Patina
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to 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.
Things to Consider
Violence
The 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.
Scary & Intense Content
The 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.
Disrespect & Rebellion
Patina, 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.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
Comprehensive 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.
Romance and Sexual Content
The 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.
Profanity
The 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.
Witchcraft & Occult
There 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.
Substance Use
The 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.
Anti-Christian Themes
The 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.
Jason Reynolds's "Patina" presents several core themes that align positively with biblical values, particularly resilience, friendship, and the importance of never giving up, reflecting scriptural calls to endurance through trials (Romans 5:3-5, James 1:2-4). The narrative emphasizes the significance of depending on others and teamwork, which mirrors the Christian concept of community and the body of Christ, where individual members contribute to a greater whole. While Patina struggles with anger and a strong desire for self-reliance due to past trauma, her character arc rewards the development of virtues such as empathy, learning to accept help, and working collaboratively. The worldview presented is largely transcendent, valuing inherent goods like family, friendship, and perseverance, and suggesting that meaning in life is found through responsible relationships and overcoming challenges rather than through materialistic or relativistic pursuits. The coach's guidance in fostering teamwork and addressing Patina's attitudes also serves as a positive example of mentorship and accountability. The book also contains strong echoes of redemption themes, as Patina moves from emotional isolation and the lasting effects of childhood trauma towards healing and connection, akin to a personal redemption. The symbolic act of "passing the baton" underscores grace and mutual support, highlighting how shared burdens can lead to collective strength. Family values are portrayed as profoundly important and foundational; Patina's extended family provides a loving and stable environment, demonstrating the biblical emphasis on family support, and her fierce devotion to her mother and sister showcases sacrificial love. Regarding faith representation, the book respectfully depicts Patina and her family engaging in regular church attendance, integrating faith as a natural, respected element within their lives without making it the central focus of the plot.
Additional Context
Best For Ages
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.
Good to Know
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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