The Kid From Budapest is the story of John Somori, a little Hungarian boy born in Yugoslavia, raised in Bosnia and schooled in Hungary. A happy kid, at age fifteen and a member of his school's literary club, he participated in a nation-wide contest to write an essay about writers. He won, taking home the first prize of a Napoleon gold coin. At sixteen, with three other boy scouts he toured Eastern Europe, and a year later he wrote extensively about this trip, eventually having it published and placed in local libraries and schools. Somori's literary club enriched his life, and enhanced his political education. In the spring of 1944 Germany invaded Hungary. Many of Somori's friends -- Jews and gentiles -- ended up in concentration camps. In October of 1944 his fate became theirs. Before transportation to Auschwitz he escaped until the Soviets came and liberated Budapest. After a few days of freedom, he was taken from the street with thousands more to work as forced labor in the Soviet Union, but managed once again to escape.
Somori would later hold jobs as a commercial artist, teacher, and photographer, but eventually became an "Enemy of the State" to the Soviets. On October 23, 1956, the unsuccessful revolt against Soviet occupation started, eventually leading to Somori's having to flee to Austria with his wife and four-year-old son to seek refuge in a camp with thousands more. After almost three years, Somori and his family was allowed to emigrate to the United States to start new lives.
Born into a family with moderate wealth promised J.A. Somori limitless possibilities for his future. When World War II erupted in Europe, however, it wiped away all his plans and dreams. The invading German Army brought fear and concentration camps to the nation. Countless thousands perished. When the German war effort failed, the Soviet Army marched behind the retreating Nazis, bringing Communism to the land. The entire nation had to learn the art of survival. A decade passed and on October 23, 1956, the nation revolted. The Soviet Army crushed the uprising with merciless destruction. The author's family escaped to Austria and for years lived in refugee camps. In 1959 the family emigrated to the United States and started a prosperous life. After retirement, the author moved to Maryland and wrote his memoir. His son lives in Delaware and practices medicine.