Patina
Patina is the second book in Jason Reynolds' acclaimed Track series, offering a poignant middle-grade realistic fiction narrative. It centers on Patina "Patty" Jones, a gifted middle school runner grappling with immense personal challenges. The story explores her journey of adjusting to a new school, navigating a complex family life marked by the death of her father and her mother's severe health issues (diabetes leading to double amputation), and learning to rely on others as part of a track relay team. The book delves into themes of resilience, family bonds, friendship, and the importance of teamwork, providing a heartfelt look at a young girl's struggle to find her place and manage significant responsibilities while pursuing her passion for running. The narrative is generally suitable for a middle-grade audience, focusing on emotional depth and character development.
Concerns
Violence
MediumThe book features instances of significant personal loss and medical trauma, which can be emotionally intense, but does not contain graphic physical violence. The death of Patina's father and her mother's severe illness and amputations are central to Patina's emotional landscape.
Patina's father passed away suddenly in his sleep, a traumatic event that profoundly impacts Patina's life. Her mother suffers from diabetes, which led to the amputation of both her legs and requires thrice-weekly dialysis treatments. These are serious medical conditions and losses, though not acts of violence.
Scary & Intense Content
MediumThe content includes emotionally intense situations and realistic fears related to illness and loss. Patina carries significant emotional burdens and fears for her family's future, particularly concerning her mother's severe health issues.
Patina lives with the fear that her mother, who has already lost her legs due to diabetes, could eventually be taken away by the disease. Patina's running is partly driven by a desire to "outrun her personal demons" and cope with her anguish and the weight of her responsibilities.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumPatina, as a pre-teen carrying heavy responsibilities, displays occasional "bad attitude" and some snarky behavior, particularly when dealing with personal frustrations or perceived slights. However, the narrative often explores the consequences of such attitudes and emphasizes growth towards teamwork and respect.
Patina is noted for having a "pretty bad attitude" at times, which her coach actively works to address, especially in the context of learning to run a relay where teamwork is crucial. Patina initially struggles with trusting her teammates and accepting help, reflecting a rebellious streak against interdependence.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
LowComprehensive searches for LGBTQ+ content, characters, or themes within "Patina" and author statements regarding this specific book yielded no explicit or implied references. The narrative focuses on Patina's personal and familial struggles, her identity as a runner, and her experiences with fitting in at a new school.
No specific examples of LGBTQ+ characters, relationships, or gender identity discussions were found in the available content reviews or summaries after executing mandatory searches.
Romance and Sexual Content
LowThe book contains no overt romantic or sexual content. The focus of Patina's story is on her family life, her responsibilities, her internal emotional struggles, and her experiences as an athlete and student.
No descriptions of romantic relationships, kissing, or suggestive language were identified in the available content reviews or summaries.
Profanity
LowThe language in the book is generally mild, suitable for its middle-grade audience. There are mentions of "contemporary teenage put-downs" and occasional mild colloquialisms that reflect realistic youth dialogue without resorting to strong profanity.
A vocabulary list for the book includes the word "dingy" used in a mildly derogatory context, such as referring to "dingy ponytails" by other students. Reviews mention "contemporary teenage put-downs" as part of the humor and realistic dialogue, indicating some mild sassy or disrespectful language.
Witchcraft & Occult
LowThere are no elements of witchcraft, sorcery, occult practices, or supernatural themes present in "Patina." The narrative is grounded in realistic fiction, focusing on the character's lived experiences and emotional journey.
The search for keywords related to witchcraft, magic, or the occult yielded no relevant information within the book's content.
Substance Use
LowThe book addresses a mother's unhealthy coping mechanism related to food following a traumatic loss, but it does not feature illegal drug use, alcohol consumption, or smoking. The 'substance' issue is specific to the mother's diabetes.
Patina's mother coped with the death of her husband by "eating increasing amounts of sugar," which contributed to the progression of her diabetes. This is a specific health-related coping issue, not recreational or illicit substance abuse.
Anti-Christian Themes
LowThe book generally treats religious themes with respect, depicting the family's regular church attendance as a part of their lives. While Patina's internal thoughts may reflect a typical child's perspective on church services, there is no overt anti-Christian sentiment.
Patina and her sister Maddy attend church with their grandmother every Sunday, indicating a family connection to faith. Patina's internal monologue describes church as "a whole lot of talk about grace and faith and mercy and salvation, which, to me, all just equaled shouting, clapping, and singing in a building built to be a sweatbox," reflecting a child's less enthusiastic but observational perspective rather than outright mockery.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
Ages 10-12 and up, specifically Grades 5-8. The book handles mature themes such as parental death, severe illness, and the pressures of caregiving with sensitivity, making it appropriate for this age group while offering opportunities for rich discussion.
Additional Notes
Patina is part of a series where each book focuses on a different character. While Patina's narrative is described as quieter than the first book, 'Ghost,' which included more intense action, the emotional intensity of Patina's personal struggles remains high due to themes of grief, illness, and responsibility. The book offers positive themes of perseverance, family love, and the importance of community and teamwork.
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