Citizen of the World: A Memoir

From a troubled youth to one of Mazatlan's surfing legends—this memoir tells the riveting story of one boy's perseverance and determination during his rocky journey to become a man and claim his place as a citizen of the world.

Neto Flores is only five years old when he is expelled from kindergarten and sent to a military school. By age ten, he is back home, selling peanuts on the beaches of Mazatlan, Mexico. But Neto dreams of something more. Something better. By age thirteen, Neto has found his lifelong passion: surfing the wild waves. But the surf culture of the 1960s and 70s isn't all sun and sea. It's a culture soaked in drugs and, for young, adventurous Mexicans like Neto, illegal crossings into America in search of opportunity.

Neto works hard, but he's divided between two worlds. Can he escape his demons to become the person he wants to be? He leans on his "better angels," but sometimes those angels find him in jail. As Neto struggles to find the place he belongs, his family and heritage guide him home. Citizen of the World shows a culture with deep-rooted values, which are both difficult and joyful. A culture shaped by poverty, humor, music, beautiful weather, and most of all, people like Neto, who are courageous, hard-working, resourceful, and resilient.