In Patina, Patina "Patty" Jones grapples with her passion for running, her responsibilities towards her family, and the challenges at her new, affluent school. She navigates living with her aunt and uncle while caring for her younger sister and dealing with her mother's severe health issues. Patty learns to trust her track team and find her place through a relay team, growing personally and athletically.

Patina by Jason Reynolds delves into the life of Patina "Patty" Jones, a runner facing family challenges and a new school. Reviews praise its authentic voice, emotional depth, and strong character development. While some readers desired more plot complexity, most agree it’s a compelling, impactful read suitable for middle-grade audiences. Overall, it's lauded for its relatable themes and inspirational message.

Readers who enjoy realistic, diverse, and emotionally rich stories will love Jason Reynolds's Patina. Adolescents and young adults, especially fans of Kwame Alexander's The Crossover and Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming, will appreciate this tale of resilience, family, and athletic ambition.

Challenging / Emotional / Inspirational / Hopeful / Heartwarming

- Patina is the second book in Jason Reynolds's critically acclaimed Track series, which follows a group of middle-school athletes each with their own story.
- Jason Reynolds wrote the Track series, including Patina, to portray diverse characters and real-life struggles, aiming to bring more inclusive stories to young adult literature.
- The illustration on the cover of Patina was created by Vanessa Brantley-Newton, an artist known for her work celebrating diversity and positive representation.

Jason Reynolds

Middle grade

Novel

Track

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Teaching Guide

Before You Read

Explore Patina reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

Before You Read Patina | SuperSummary

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore Patina and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Patina Summary and Study Guide

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-3

Patina Chapters 1-3 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 4-6

Patina Chapters 4-6 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 7-10

Patina Chapters 7-10 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 11-13

Patina Chapters 11-13 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 14-16

Patina Chapters 14-16 Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

Patina Character Analysis

theme

Themes

Patina Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Patina Symbols & Motifs

quote

citation

Important Quotes

Patina Important Quotes

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

Patina Essay Topics

Patina Further Reading & Resources

Introduction

Patina Teacher Introduction

Before Reading

Patina Before Reading

During Reading

Patina During Reading

After Reading

Patina After Reading

Patina

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read Patina?

Reading Age

Book Details