While witnessing the game of chance called Juvenile Probation in Dysfunctional Poker, readers meet Cristina Martinez, a probation officer whose dedication and devotion to her charges has earned her the moniker Mamasita, or little mother. She introduces us to double-trouble sisters Reyna and MiLinda Rangel, who continually fight over comments, real or imagined, and Denny, whose fat ass father and good-for-one-thing mother get her residentially placed. And we come across the unlikely friends Bert, the athlete, and Rogelio, the car thief, who take different roads to the same university, along with kids like Wilo, Pulga, and K.O who hold a place in Mamasita's heart. Unpopular with her coworkers, it's Cristina's unconventional methods that endear her to the kids, and as she shares a series of memories, we learn that "another girl' she can't forget helps guide her actions. In one particular flashback, "I've been in pain for so long, I feel nothing, like I'm dead inside," says that girl. "When I cut, it doesn't hurt unless it's really deep, and then it doesn't hurt that much, just enough to let me know I can still feel something. I see the blood and know I'm still alive. It's like putting the pain that's on the inside, on the outside. Then as it heals over time, it heals me on the outside and then inside. Does that make sense?" Dysfunctional Poker is not only the story of the kids in Mamasita's life; it also serves to educate anyone who interacts with teens as to how they think, how they interpret our actions toward them, and most importantly, how they need to be treated differently to adult offenders, or their non-delinquent counterparts. While enlightening as to the inner workings of the juvenile justice system, this inspiring, emotional, and highly original work of fiction is sure to elicit episodes of humor, frustration, sadness, anger, and hope
About the Author: Born to immigrant parents, Cristina Martinez was raised in the barrio where encounters with police, social workers, and probation officers were a frequent occurrence. Earning both an academic state and an athletic scholarship allowed her to pursue a B.A. degree in Psychology, and after receiving a state regent's scholarship, she went on to attain a master's in Counseling. Achieving her ultimate goal to change the circumstances she grew up in, she served as a Juvenile Probation Officer for 33 years as well as a family therapist, and became a strong advocate for her clients. Now retired, Martinez, a self-professed "gym rat," is the author Dysfunctional Poker: Juvenile Probation and Other Games of Chance, and a sought-after speaker for professional conferences, civic groups, and Hispanic organizations. She and her husband live in a lake community with their five dogs, have an active church life, and support many charitable organizations that benefit disenfranchised families and animals.