Patina

65 pages • 2 hours read

Patina

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2017

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

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Introduction

Before Reading

During Reading

After Reading

During Reading

Reading Questions & Paired Texts

Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

CHAPTERS 1-3

Reading Check

1. With whom does Patty live?

2. Where does Patty feel most at home?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What is Patty’s reaction to her finish in the first track meet of the novel? What does this reaction reveal about her?

2. How does Patty feel about her mother?

3. What led to Patty’s interest in track?

Paired Resource

“Understanding Child Trauma”

This Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration resource includes statistics, background, and additional links about childhood trauma. (Teacher-appropriate; not student facing without teacher guidance, as the article mentions a variety of causes of trauma)
The information in this resource may offer teachers language and ideas for leading discussion on Patty’s trauma in the novel and how it has affected her.
This resource connects to the theme of The Lasting Effects of Childhood Trauma.

CHAPTERS 4-6

Reading Check

1. Who helps Patty smile for the first time since the track meet?

2. In which race does Coach put Patty?

3. What is Momly’s job?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. Why does Coach Whit have some runners on the track team waltz during practice?

2. How are Momly and Uncle Tony treating Patty?

Paired Resources

“Spreading Joy”

This Time for Kids article presents a positivity project that expanded from a town to the globe. The resource offers Spanish and audio options.
The information in this resource connects to the themes of Passing the Baton: The Importance of Depending on Others and The Struggle To Fit In.
Where and how does Patty experience encouragement? How does she accept it?

“Moving to Middle School (for Kids)”

Nemours Kids Health offers ideas for the transition to middle school. The resource offers options to listen to audio and read in Spanish.
The information in this resource connects to the themes of Passing the Baton: The Importance of Depending on Others and The Struggle To Fit In.
What advice in the article does Patty take? What advice would you suggest to her?

CHAPTERS 7-10

Reading Check

1. When Patty and Krystal argue during practice, what does Coach do?

2. What does Patty say she would send to space?

3. Why is Patty surprised to learn TeeTee’s and Taylor’s mothers are teachers?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How does the Frida Kahlo project bring Patty closer to some friends at school?

2. How do new revelations about Momly affect Patty?

Paired Resource

“Helping Kids Heal”

Time for Kids explores the importance of support systems and other healing ideas. The resource offers Spanish and audio options.
The information in this resource connects to the themes of The Lasting Effects of Childhood Trauma and Passing the Baton: The Importance of Depending on Others.
Who is a part of Patty’s support system? What impact does this support have on her?

CHAPTERS 11-13

Reading Check

1. What happens to Momly and Maddy on the way to Maddy’s field trip?

2. When the relay team gets lost, who leads them back to the park?

3. In whom does Patty confide at the end of practice?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. How does Patty help Maddy at the hospital and what does this reveal about Patty?

2. Why does Momly, after her concussion, insist Patty attend track practice?

3. With Momly injured, how does track practice help Patty?

CHAPTERS 14-16

Reading Check

1. With what task does Patty ask Ma for help?

2. With what task does Patty ask Maddy for help?

3. Who wins the girls’ 4x800 meter relay race?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. While researching, what connections does Patty make between herself and Frida Kahlo?

2. How does pretending about her father’s cupcake lead to healing for Patty?

Recommended Next Reads

Sunny by Jason Reynolds

The third novel in the Track series follows Sunny as he grapples with his mother’s death, his relationship with his father, and his unhappiness with running.
Shared themes include The Lasting Effects of Childhood Trauma, Passing the Baton: The Importance of Depending on Others, and The Struggle To Fit In.
Shared topics include friendship, family, track, identity, pain, strength, teamwork, and growing up.
Sunny on SuperSummary

Unsettled by Reem Faruqi

Nurah works to become a swimming champion, adjust to her new home, and discover who she wants to be.
Shared themes include The Lasting Effects of Childhood Trauma, Passing the Baton: The Importance of Depending on Others, and The Struggle To Fit In.
Shared topics include family, growing up, identity, choices, personal growth, sports, and home.

Reading Questions Answer Key

CHAPTERS 1-3

Reading Check

1. Patty’s sister Maddy and guardians Uncle Tony and Momly (Chapter 1)

2. At track practice (Chapter 3)

Short Answer

1. Patty views her finish harshly, despite being in the top two. Readers might infer from Patty’s lasting “sting” of second place that, for her, first place is the only option. She holds onto the resentment of the loss for days, which reveals her competitive nature, desire to succeed, and holding herself to high standards. (Chapters 1-3)

2. Patty loves her mother and feels responsible for helping her. She looks forward to seeing her, worries about her, and wants her to find joy in Patty and Maddy’s well-being. For example, Patty dresses herself and Maddy for the weekly church service that they attend with their mother, then dances in church to make her mother happy. These examples illustrate Patty taking on heavy responsibility for a young person, more than her mother would want her to. (Chapters 1-3)

3. Uncle Tony revealed to Patty that Patty’s father would send him videos of Patty running when she was little. This inspired her to try running track, and she loves it. She also runs to some extent to honor her mother, who has had her legs amputated and cannot run. (Chapter 3)

CHAPTERS 4-6

Reading Check

1. Sunny (Chapter 4)

2. 4x800 meter relay (Chapter 5)

3. Momly owns a business for caring for people: Emily’s Expert Care. (Chapter 6)

Short Answer

1. Coach Whit has the relay team waltz together to learn how to work more closely together and how to move in sync with each other. Though at first Patty is somewhat annoyed, after a while, the relay team learns to read each other and coordinate their movements more closely and consistently, which helps as they pass the baton while running races. (Chapter 5)

2. Momly and Uncle Tony are intent on trying to support and care for Patty. For example, Momly repeatedly makes what she thinks is Patty’s favorite food, turkey wings. They also take time to talk with her and make sure she is supported in her activities. (Chapters 4-6)

CHAPTERS 7-10

Reading Check

1. Tells Patty and Krystal they need to hold onto the baton together (Chapter 7)

2. A recording of her father’s music or cupcake recipe (Chapter 8)

3. Patty thought they were wealthy, and the fact that their mothers are teachers reveals they are not. (Chapter 9)

Short Answer

1. Becca, a partner in the Frida Kahlo project, asks Patty to sit with them at lunch. This provides an opening for learning about them and sharing. Later, she joins her group at Becca’s house, where she has the chance to learn more about them and open up herself. The more they spend time together, the more they have a connection, until eventually Patty sits with her new friends at lunch without being asked. (Chapters 7-9)

2. Patty realizes she has additional connections to Momly. Momly’s mother suffered a stroke, and Momly stepped into more responsibility than she should have had to shoulder, which is similar to Patty’s situation since her mother’s leg amputations. Patty begins to learn from Momly that it is okay to lean on others, though at this point the idea is more a seed for Patty than a full-grown plant. (Chapter 10)

CHAPTERS 11-13

Reading Check

1. Maddy and Momly are in a car accident. (Chapters 11-12)

2. Patty (Chapter 13)

3. Ghost, Lu, and Sunny (Chapter 13)

Short Answer

1. To distract Maddy from their worry about Momly, Patty asks Maddy to use her strength to move chairs. This action reveals Patty’s clear perception of her sister’s emotions and traits and that she is devoted to helping Maddy even though she is worried. (Chapter 12)

2. By encouraging Patty to attend track, Momly reveals her understanding of Patty’s needs. She knows Patty needs to run and that it will help her as she deals with this new stressor in her life. (Chapter 12)

3. While Momly is hospitalized, track distracts Patty and gives her a chance to shine by leading her team. It also provides the opportunity to lean on her teammates, sharing her true worries and getting comfort and support. This support is especially evident at the end of practice when she confides in Sunny, Lu, and Ghost. (Chapter 13)

CHAPTERS 14-16

Reading Check

1. How to make turkey wings for Momly (Chapter 15)

2. Braiding Patty’s hair (Chapter 15)

3. Readers don’t know. The book ends on a cliffhanger. (Chapter 16)

Short Answer

1. Patty realizes both she and Frida Kahlo faced struggles growing up and both participated in sports, which helped them. Patty connects to Kahlo and other strong women. (Chapter 14)

2. Patty faces the loss of her father, crying and getting support and comfort from her uncle after having kept her emotions bottled up for a long time. She has had to grow up faster than she might have in other circumstances; playing pretend opened emotions and realizations in her in a way she had not yet experienced. (Chapters 14-16)