The Last Train From Djibouti: Africa Beckons Me, But America is My Home

by Otis L. Lee Jr.

"The Last Train from Djibouti is an odyssey you will not forget." --Larry Bechtel, author of The Tinsmith's Apprentice and sculptor

Otis Lee begins this story in the most innocuous of a train from Charlottesville, Virginia, to Penn Station in New York City. But for Otis this journey brings to mind another train, from long ago and far away--representative of a past to which there can be no return. Based on the true experiences of Dr. Michelle Palmer Lee and her mentor, Dr. Harriett F. Karuhije, The Last Train From Djibouti follows two women on a life-changing adventure as they travel separately to the Motherland, determined to find Africa and themselves. What they find is nothing like what they expected. As these two women grapple with questions of identity and character, what emerges is a larger picture of what it means to undertake an "unrequited return." Weaving entries from Michelle's journal and Harriett's observations together with his own research and experience, Otis depicts a microcosm of the African-American struggle to find roots in a culture that has been upended, shipped overseas, and become something new.

345 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 31, 2019

Reviews

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Review

This was a thoughtful and engaging story. The author does a remarkable job of capturing the heart and drive of this narrative, speaking to the struggles of so many with the history and experiences their ancestors held when pulled away from their families at the height of the slave trade, and the need for identity when connecting to one’s roots. The presentation of this story and the author’s writing style are powerful and heartfelt, showing both detail and a deep understanding of the history of both America and Africa.

It was great to see the author not only in the role of narrator throughout this narrative, but also in the depths of emotions. This is based on a true story that unfolds through the characters Michelle and Harriett. The struggles they both face when their expectations of what their experiences would be are mired by the disillusionment they face when confronted with life's realities, making this a complex and engaging read. Yet the hopeful tone of the community they both found there and the realization of their experiences growing up in a more Western culture redefining what home truly is made this a remarkable story to get lost in.

The Verdict

Memorable, thoughtful, and engaging, author Otis L. Lee Jr.’s “The Last Train from Djibouti” is a must-read. The amount of history balances out the rich character development and heartfelt delivery of the experiences shared in this narrative by the authors themselves, keeping this a book readers won’t want to put down.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I downloaded this book, thinking it might be about a trip to Djibouti (which it wasn't), and in fact the first part of the title was really only mentioned a couple of times in passing, I enjoyed this book more than I expected to.

It is really about two African-American women: one college student, Michelle; the other a generation older, a Nurse and professor, who have somewhat parallel experiences when they are confronted with the reality of Africa.

Michelle is an exchange student from Swarthmore college, traveling to Kampala Uganda to study at Makerere University.

Harriett is married to a Ugandan professor at Makerere University, and she has been asked to set up a new bachelor's degree program for Nursing in Botswana.

Both Michelle and Harriett became disillusioned with some aspects of Africa, realized that ultimately that America is their home, but they did find many things that gave them joy.

Both Michelle and Harriett grew up in Chester PA, not far from where I was born, and the town in which I learned how to swim. I have also been on Swarthmore's campus, so of course I found myself intrigued by the local references.

[Emily Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me on a ride I didn’t know I needed. The way Otis Lee ties together Michelle’s journal entries, Harriett’s reflections, and his own voice feels intimate, like sitting in a room with three wise friends sharing stories late into the night. I’ve read a lot of works about the African diaspora, but this one is different. It doesn’t romanticize 'going back home.' Instead, it wrestles with the complicated emotions of longing, belonging, and the realization that sometimes you never fully fit in either place. This book left me reflective about my own sense of identity

[Drey · Rating 5 out of 5]

What touched me most about The Last Train From Djibouti was its honesty. It doesn’t shy away from the disappointment, the dissonance, and the ache of discovering that the Motherland is not a simple homecoming, but a mirror that reflects back your own questions. The women’s journeys felt raw and real. I could almost hear the train rumbling beneath them as they traveled, carrying not just their bodies but their histories. Otis Lee has given us something powerful here: a story that reminds us how identity is not fixed, but a lifelong search.

[Williams Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

When this book was recommended to me, I didn’t expect to be so deeply moved. The Last Train From Djibouti is not just a story. It’s a mirror for anyone who has ever questioned where they belong. Michelle and Harriett’s journeys reflect the struggles and triumphs of countless African-Americans, but the themes reach far beyond race or geography. If you’ve ever carried the weight of two cultures, two homes, or two versions of yourself, this book will meet you right where you are. I recommend it to readers who value memoirs that dig into heritage, healing, and the universal search for self.

[Susan Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend recommended this book, knowing my love for stories about travel and identity. They were absolutely right. It captivated me. Otis Lee Jr. does something remarkable here: he combines personal journals, historical truth, and emotional storytelling into an odyssey that feels both intimate and universal. If you’ve read works like Homegoing or Americanah, you’ll recognize the same depth, but this book has its own powerful rhythm. I highly recommend it to readers who want to be both educated and emotionally transformed.

[Royalty Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was told this book would inspire me, and it did more than that. It spoke directly to my soul. Following Michelle and Harriett as they step into the unknown, wrestling with identity and belonging, reminded me of my own journey as a woman searching for voice and purpose. This isn’t just a travel story; it’s a testament to courage, resilience, and the power of women who dare to ask hard questions of themselves. I recommend it to women everywhere, whether you’re navigating career, heritage, family, or selfhood. You will see yourself in these pages.

[Payne Moana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Train From Djibouti is a tapestry woven with the threads of African-American history, personal memory, and the lived realities of displacement. Otis Lee Jr. doesn’t just tell a story; he captures the weight of centuries of uprootedness while showing the beauty of rediscovery. If you want to understand the complexity of heritage the longing, the ache, the hope, this book will give you that and more. It’s a must-read for students of history, lovers of memoir, and anyone who values stories that bridge generations and continents.

[Cinthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an immigrant myself, this book resonated on so many levels. That tension between where you come from, where you live, and where you feel at home it’s universal, even though this story is rooted in the African-American experience. The prose is thoughtful, sometimes even poetic, but always grounded. I found myself underlining passages and sitting with them. The Last Train From Djibouti isn’t just a book. It’s a meditation

[Juliet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t just travel writing. It’s not just memoir. It’s something in between a weaving of voices that make you stop and ask: what does home really mean? I loved how Otis gave Michelle and Harriett space to speak in their own words. Their vulnerability was breathtaking, and it made me reflect on how much courage it takes to go searching for yourself in unfamiliar lands. This book made me cry, made me think, and ultimately made me grateful for my own complicated story.

[Ameilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book floored me. It’s not about a simple homecoming. It’s about what happens when the place you’ve been told is 'home' feels both familiar and foreign. Michelle’s journal entries especially hit me; her vulnerability made me feel like I was reading my own private thoughts. Otis Lee manages to hold space for contradiction, longing, pride, loss, and hope. This is a rare book that tells the truth about the African-American return to Africa without judgment, only tenderness

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book didn’t have anything about Djibouti. The author knew two African-American women who spent some time in Uganda and Botswana in Africa. There were comparisons made between being African and African-American and comparisons made of living in the two continents. The book didn’t have any particular direction or goal that I could see. Some aspects I found interesting, but it just kind of meandered.

[David Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend told me to read The Last Train From Djibouti, and I can’t thank them enough. From the very first page, I felt pulled into Michelle and Harriett’s journeys. Their search for identity and belonging hit me harder than I expected. It’s a book that makes you think, feel, and reflect on your own life.

[Luna Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended by a close friend, The Last Train From Djibouti consumed me in the best way. The story is so layered, so full of humanity, that I lost track of time while reading. I felt every moment of hope, loss, and discovery with Michelle and Harriett. It’s the kind of book that lingers in your heart.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was told this book would stay with me, and they were right. Every page pulled me deeper into the lives of these two women and their search for themselves. The way Otis Lee Jr. captures both the beauty and the pain of returning to one’s roots is nothing short of remarkable. I felt captivated not just by the story, but by the truth it carried.

[Simon Calloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Train From Djibouti stayed with me long after I turned the last page. Michelle and Harriett’s journeys spoke to my own longing to reconnect with heritage. Their courage to confront difficult truths left me both heartbroken and inspired.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book resonated with me on a personal level. It captures the complexities of being African-American, the push and pull between two worlds, and the courage it takes to face that duality. A must-read for anyone searching for deeper meaning in heritage and identity.

[Tyler Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A friend who knows my love for powerful, emotional books told me about The Last Train From Djibouti. I wasn’t prepared for how deeply it would move me. It’s the kind of book you carry with you long after reading. Now I’m the one recommending it to everyone I know.

[Cilo Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a recommendation I will forever be grateful for. Once I started, I couldn’t let go. The Last Train From Djibouti spoke to something deep inside me the longing for belonging, the ache of displacement, and the power of rediscovery. It didn’t just captivate me, it transformed me.

[Ohrzzy White · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s a brave book, because it doesn’t sugarcoat the challenges of reconnecting with roots, nor does it fall into clichés. Instead, it offers a complex, honest portrayal of what an “unrequited return” looks like. This is literature at its best: reflective, challenging, and deeply human.

[David Darling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a profound journey into identity, heritage, and belonging. Otis Lee Jr. masterfully weaves together journal entries, reflections, and research into a narrative that feels both intimate and universal.

[Polan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Otis Lee Jr. does an incredible job of blending real-life experiences with historical context. The Last Train From Djibouti offers an emotional, thought-provoking look at what it means to reconnect with one’s roots.

[Wayne Katelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few books manage to combine memoir, history, and storytelling as seamlessly as this one. The Last Train From Djibouti feels like a conversation with the past while also speaking directly to the present. It’s inspiring, thoughtful, and beautifully executed.

[Josephine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just got my new Goodreads account today, because of this book. And I want to complimentS this book by giving the great rating it deserves.

[Wona, Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of Michelle and Harriett resonates with anyone who has ever asked the question: Where do I truly belong? A must-read for those interested in culture, history, and self-discovery.

[Success De · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pacing was slightly slower in some sections, but the richness of the narrative more than makes up for it.

[Drake Phyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me goosebumps. The struggles and revelations of Michelle and Harriett highlight the complexity of identity for the African diaspora.

[Paul Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how their voices intertwined with the author’s insights. It’s more than just a story—it’s a mirror reflecting the African-American journey.

[Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your book is really amazing and h captivating you truly have the gift of storytellinhgs