Patina

• Genre: Fiction; middle grade contemporary realistic
• Originally Published: 2017
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 710L; grades 5-8
• Structure/Length: 16 chapters; approximately 256 pages; approximately 5 hours, 46 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: Patina “Patty” Jones, a talented runner, navigates the challenges of competitive track while dealing with difficult situations that cause her heavy responsibilities. Patty’s father is deceased, and her mother’s diabetes is life-threatening; Patty and her younger sister, Maddy, must live with their uncle and his wife, now their guardians; Patty is attending a new school away from her established friend group. The central conflict involves the complexities of growing up and Patty’s struggle to balance her athletic ambitions, the needs of her family, and her own needs.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Family illness and disability; guardianship; socioeconomic challenges; racial identity and belonging; verbal altercation; mild insults; death of parent (backstory); fear of loss

Jason Reynolds, Author

• Bio: Born in 1983; American author who writes novels and books in verse for young adult and middle grade audiences; known for his authentic depictions of urban life; often addresses themes of race, identity, and the challenges faced by young people
• Other Works: Ghost (2016); Long Way Down (2017); Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks (2019); Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You (co-authored with Ibram X.