this central theme is equally applicable to great debates in the West, such as that over the Second Amendment in the United States and the Brexit question in the United Kingdom. At a deeper level, Constantine writes, the novel “is an account of the mysticism in the world, the religious awakening of man and his inevitable acceptance of the universal truth.” Caleb A.A. Constantine is the pen name of a Foreign Service officer with the U.S. Agency for International Development. Traveling Purposefully Towards a Vague Destination David J.B. Eisenbraun, independently published, 2020, $15.99/paperback, e-book available, 388 pages. Jesse is a young American sailor stricken by the overwhelming urge to soul search after a tragic event during his perilous journey home. He detours to the colorful countries of Southeast Asia and South Asia but descends into crippling alcoholism and other reckless behaviors. Along the way, he bartends in the Gulf of Thailand, meets aborigines in the jungles of Malaysia, enjoys romances on Bali and other Indonesian islands, and goes on a dangerous motorcycle expedition through largely untrampled locations in the high Himalayas of Nepal. Traveling Purposefully Towards a Vague Destination follows the unconventional life of this gritty vagabond as he travels to exotic locales, engaging in debauchery and romance as he tries to come to terms with his past. David Eisenbraun is the son of retired Foreign Service Officer Stephen Eisenbraun. CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS The Talking Baobab Tree Nelda LaTeef, Sub-Saharan Publishers, 2020, $18/hardcover, 40 pages. The plot of this charming children’s book is derived from a story the author heard while visiting a Wolof village on the outskirts of Dakar, Senegal. The tale is in keeping with traditional tales that reveal a deep admiration for getting the better of a stronger, more powerful opponent. Wolof proverbs are blended into the story, as are Wolof words such as oubi (open) and jerry-jef (thank you). The Wolof people make up 40 percent of the population of Senegal, and are celebrated for their oral tradition, sense of style and hospitality. A favorite saying among the Wolof is “Eat whatever you like, but wear clothes that please others.” There are more than 10 million Wolof-speakers in Africa, many of whom live in Senegal, The Gambia and Mauritania. The daughter of a U.S. Foreign Service family, Nelda LaTeef spent her first 18 years attending schools in Tunisia, Afghanistan, Italy, Niger, Nigeria, Lebanon and Senegal. She is an award-winning children’s author and illustrator. Her previous children’s picture books, Animal Village (2018) and The Hunter and the Ebony Tree (2003), both won awards and were translated into numerous languages, including Italian, Korean, Gaelic, French and Spanish. The Museum of American Illustration in New York showcased the latter book’s illustrations. The Trip of Your Dreams Morgan Limo, independently published, 2020, $9.99/paperback, e-book available, 30 pages. In The Trip of Your Dreams , young read- ers (ages 6-12) will follow an inquisitive girl as she explores all corners of the globe. She travels from the comfort of her bed, as she dreams of her perfect trip. Using her vivid imagination, she visits many destinations and far-off places—Sri Lanka, Turks & Caicos, France, Kenya and more. As she details real sights and attractions, readers can plan their next trip or create a travel bucket list.