Patina Summary
Reynolds, Jason

Patina Overview

Jason Reynolds' novel, Patina, is the second installment of his Track series and the stand-alone story of Patina Jones. Patina's biological mother has lost both legs due to diabetes. Since their father is deceased and their mother is not able to take care of them, Patina and her younger sister Maddy now live with their Uncle Tony and Emily, his wife. Patina's life is very different now because she has spent the past few years taking care of Maddy. So, she still feels the need to do so, even though her aunt and uncle have taken over that responsibility. Patina is a member of the track team at her new school, Chester Academy. She loves to run, and she is making friends on the team. However, since most of the students at the private charter school are from wealthy, white families, Patina has problems fitting into the school's general population. From her track team, Patina learns that she must live up to the responsibilities of being part of a team rather than just feel the need to take care of only herself when things go wrong. Patina also learns that it is easier to make friends with others who share your interests and history. The novel's main themes are the importance of friendship, the deception of appearances, and the role of family.