Ernesto Flores’ memoir, Citizen of the World is about the ocean and surfing. But it’s about so much more. It’s a coming of age story. A book about a battle between good and evil. A book about resilience and redemption.
Ernesto discovered surfing in 1973, when he was thirteen years old. He instantly fell in love with the sport and it quickly defined his life. When he is fourteen, his mother throws his surfboard in the trash and he runs away from home and crosses the border into California. For the next twenty-five years, he lives his life between two cultures, traveling between Mexico and the U.S., never losing his love of the ocean or his desire to conquer the biggest, highest waves in the Pacific Ocean.
This is a book for travelers, adventurers, environmentalists and wanderers. For you, your family and friends. ~ Bethany Baker, Winter Park, CO
Citizen of the World showcases one man’s life in 37 action-packed chapters, identified by year and place and important relationship. Neto’s adventures alternate between Mexico and the United States. He succeeds at most everything he attempts: school, soccer, surfing, mechanics, caretaking, printing, baking, border crossing, friendships, languages and yes, drug dealing. A continuous strand of fatherly care and sensitive self-reflection guide him though jail, addiction, loss, and love. He is a risk-taker. Humanness and “sinners and saints” themes prevail throughout the pages.
Neto tells his story honestly, openly inviting the reader to join him on his life journey. Descriptive scenes provide colorful context. Characters interact emotionally, offering insight into Neto’s personality and life choices. ‘Letter to My Sons”, “Papi”, and the “Epilogue” create poignant understanding of the boy and the man. Sometimes I wanted to cry, sometimes to laugh, sometimes to scream, sometimes to run; but I always felt that I was living life with Neto. The energy and pace are contagious.
This book is for readers who enjoy learning and specifically learning about Mexico, surfing, immigration and the drug world. They will turn the pages quickly, engaging in tale after tale. This book engages, keeping one guessing about what will happen and what might have been, enticing those who like suspense. Universal human dilemmas acutely play out, tugging at readers to decide which path they might have chosen at any number of crossroads. Readers will ponder life’s challenges, gifts, and questions. ~ Cathy Lines, Centennial, Colorado
Citizen of the World is a coming of age story about a boy who discovers surfing and feels like he is flying. He is a natural athlete, a boy without fear who survives in a world that is both exciting and dangerous. It is also a modern day Peter Pan story ~ with pretty girls and villains, a pack of lost boys, and a charming, handsome hero who struggles with what it means to grow up.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Ernesto’s memoir. His description of life in the 1970s and 80s rang true to me. I loved all of Ernesto’s adventures, even those that didn’t turn out well. Ernesto is a fascinating man. Thank you, Lynda Jones, for telling his story. ~ Vicki Parrish, Aurora, CO