The Foreign Service Journal, November 2022

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | NOVEMBER 2022 51 state collapse. Sheila Fitzpatrick vividly distills this complex history with wit—and brevity. Highlighting the many ironies of Soviet life, Fitzpatrick traces the trajectory of Soviet history from Vladimir Lenin to Vladimir Putin. Historian Alexis Peri, a professor of Russian and Soviet history at Boston University, describes the book as “a clear and engaging account of Soviet history … extremely readable, mind-bogglingly brief, and relentlessly insightful.” Sheila Fitzpatrick is Distinguished Service Professor Emerita of Russian History at the University of Chicago, honorary professor at the University of Sydney, and a professor in the Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences at the Australian Catholic University. Among her previous books are On Stalin’s Team: The Years of Living Dangerously in Soviet Politics (2015) and The Russian Revolution (third edition, 2007). The Globally Mobile Family’s Guide to Educating Children Overseas Karen A. Wrobbel, Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2021, $21/paperback, e-book available, 160 pages. Moving overseas can be the start of many personally and professionally enriching experiences. But for many parents, planning for the educa- tion of their children in a foreign country can be a daunting and complex task. This book aims to serve as a valuable tool for parents living overseas and help them assess educational options and opportunities. Chapters focus on weighing the benefits and challenges of global living, learning how to define educational goals and values, and crafting plans to meet these aspirations. The book also includes insight into fulfilling special education needs, facilitating transitions, and understanding the unique context of expatriate communities. Karen A. Wrobbel (EdD) lived with her family in three countries over a 20-year period, and worked as a teacher, administrator, school board member, and agencywide coordinator for children’s education. She is currently academic dean and professor of education at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois. his own power through the energy of others. Channeling her magical strengths to save her loved ones is a challenge to both Liora’s character and courage. Mara Rutherford is a California native and a Foreign Service family member currently on her sixth tour in Brussels, where her husband is a political officer for USNATO. She has lived all over the world with her husband and their two sons. Rutherford began her writing career as a journalist but pivoted to fantasy quickly. Her other published novels include the Crown of Coral and Pearl duology (2019, 2020) and the forthcoming The Poison Season , due to be released this December. The Mark of the Bear Clan: The Far Northern Land Saga Book 1 David Allen Schlaefer, Dartfrog Books, 2021, $16.99/paperback, e-book available, 366 pages. This is the story of two young heroes, whose lives intertwine as they battle Löhi, a powerful sorceress and the Far Northern Land’s ancient enemy. One hero is Ulla: From a remote village in Iron-Age Finland, she is mauled by a bear and, though healed by a famous wizard, is left with a stunning scar that evokes an ancient prophecy. The other, Prince Egan, is thrust into power when his father is killed by a horrific shade from hell. In developing the saga, the author has drawn on Finnish mythology and the world of the Kalevala, Finland’s national epic. An avid fantasy fan, David Schlaefer immersed himself in Finnish language and folklore and joined the Kalevala Society during a four-year tour in Helsinki. He wrote the Far Northern Land Saga over the course of the next several years. Book II, The Heir of Lemminkäinen , was published in March 2022, and the trilogy’s final installment, The Queen of Pohjola , is expected soon. David Allen Schlaefer, a member of the Senior Foreign Service, is the acting deputy chief of mission and senior assistance coordinator at U.S. Embassy Kyiv. He has served in Brazil, Mexico, Finland, Iraq, Japan, and Romania. His website is www.davidschlaefer.com . ( Young Adults section continued from page 45 )