When the Diamonds Were Gone: A Jewish Refugee Comes of Age in America in the 1940's by Julian Padowicz

When the Diamonds Were Gone: A Jewish Refugee Comes of Age in America in the 1940’s by Julian Padowicz

                When the Diamonds Were Gone: A Jewish Refugee Comes of Age in America in the 1940’s is the fourth memoir written by Julian Padowicz. This memoir focuses on Julian arriving in the United States and being placed in an educational system when he barely understood the English language. The memoir begins with his arrival to New York. He is nine years old and would soon be enrolled in 4^th Grade at a private school. He has fled Warsaw with his mother Barbara. They have escaped war torn Europe and landed in Brazil and have now reached their final destination. The book continues to follow Julian throughout his journey until he graduates college and begins his career.

                I found this memoir enjoyable. Padowicz tells his story with such vivid detail and honesty that is hard not to be invested in his plight. He has a non-existent relationship with a manipulative and self-centered mother. He has to adapt to surroundings that he doesn’t necessarily understand all while receiving an education. The struggle was obvious and understandable. To make things even more complicated, Padowicz was a Jewish boy who was told by his mother to lie and say he was Catholic because of the anti-Semitic attitude that existed.

                This is a memoir that I can recommend because not only was it fascinating, it was well written and easy to read. Julian’s life in the 1940’s in the United States is one full of highs and lows but more than that it was about endurance and overcoming the struggles that exists when you have to adapt to a new land. I give this 4 out of 5 stars. 

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.