Patina (Track)

One thing I love about King Jason Reynolds is his way to keep his readers, especially his young readers, fully engaged in his work. This was a special story about an even more special young lady. Patina, aka Patty, had a lot going on in her young life and she showed such resilience and strength that not even adults possess. I'm so glad Jason Reynolds decided on this path with her. I read/listened to this with our teen and 2 pre-teens and we had a few laughs, a few pause moments, and many things to discuss. I love the discussion questions at the end of the book too.Highly recommend this series. Great read. Now, on to the next book, Sunny. Let's Go.

After reading a review of this novel a couple of days ago, I purchased it immediately and tore through it. As a 60-something white grandmother to a live-in brown granddaughter, I am reading everything I can get my hands on to learn about the challenges she faces.Middle-schooler Patty (Patina) navigates a life in which her father has died, her mother - to whom she is very close -- cannot care for her and her little sister, her black uncle and white aunt provide a home for them, her charter school seems to be predominantly white, and her elite track team is her salvation (as well as one of her big struggles). Some of the difficulties she faces are universal to 12yo girls in America, some are unique to her family situation, and all are affected by color and cultures. She and extended family and friends all support one another in big and loving ways, but that doesn't prevent one conundrum and sometimes crisis after another from presenting itself.As a former teacher of middle school literature, I wish I had a class with which to share this book. As a grandmother, I found in Patty a hero for the toddler in my life. And as a white gm, I appreciated the clear depictions and occasional parenthentical explanations of things I'm trying to learn about, like beads and hair wrapping.Now on to the rest of the books in the series!

My son needed this for school. He chose it because it had the fewest amount of pages, but he seemed to enjoy it.

I'm at 5th grade teacher who read Ghost to my class earlier this school year. The kids ate it up, and literally begged for me to read more. I have just finished Patina. My students haven't even read it yet! And I truly think it's even better than Ghost!Patty is totally relatable to kids (boys and girls) of any race. Though, I really think it's notable that this is a book with a female of color as the main character. I usually really have to search to HARD find such refreshing, entertaining and thought-provoking writing.I love Jason Reynolds!

This is book number 2 in the four book "Track" series. All of the books have taken my grandson's school by storm. They're trading them back and forth like collectibles. Good characters, well written, and solid messages and tone.

I don’t know what it is about Reynolds’ realism, but it hooks me as the reader without bringing me “down.” The characters in this series have obstacles, troubles, etc., but Reynolds does not treat these overly dramatic or sentimental. The realistic issues are not sensationalized, and what this gives the readers if fully developed characters, dealing with what life has dealt them in the best way they can. What these characters have is their track team family to have their backs and keep them real.

I'm a middle school language arts teacher, and my kids are in love with JA's track series. After reading GHOST, they BEGGED me to read PATINA. I will end the school year reading this book with them. (Although some have already devoured it. And I should mention these are "reluctant" readers.) I feel in love with Reynolds characters. If he ever quits his writing gig--which I hope he NEVER does--he could be a family counselor without obtaining a degree. He gets families and the complicated, messy relationships that make up this social unit that we all crave, need, and often pull our hair out over. Families, like the fictional ones in Reynold's books, aren't perfect and they come in different flavors. PATINA gives readers hope: they too can navigate life within a complex, imperfect, broken, and beautifully unique family. Thanks, Jason Reynolds, for writing books kids love and relate too.

Patina, and all 4 books in the series, have real families facing difficult issues. The dialog is honest. There is a lot of surprising and witty humor. You want to keep turning the pages to see what happens; and then read the next book. The kids are winners at life. The way the track team members, and the adults, reach out and help others in so many ways, is inspiring. You want to cheer them on.

El libro es un gran éxito entre los libros de deporte. un libro maravilloso y perfecto para niños entre 12 a 14 o mas o menos

Infelizmente não reparei q era em inglês.. e demorou mais de um mês e meio data prevista pra ser entregue e não tive nenhum retorno do vendedor

A very entertaining and inspiring book. Great qualities like thirst of victory, standing up for each other and everlasting friendship which are great experiences of childhood were highlighted. Patina is a very inspiring character and portrays that perseverance, diligence and passion are the key to success and helps her to overcome all obstacles in life.

This story begins seconds after the last story ended. At the end of the last story, Ghost, Ghost was just about to start his first track race. But it didn’t go as planned, which was surprising. This is a great way to join the two stories, especially since they have different narrators.I love Patty’s distinct voice in this story. She tells the story from her point of view. She is a very strong girl who grows a lot throughout the story.Patty has a unique family situation. She lives with her aunt (who her and her sister call Momly) and her uncle. But their mom is still alive, though she is unable to take care of them. Her mom had to have both legs amputated due to complications from diabetes. I have never read a story with a character in that condition before, so I learned a lot from this story.I liked the way that Patty explained things that happened with her mom. Whenever she mentioned medical terms, like diabetes, dialysis, or diagnosis, she noted that they all have the word “die” in them. It was a way for her to analyze what was going on. She was very perceptive and smart when dealing with these difficult situations.I loved this book. The third book in the series, Sunny, is coming out next week, and I can’t wait to read it!

Patina is a powerful runner, a gritty moral compass, and the glue that holds her modern family together. Can this strong female keep it all together when it really counts?