BookBrief
Patina cover
Archivist's Choice

Patina

Jason Reynolds (2017)

Genre

Children's / Young Adult

Reading Time

12 Minutes

Key Themes

See below

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A young track star, running from her mother's illness and her changed life, must learn to depend on her teammates to truly win the race.

Synopsis

Patina "Patty" Jones is a formidable runner, but her speed is as much an escape as it is a talent. Since moving in with her uncle and his wife, Patty navigates a new, upscale school while grappling with the fear of her mother's diabetes, a disease that has already claimed her mother's legs and threatens her life. This emotional burden manifests as a defensive attitude, putting her at odds with her track coach and teammates. When Coach pushes her to join a relay team, Patty must confront her deep-seated independence and learn to trust others, a challenge that forces her to reconcile with her past and find a new way to run—not just for herself, but with others.
Difficulty
Easy
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Resilient, hopeful, reflective, determined

Plot Summary

The Weight of the World and the Track

Patina Jones, called Patty, is a strong, independent runner. She struggles to adapt to her new, mostly white private school, Chester Academy. Patty lives with her Uncle Tony and Aunt Lori, and her younger sister, Maddy, because their mother has diabetes and lost her legs. Patty feels great pressure to care for Maddy and manage her family's medical situation, which often makes her surly. Coach Brody, her track coach, is strict but observant. He immediately sees Patty's talent and her emotional burdens. Early track practices show Patty's individual speed but also her unwillingness to work with teammates, especially in relay races.

Family Dynamics and Unspoken Fears

The story explores Patty's home life, showing the constant worry she has for her mother. Her mother's health, called 'The Sugar,' is a constant fear that drives much of Patty's behavior. She feels deep responsibility for Maddy, often acting as a parent. This burden, with the stress of her new school and feeling like an outsider, makes her defensive and often defiant. Hospital visits to her mother are emotional, making Patty more afraid of loss and more determined to prove herself worthy of the sacrifices made for her.

The Relay Challenge

Coach Brody, despite Patty's clear preference for individual running, insists she join the 4x400m relay team. This decision is a major point of conflict for Patty, who prides herself on self-reliance and sees depending on others as a weakness. The idea of trusting her teammates with the baton, and with her success, is deeply unsettling. The coach's reason is not just about winning races, but about teaching Patty the value of teamwork and shared responsibility, a lesson she needs to learn off the track too.

Clashes and Connections

Patty's sharp tongue and tendency to lash out create tension with her relay teammates: Sunny, Lu, and Ghost. Sunny, especially, is often the target of Patty's frustration, leading to arguments. Despite the initial dislike, moments of connection appear. The girls begin to understand the pressures Patty faces, and Patty slowly starts to see her teammates not just as problems, but as individuals with their own struggles and strengths. These interactions help break down Patty's emotional walls, even if slowly.

A Day at the Track Meet

The first big track meet shows individual successes and team struggles. Patty runs well in her individual events, showing her speed. However, the relay race is a challenge. The pressure of the handoffs and the need for coordinated effort show Patty's inexperience with teamwork. Mistakes happen, and frustrations erupt, but the experience also forces the girls to communicate and rely on each other. This meet tests their new team dynamic and shows what they need to improve.

The Art of the Handoff

Seeing the relay team's problems, Coach Brody spends a lot of practice time on perfecting the baton handoff. He explains that the handoff is not just a physical act but a symbol of trust, communication, and shared responsibility. He uses examples and drills to help the girls understand that a successful relay needs each member to do their part perfectly and to believe their teammates will do the same. This focus on the technical and emotional parts of the handoff directly addresses Patty's main issue of trusting others.

Maddy's World

Maddy, Patty's younger sister, becomes more important as her own school struggles are revealed. She has trouble reading and adapting to her new environment, like some of Patty's own worries. Patty, despite her own burdens, takes responsibility for helping Maddy with homework and offering emotional support. This shows Patty's protective nature and the close bond between the sisters, while adding another layer to Patty's already heavy responsibilities.

A Glimmer of Understanding

Through shared experiences on the track and honest talks, Patty slowly starts to relax. She learns about her teammates' backgrounds and personal challenges, realizing that everyone has their own burdens. A touching moment happens when her teammates show concern for her, offering support instead of judgment. This change marks a turning point for Patty, as she begins to understand that being vulnerable does not mean being weak and that shared struggles can build stronger bonds.

The Weight of Expectations

As the season goes on, the pressure on Patty grows. She feels the weight of her family's expectations, her own desire to do well, and the need to prove herself at Chester Academy. Her mother's declining health remains a constant, underlying source of worry. This pressure sometimes makes her go back to her defensive habits, but she also learns to use it in her running. The idea of running for her mother, who cannot run herself, becomes a strong motivation.

The Championship Race

The season's final event is the championship track meet. The 4x400m relay team, after a season of conflicts and growth, faces its biggest test. Patty, now more a part of the team, runs her leg with determination. The race is close, full of tension and the result of all their practices and emotional development. The focus is not just on winning, but on perfectly executing the handoffs and the team's combined effort. This race represents their journey of learning to trust and work together.

A Moment of Triumph and Connection

In an exciting finish, the relay team performs well, perhaps winning or placing highly. More important than the outcome, the race strengthens the bond between Patty, Sunny, Lu, and Ghost. Patty feels the joy and satisfaction of shared success, a feeling very different from her individual victories. The experience reinforces the lessons of teamwork and trust that Coach Brody has been teaching. Patty's attitude has softened, and she shows real appreciation and affection for her teammates, showing significant personal growth.

Looking Ahead

The novel ends with Patty having a more balanced view of her life. She still carries her family's burdens, but she has learned that she does not have to carry them alone. Her relationships with her teammates and Coach Brody have given her a support system. She has learned the value of community, vulnerability, and the strength that comes from trusting others. Patty is still Patina, a fierce and fast runner, but she is also more open, empathetic, and ready to face future challenges with a team beside her.

Principal Figures

Patina 'Patty' Jones

The Protagonist

Patty transforms from an isolated, defensive individual runner into a more open, trusting team player who learns the value of vulnerability and shared responsibility. She learns that true strength comes not just from individual speed, but from the bonds formed with others.

Coach Brody

The Supporting

Coach Brody remains consistent as a mentor figure, successfully guiding Patty toward personal growth and fostering a stronger team dynamic.

Maddy Jones

The Supporting

Maddy's character arc primarily serves to underscore Patty's caregiver role and her evolving understanding of her responsibilities.

Sunny

The Supporting

Sunny's arc is less about personal transformation and more about her role in challenging Patty and fostering team unity.

Lu

The Supporting

Lu's arc is subtle, primarily showcasing her consistent support and contribution to the team's cohesion.

Ghost

The Supporting

Ghost's arc is largely static, serving as a reliable and fast member of the relay team.

Uncle Tony

The Supporting

Uncle Tony remains a consistent source of support and stability for Patty and Maddy throughout the narrative.

Aunt Lori

The Supporting

Aunt Lori's character remains a steadfast and loving guardian, providing a stable home environment.

Patty's Mom

The Supporting

Patty's mother's condition remains a constant, underlying factor that drives Patty's emotional and athletic journey.

Themes & Insights

The Burden of Responsibility

Patty carries a great weight of responsibility, not just for herself but for her younger sister Maddy and, indirectly, for her sick mother. This theme explores how such burdens can appear as anger, isolation, and fierce independence, but also how they can drive resilience and a deep sense of protectiveness. The novel shows Patty learning to handle these responsibilities, realizing that sharing the load can be a form of strength, not weakness.

“I was always running for my mom, who couldn’t run. And for Maddy, who needed me to be strong. But mostly, I was running from the fear that one day, my mom wouldn’t be there anymore.”

— Patina (narrator)

Teamwork vs. Individualism

A main conflict for Patty is her deep-seated individualism versus the need for teamwork, especially in the relay race. She thrives on individual success and struggles to trust others, seeing dependence as a weakness. The novel uses the relay as a strong comparison for life, showing that some challenges need group effort and that real strength can be found in working together and shared goals. Patty's journey is about learning to hand off the baton, both literally and figuratively.

“See, Patina, a relay ain't just about how fast you are. It's about how well you connect. How much you trust the person behind you, and the person in front of you.”

— Coach Brody

Finding Your Place

Patty's experience at Chester Academy, a mostly white private school, shows the theme of finding one's place in new environments. She feels like an outsider, socially and financially, which makes her defensive. Her journey is not just about running but about navigating new social settings and learning to belong. This theme extends to her finding her place within her new family and eventually, within her track team, where she learns to accept support and build real connections.

“This school ain't my world. These kids ain't my people. But the track, that was mine. And maybe, just maybe, I could make a place for myself there.”

— Patina (narrator)

Grief, Fear, and Resilience

Underlying much of Patty's behavior are deep fears related to her mother's illness and the possible loss she faces. The novel explores how children cope with grief and worry, often through behaviors like anger or withdrawal. However, it also shows Patty's great resilience, her ability to turn her pain into her running, and her gradual process of accepting support from others. Her journey is about confronting these fears and finding healthy ways to deal with them.

“Every time I ran, it was like I was running from The Sugar. Running from what it did to my mom. Running from what it could do to me.”

— Patina (narrator)

The Power of Mentorship

Coach Brody is an important mentor, guiding Patty not just in running but in life lessons. This theme highlights the strong impact a dedicated and understanding adult can have on a young person's life, especially one struggling with emotional and personal challenges. Coach Brody’s steady belief in Patty, combined with his firm but fair approach, helps her break down her walls and see her own potential for growth beyond her athletic abilities.

“You got speed, Patina. But speed ain't everything. Sometimes, you gotta slow down to speed up.”

— Coach Brody

Plot Devices & Literary Techniques

Running as Metaphor

Patty's running symbolizes her struggles and her escape.

Running is the central metaphor throughout the novel. Patty runs from her problems, her fears about her mother's illness, and the discomfort of her new environment. Simultaneously, running is her escape, her passion, and a source of her identity and confidence. The transition from individual races to relay races serves as a metaphor for her journey from self-reliance to interdependence, highlighting her emotional growth and her learning to trust others. Her speed reflects her internal drive and her desire to outrun her pain.

The Baton Handoff

Symbolizes trust, connection, and shared responsibility.

The baton handoff in the relay race is a powerful symbolic device. For Patty, who struggles with trust and dependence, the act of handing off or receiving the baton represents a profound challenge. It forces her to physically and emotionally connect with her teammates, to rely on their speed and precision, and to accept that her success is intertwined with theirs. The successful execution of handoffs becomes a tangible representation of the team's growing cohesion and Patty's personal breakthrough in learning to trust.

First-Person Narrative (Patina's Voice)

Provides intimate access to Patty's thoughts and emotions.

The novel is told from Patina's first-person perspective, which allows readers intimate access to her raw emotions, fears, and internal monologues. This narrative choice is crucial for understanding her often prickly exterior and the deep-seated anxieties that drive her behavior. Her distinct voice, filled with slang and direct observations, makes her character relatable and authentic, enabling readers to empathize with her struggles and witness her gradual transformation from the inside out.

Critical analysis

Notable Quotes

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Key Questions (FAQ)

"Patina" is about a young girl named Patina, also known as Patty, who is a very fast runner. She uses running to escape difficult situations in her life, including bullying at a new school and the emotional burden of her mother's illness.

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