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Personal Effects
After his older brother dies in Iraq, Matt makes a discovery that rocks his beliefs about strength, bravery, and honor in this page-turning debut.
Ever since his brother, T.J., was killed in Iraq, Matt feels like he’s been sleepwalking through life — failing classes, getting into fights, and avoiding his dad’s lectures about following in his brother’s footsteps. T.J.’s gone, but Matt can’t shake the feeling that if only he could get his hands on his brother’s stuff from Iraq, he’d be able to make sense of his death. But as Matt searches for answers about T.J.’s death, he faces a shocking revelation about T.J.’s life that suggests he may not have known T.J. as well as he thought. What he learns challenges him to stand up to his father, honor his brother’s memory, and take charge of his own life. With compassion, humor, and a compelling narrative voice, E. M. Kokie explores grief, social mores, and self-discovery in a provocative first novel.
Ever since his brother, T.J., was killed in Iraq, Matt feels like he’s been sleepwalking through life — failing classes, getting into fights, and avoiding his dad’s lectures about following in his brother’s footsteps. T.J.’s gone, but Matt can’t shake the feeling that if only he could get his hands on his brother’s stuff from Iraq, he’d be able to make sense of his death. But as Matt searches for answers about T.J.’s death, he faces a shocking revelation about T.J.’s life that suggests he may not have known T.J. as well as he thought. What he learns challenges him to stand up to his father, honor his brother’s memory, and take charge of his own life. With compassion, humor, and a compelling narrative voice, E. M. Kokie explores grief, social mores, and self-discovery in a provocative first novel.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published September 11, 2012
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3948 people want to read
About the author
E.M. Kokie
5 books78 followersI write stories about teens, including the novels PERSONAL EFFECTS (Candlewick, 2012) and RADICAL (Candlewick, Fall 2016). www.emkokie.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
September 30, 2014
A really hard, powerful book about love, loss, and family. Matt is a very angry teenage boy, but considering his father, and the home he lives in, and losing his brother, his rage is understandable. His father is not a nice person, and his inability, and unwillingness to cope with the loss of son, and his verbal and physical abuse, help to make Matt the mess he is. His reaction to his brother's secret isn't positive, and it isn't necessarily fair, but considering where he comes from, and what he has been brought up thinking, it is in no way out of left field. I think it made him feel less connected to his brother, and considering how much he admired and looked up to his brother, knowing that his brother kept such a big part of his life secret from him was devastating. To Matt, it was like his brother was equating him with their father, and considering how little respect they had for their father, it made Matt question how much his brother truly loved, and trusted him.
I really liked Matt's crush on Shauna. It was a nice change of pace to read a book about a teenage boy with such a sweet crush on a girl instead of the other way around. I really liked Shauna, and how much she cared for, and supported Matt. She was a smart, capable girl, and even when she was angry, and hurt, she didn't keep Matt from doing what he needed to do.
The ending was well done. It felt like Matt had undergone real change in the way he viewed himself, and those around him. I liked that while it felt hopeful, it wasn't a fairy tale ending. Things show signs of improving but, it is going to take work, patience, and understanding on everyone's part to sustain, and grow. A really well told story that was hard to put down.
I really liked Matt's crush on Shauna. It was a nice change of pace to read a book about a teenage boy with such a sweet crush on a girl instead of the other way around. I really liked Shauna, and how much she cared for, and supported Matt. She was a smart, capable girl, and even when she was angry, and hurt, she didn't keep Matt from doing what he needed to do.
The ending was well done. It felt like Matt had undergone real change in the way he viewed himself, and those around him. I liked that while it felt hopeful, it wasn't a fairy tale ending. Things show signs of improving but, it is going to take work, patience, and understanding on everyone's part to sustain, and grow. A really well told story that was hard to put down.
September 2, 2012
The Gist: Matt is a mess; between dealing with the grief of losing his brother, TJ to the on-going difficulty of living with his father, some days, Matt can no longer tell which way is up. Added to that emotional upheaval and turmoil is a burgeoning relationship with his best friend that Matt could no longer ignore. Seven months after burying what was left of his brother, he's overwhelmed by anger and loneliness seemingly beyond relief.
When his brother's footlockers showed up, it felt like he was losing his brother all over again. Opening the locks was like opening up a side of him that he never knew. The discovery that he didn't really know him was like salt to his already festering wounds. Betrayed and angry, Matt set out on a journey that began with love letters exchanged between his brother and a person Matt never knew. What he discovered would be a catalyst to the changes he needed to do in order to honour the memory of a fallen soldier and to help the family he left behind.
The Review:
Damn.
This review will fail to convey how I felt after reading this book. I was destroyed; and much like Matt, I felt like I was grieving for the loss of a life cut short. But in my case, I'm grieving for the ending of this book. It was hard to put this down after it was over. I felt like I missed a whole lifetime - missed knowing a person because I read too fast.
TJ had so much to live for - so much to look forward to. Bound by the honour and obligation of serving his country, he chose to fulfill that responsibility rather than face the future with his loved ones. I mean, who could blame him? At the end of it all, he followed his heart. Unfortunately, that led him to being blown to bits. The ugly realities of war.
EM Kokie's writing captured the heartbreak of grief, made even more powerful by Matt's voice. His anger and sadness leapt off the pages and the betrayal that he felt with the things he found out about his brother. It was just...heartache all around. And even if the ending left a lot to be hopeful for, I wasn't satisfied. I needed to read TJ's story, need to feel what he felt when he realized he was in love. I needed to see the desperation every time he had to leave that person. A soldier's life is not easy, it's lonely and ripe with peril.
Ultimately though, Curtis is the one who cut me to pieces. I don't think I could ever recover from his heartache. He's one of those characters who'd lodge right into your heart like a splinter; buried deep that all you'd feel is the constant ache. I think this is the first time that I've been so affected by a secondary character. But I can't help it. He's the one I can't forget from this book. I don't know why I felt so much for Curtis. In a way, he's like a close relative who's suffering deeply and you want to help him but you don't know how. But he's very good at hiding his emotions - he looks strong from the outside but you're almost sure he's a mess inside. I want to wish him well, want him to feel happy again but it seems impossible somehow.
VERDICT: EM Kokie's debut novel was a mine of explosive, emotional, heart wrenching drama. This book will stay with me for a long time and it's not only because it dealt with the difficulty of grief, it's mostly because her characters are unforgettable. She gave a voice to a boy who had to fight for every single breath, the will to go on living even if the urge to give up was so severe. This author is unreal; considering she's a newbie. I've never had a book affect me so deeply and in a level of empathy even I, could never understand.
When his brother's footlockers showed up, it felt like he was losing his brother all over again. Opening the locks was like opening up a side of him that he never knew. The discovery that he didn't really know him was like salt to his already festering wounds. Betrayed and angry, Matt set out on a journey that began with love letters exchanged between his brother and a person Matt never knew. What he discovered would be a catalyst to the changes he needed to do in order to honour the memory of a fallen soldier and to help the family he left behind.
The Review:
Damn.
This review will fail to convey how I felt after reading this book. I was destroyed; and much like Matt, I felt like I was grieving for the loss of a life cut short. But in my case, I'm grieving for the ending of this book. It was hard to put this down after it was over. I felt like I missed a whole lifetime - missed knowing a person because I read too fast.
TJ had so much to live for - so much to look forward to. Bound by the honour and obligation of serving his country, he chose to fulfill that responsibility rather than face the future with his loved ones. I mean, who could blame him? At the end of it all, he followed his heart. Unfortunately, that led him to being blown to bits. The ugly realities of war.
EM Kokie's writing captured the heartbreak of grief, made even more powerful by Matt's voice. His anger and sadness leapt off the pages and the betrayal that he felt with the things he found out about his brother. It was just...heartache all around. And even if the ending left a lot to be hopeful for, I wasn't satisfied. I needed to read TJ's story, need to feel what he felt when he realized he was in love. I needed to see the desperation every time he had to leave that person. A soldier's life is not easy, it's lonely and ripe with peril.
Ultimately though, Curtis is the one who cut me to pieces. I don't think I could ever recover from his heartache. He's one of those characters who'd lodge right into your heart like a splinter; buried deep that all you'd feel is the constant ache. I think this is the first time that I've been so affected by a secondary character. But I can't help it. He's the one I can't forget from this book. I don't know why I felt so much for Curtis. In a way, he's like a close relative who's suffering deeply and you want to help him but you don't know how. But he's very good at hiding his emotions - he looks strong from the outside but you're almost sure he's a mess inside. I want to wish him well, want him to feel happy again but it seems impossible somehow.
VERDICT: EM Kokie's debut novel was a mine of explosive, emotional, heart wrenching drama. This book will stay with me for a long time and it's not only because it dealt with the difficulty of grief, it's mostly because her characters are unforgettable. She gave a voice to a boy who had to fight for every single breath, the will to go on living even if the urge to give up was so severe. This author is unreal; considering she's a newbie. I've never had a book affect me so deeply and in a level of empathy even I, could never understand.
August 27, 2012
Still thinking of exactly what I want to say, but moving is probably where I'll start. Very moving. And real.
April 21, 2012
Now that Matt's brother TJ has died in combat and he's had time to move past the initial shock, he wants to know more about who his brother really was. When the footlockers of TJ's personal effects show up at their home, he takes a chance and goes through them when his father is out. What he finds leads him down a road to learning much more than he expected about the person his brother was.
Kokie's debut is well-written but I couldn't emotionally connect with this story in quite the way I could with other books tackling the personal aspects of war/combat. I think it had to do with the set up. Because TJ's dead, he's an automatic hero, despite learning his personal life wasn't quite what we'd expect it to be. Whenever a character is dead from the start, especially one who has the weight of the meaning of war on them, they elicit something from the reader automatically. There's sadness and sympathy, but more than that, there's the hero effect. While I commend Kokie for not building TJ into a perfect character -- he's not -- it was challenging not to think of him as anything but the victim of war. That's why Matt ultimately has this story; he's out to prove that TJ was a whole person, something much more than a victim of war. I couldn't quite remove that image from my mind, though, even after learning more about TJ.
Matt's character gets a little lost because of this, and when the big reveal comes in the story, I had a hard time understanding his reaction because I hadn't gotten to know him well. I needed more from Matt, since this was really HIS story, despite being a story about him discovering his brother's story.
The writing is strong, though, and Matt's voice was definitely male. I appreciated that Matt wasn't a hero either. Much as I needed more from him to understand his reactions to things, I liked that he was flawed, imperfect, and at the end, doesn't have many more solid answers than he did from the start.
Longer review to come.
Kokie's debut is well-written but I couldn't emotionally connect with this story in quite the way I could with other books tackling the personal aspects of war/combat. I think it had to do with the set up. Because TJ's dead, he's an automatic hero, despite learning his personal life wasn't quite what we'd expect it to be. Whenever a character is dead from the start, especially one who has the weight of the meaning of war on them, they elicit something from the reader automatically. There's sadness and sympathy, but more than that, there's the hero effect. While I commend Kokie for not building TJ into a perfect character -- he's not -- it was challenging not to think of him as anything but the victim of war. That's why Matt ultimately has this story; he's out to prove that TJ was a whole person, something much more than a victim of war. I couldn't quite remove that image from my mind, though, even after learning more about TJ.
Matt's character gets a little lost because of this, and when the big reveal comes in the story, I had a hard time understanding his reaction because I hadn't gotten to know him well. I needed more from Matt, since this was really HIS story, despite being a story about him discovering his brother's story.
The writing is strong, though, and Matt's voice was definitely male. I appreciated that Matt wasn't a hero either. Much as I needed more from him to understand his reactions to things, I liked that he was flawed, imperfect, and at the end, doesn't have many more solid answers than he did from the start.
Longer review to come.
November 3, 2012
Matt Foster has been struggling to recover from the death of his older brother who was killed in the Iraq war. There’s so much surrounding this tragedy that he can’t seem to comprehend, and living with a father that’s extremely distant and fierce, Matt struggles to make sense of it all. Then one day when a Casualty Assistance Officer delivers his brother’s personal effects, Matt discovers through his brother’s pictures and belongings that there was a part of his brother’s life he never really knew. Leaving everything behind, Matt sets out on a journey of discovery ultimately giving him the opportunity to grieve and somewhat heal from his loss.
“Embrace the suck…”
That’s Matt Foster's family motto. Right off the bat, I can’t help but want to hug the guy for having to live by such a harsh reality. Then as I learned more about this character and his struggles, my need to provide a gentle hug turned to a fierce embrace. There’s something about male POVs that clearly have a resounding affect on my emotional psyche and it doesn’t help when the character in question is so dame likeable and feels so truly real that I’m left with a sense of hoping and longing that his life takes a turn for the better. See that says something there… we’re talking about a fictional character and I’m left feeling like I met someone in real life and journeyed with them. If that’s not powerful, then I don’t know what is.
This sense of realism I feel can only be attributed to Kokie’s brilliant ability to be so descript and powerful with her writing that she’s able to blur the lines between the here and now and takes complete control of my imagination. I definitely immersed myself in this novel and when I was there in the moment, I felt every emotion, every hurt, every hope she conveyed through her main character Matt.
E.M. Kokie deserves some serious attention. Yes, I’m stating that as a clear and definite fact. This author truly hit a home run with her book Personal Effects. To say she spared no expense with her heartbreaking but never hopeless tale of grief, friendship and tolerance is a huge understatement. What’s even more impressive is that Personal Effects is her debut novel. I love that! A rookie author with a strong debut! ~claps enthusiastically~ I’ll be keeping my eye out for more of Kokie’s stories. She got herself a new fan.
**Review copy provided by Candlewick Press. Many thanks!**
“Embrace the suck…”
That’s Matt Foster's family motto. Right off the bat, I can’t help but want to hug the guy for having to live by such a harsh reality. Then as I learned more about this character and his struggles, my need to provide a gentle hug turned to a fierce embrace. There’s something about male POVs that clearly have a resounding affect on my emotional psyche and it doesn’t help when the character in question is so dame likeable and feels so truly real that I’m left with a sense of hoping and longing that his life takes a turn for the better. See that says something there… we’re talking about a fictional character and I’m left feeling like I met someone in real life and journeyed with them. If that’s not powerful, then I don’t know what is.
This sense of realism I feel can only be attributed to Kokie’s brilliant ability to be so descript and powerful with her writing that she’s able to blur the lines between the here and now and takes complete control of my imagination. I definitely immersed myself in this novel and when I was there in the moment, I felt every emotion, every hurt, every hope she conveyed through her main character Matt.
E.M. Kokie deserves some serious attention. Yes, I’m stating that as a clear and definite fact. This author truly hit a home run with her book Personal Effects. To say she spared no expense with her heartbreaking but never hopeless tale of grief, friendship and tolerance is a huge understatement. What’s even more impressive is that Personal Effects is her debut novel. I love that! A rookie author with a strong debut! ~claps enthusiastically~ I’ll be keeping my eye out for more of Kokie’s stories. She got herself a new fan.
**Review copy provided by Candlewick Press. Many thanks!**
January 17, 2022
This book is a book that I wouldn't normally pick up. It started off slow and I almost didn't finish, but I'm glad I did. I got half way through the book I didn't want to put it down. It look an unexpected turn and I loved it.
I thought that it was so sweet that Matt wanted to find out more about his older brother's 'girlfriend.' Matt had planned for days for the trip to Madison to find this girl he never met because he thought that she was her brothers secret girlfriend. But when he got to Madison and found Celia he learned something that he never knew about his brother and it took him awhile to accept it.
I also thought that it started to get interesting when Matt found out that the letters including the steamy ones were not from Celia but from her brother Curtis. Matt couldn't believe this and he blew up. He didn't want to believe that his brother was gay and had a boyfriend. T.J. was going to tell his about him and Curtis be he was killed before he could. There was so much that Matt didn't know about his older brother T.J. Every time he came home from the army he was distance and never told Matt anything about what happened. T.J. was quiet every time he was home and Matt later thought that he was quiet and distance because he wanted to be back in Madison with Curtis, CelIa, Will, and of course Zoe.
When Curtis gave Matt the things that he thought T.J. might want him to have I started to cry a little and then I cried more when he got home from the long trip and he talked to his dad about T.J. Let's just say I cried a few silent tears since there was people around when I finished this book.
But, to say the least I'm actually really happy that I picked up this book and that I decided to finished it no matter what.
I thought that it was so sweet that Matt wanted to find out more about his older brother's 'girlfriend.' Matt had planned for days for the trip to Madison to find this girl he never met because he thought that she was her brothers secret girlfriend. But when he got to Madison and found Celia he learned something that he never knew about his brother and it took him awhile to accept it.
I also thought that it started to get interesting when Matt found out that the letters including the steamy ones were not from Celia but from her brother Curtis. Matt couldn't believe this and he blew up. He didn't want to believe that his brother was gay and had a boyfriend. T.J. was going to tell his about him and Curtis be he was killed before he could. There was so much that Matt didn't know about his older brother T.J. Every time he came home from the army he was distance and never told Matt anything about what happened. T.J. was quiet every time he was home and Matt later thought that he was quiet and distance because he wanted to be back in Madison with Curtis, CelIa, Will, and of course Zoe.
When Curtis gave Matt the things that he thought T.J. might want him to have I started to cry a little and then I cried more when he got home from the long trip and he talked to his dad about T.J. Let's just say I cried a few silent tears since there was people around when I finished this book.
But, to say the least I'm actually really happy that I picked up this book and that I decided to finished it no matter what.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2014
Whew. You know those books that leave you emotionally drained so that you just have to let it sit on your mind for a few days? This is one. Like 'The Fault in our Stars' and 'Thirteen Reasons Why' it will make you cry and just sit there reading until you are done, because there is never--never, a good stopping point. Not until you reach the end. I listened to the audio book version, highly recommend it.
November 25, 2023
I just love that feeling of reading a really superb book. One that has it all- story, characterization, theme, grippingness, relevance, etc. etc. etc. It is very similar to eating a perfect meal, but this give you satisfaction in your body, heart and soul. To someone who has never experienced this feeling unless they have read some of those great books out there. I'll never forget the first time I got this feeling- The Giver. 7th grade. I've been lucky to experience this feeling often in the last 18 years and this was again one of those times. From the beginning, I wanted to know Matt. I wanted to know his secrets and the reason he hurt so much. I wanted to protect him and save him. And I was so glad to be able to go on this journey with him. I also really enjoyed the cast of characters the supported Matt- Shauna, TJ, Curtis... I actually left the novel with more of a sorrow for Curtis than for Matt.
It is hard for me to sit here and share with you the emotions you feel as you read this book. You'll feel anger, sadness, sorrow, grief, but also an underlined joy at the end. Kokie has captured these emotions in a book and throws them at you throughout.
My only criticism is Matt's parents. Their inclusion seemed hollow and stereotypical and I wish I understood them more. It is such a source for so much that runs Matt that I wish there was more of a back story (prequel?).
This book will be a great book for discussions and deals with some heavy issues that are never more relevant than they are today.
"After I've folded myself into the chair next to her desk, she hands me a large plastic cup of water. The first tentative sip slides around my mouth. Relief, cold and clean and so good. Maybe the best-tasting water I've ever had. I take small sips, swirling it around my tongue each time before swallowing, just to savor it." (p. 17) [The rest of this page to 18 is all very good]
It is hard for me to sit here and share with you the emotions you feel as you read this book. You'll feel anger, sadness, sorrow, grief, but also an underlined joy at the end. Kokie has captured these emotions in a book and throws them at you throughout.
My only criticism is Matt's parents. Their inclusion seemed hollow and stereotypical and I wish I understood them more. It is such a source for so much that runs Matt that I wish there was more of a back story (prequel?).
This book will be a great book for discussions and deals with some heavy issues that are never more relevant than they are today.
"After I've folded myself into the chair next to her desk, she hands me a large plastic cup of water. The first tentative sip slides around my mouth. Relief, cold and clean and so good. Maybe the best-tasting water I've ever had. I take small sips, swirling it around my tongue each time before swallowing, just to savor it." (p. 17) [The rest of this page to 18 is all very good]
April 26, 2013
Perfect. This book is excellent. The growth of the MC from beginning to end is spot-on for a 17 year old kid. It is not a romance. It isn't a m/m book, which is my genre of choice. I am so glad I saw the ratings and read the blurb, though. That's what made me read it. It is technically a YA book, but so much more. As a parent who has lost a child and has a surviving child, it was so easy for me to put myself in "dad"'s place. It was also enlightening to see the effects of the death of a sibling from Matt's point of view. What he did to honor his brother's memory was beautiful and so brave. I can't recommend this book strongly enough. You WILL need tissues.
May 15, 2012
Great voice and what a fine debut novel. Kokie had me fooled: she captures the male psyche and dives in deeper than most male authors. This one's a keeper.
April 11, 2012
Richie’s Picks: PERSONAL EFFECTS by E.M. Kokie, Candlewick, September 2012, 352p., ISBN: 978-0-7636-6203-5
“In response, McCain said, ‘That old, eh, that old Beach Boys song, Bomb Iran’ -- which elicited laughter from the crowd. McCain then chuckled before singing -- to the tune of the chorus of the Beach Boys’ classic ‘Barbara Ann’ -- ‘Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, anyway, ah…’
“The audience responded with more laughter.”
-- from the NPR article by Don Gonyea, April 20, 2007 “Jesting, McCain Sings: ‘Bomb, Bomb, Bomb’ Iran”
The Inventory:
One childhood friend who has turned into an eye-full of young woman.
One big brother who has been blown to bits in Iraq.
Three Army-issue footlockers filled with personal effects that might provide the angry grieving younger brother some help in overcoming his loss.
“I was sitting right here, debating between eggs and grilled cheese, chugging the last of the orange juice straight from the carton, when I felt something crawling over the back of my neck. I turned my head toward the door, spilling juice all over my chin and down the front of my gray T-shirt. I was halfway to the door, nearly empty carton still in my hand, when I heard them on the front steps. I opened the door before they even rang the bell. I knew. Before I even saw the uniforms, I knew.”
Seventeen year-old Matt Foster learned six months ago that his brother T.J. has been killed in the Iraq War. Matt’s abusive and alcoholic father has long expected Matt to follow T.J. into the military, and Matt figured that the military would be his escape from their father the same way that it had been T.J.s escape.
“Of all the lame shit on Pinscher’s backpack, his War Is Not the Answer sticker pisses me off the most -- even more than his Practice Nonviolence button, which makes me want to practice some violence on his face.”
Matt, who is already on the borderline of having to repeat his junior year of high school, begins the story by sending a schoolmate to the hospital with multiple injuries because Pinscher (as Matt has nicknamed him) has worn to school a T-shirt reading (on the front) Support OUR Troops: Bring Them Home, and (on the back) And not in Pieces, followed by a list of names of local casualties -- including T.J.’s name.
Over these months of grieving, Matt does not know what became of the small collection of items that were delivered to his father upon their notification of T.J.’s death. He cannot talk to his father about this, or about anything.
Now, in the midst of his suspension, in the midst of trying to get it sufficiently together to pass finals and not repeat eleventh grade, three footlockers filled with T.J.’s belongings arrive at the house. Fearing that his father will soon make the footlockers disappear -- and with them, the knowledge they contain of who his big brother had been in his final days -- Matt takes the dangerous action of crossing his father by snipping open the sealed footlockers, grabbing some of the effects, and then taping the seals back together to hide his theft.
When he reads the love letters he’s found, from Celia to T.J., and sees the photos of the young child named Zoe, and finds the sealed letter -- the letter to Celia that T.J. wrote but never got to mail -- Matt decides that he must travel from Pennsylvania to Madison, Wisconsin to meet these people, learn about T.J, and deliver T.J.s final letter.
And so, foregoing his finals and deceiving his father, Matt borrows his best friend Shauna’s car and embarks on a journey of exploration that will change his life.
First-time author E.M. (Emily) Kokie has written a no-holds-barred contemporary YA novel that is right up there with my all-time favorites of the genre. I’m telling you. If PERSONAL EFFECTS doesn’t make its way onto the Finalists list for the William C. Morris YA Debut Award, I might well be punching out some walls myself.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.com
[email protected]
Moderator http://groups.yahoo.com/group/middle_...
http://slisweb.sjsu.edu/people/facult...
“In response, McCain said, ‘That old, eh, that old Beach Boys song, Bomb Iran’ -- which elicited laughter from the crowd. McCain then chuckled before singing -- to the tune of the chorus of the Beach Boys’ classic ‘Barbara Ann’ -- ‘Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, anyway, ah…’
“The audience responded with more laughter.”
-- from the NPR article by Don Gonyea, April 20, 2007 “Jesting, McCain Sings: ‘Bomb, Bomb, Bomb’ Iran”
The Inventory:
One childhood friend who has turned into an eye-full of young woman.
One big brother who has been blown to bits in Iraq.
Three Army-issue footlockers filled with personal effects that might provide the angry grieving younger brother some help in overcoming his loss.
“I was sitting right here, debating between eggs and grilled cheese, chugging the last of the orange juice straight from the carton, when I felt something crawling over the back of my neck. I turned my head toward the door, spilling juice all over my chin and down the front of my gray T-shirt. I was halfway to the door, nearly empty carton still in my hand, when I heard them on the front steps. I opened the door before they even rang the bell. I knew. Before I even saw the uniforms, I knew.”
Seventeen year-old Matt Foster learned six months ago that his brother T.J. has been killed in the Iraq War. Matt’s abusive and alcoholic father has long expected Matt to follow T.J. into the military, and Matt figured that the military would be his escape from their father the same way that it had been T.J.s escape.
“Of all the lame shit on Pinscher’s backpack, his War Is Not the Answer sticker pisses me off the most -- even more than his Practice Nonviolence button, which makes me want to practice some violence on his face.”
Matt, who is already on the borderline of having to repeat his junior year of high school, begins the story by sending a schoolmate to the hospital with multiple injuries because Pinscher (as Matt has nicknamed him) has worn to school a T-shirt reading (on the front) Support OUR Troops: Bring Them Home, and (on the back) And not in Pieces, followed by a list of names of local casualties -- including T.J.’s name.
Over these months of grieving, Matt does not know what became of the small collection of items that were delivered to his father upon their notification of T.J.’s death. He cannot talk to his father about this, or about anything.
Now, in the midst of his suspension, in the midst of trying to get it sufficiently together to pass finals and not repeat eleventh grade, three footlockers filled with T.J.’s belongings arrive at the house. Fearing that his father will soon make the footlockers disappear -- and with them, the knowledge they contain of who his big brother had been in his final days -- Matt takes the dangerous action of crossing his father by snipping open the sealed footlockers, grabbing some of the effects, and then taping the seals back together to hide his theft.
When he reads the love letters he’s found, from Celia to T.J., and sees the photos of the young child named Zoe, and finds the sealed letter -- the letter to Celia that T.J. wrote but never got to mail -- Matt decides that he must travel from Pennsylvania to Madison, Wisconsin to meet these people, learn about T.J, and deliver T.J.s final letter.
And so, foregoing his finals and deceiving his father, Matt borrows his best friend Shauna’s car and embarks on a journey of exploration that will change his life.
First-time author E.M. (Emily) Kokie has written a no-holds-barred contemporary YA novel that is right up there with my all-time favorites of the genre. I’m telling you. If PERSONAL EFFECTS doesn’t make its way onto the Finalists list for the William C. Morris YA Debut Award, I might well be punching out some walls myself.
Richie Partington, MLIS
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September 12, 2012
This book will break your heart. More than once. It will make you angry. It will make you smile. It will make your throat close up in the way throats do when you’re about to cry but have to hold it in, because you need to finish this chapter you just can’t wait so Do Not Cry.
Personal Effects, E.M. Kokie’s debut YA is about Matt Foster: seventeen and angry. And not dealing well with the recent death of his older brother, T.J., in Iraq. “Not dealing well” doesn’t cover it. His father’s not dealing in a worse way, and taking it out on Matt. Nothing new there: dad is ex-military himself, raising his sons with his fists to be real men and real soldiers.
Matt adored T.J. Younger by several years, T.J. was everything Matt strove to be—and was convinced he’d never live up to.
And then Matt had nothing but the footlockers of T.J.’s personal effects, delivered by the Army.
Disobeying his dad’s Not Dealing With It—and risking one of the worst beatings of his life—Matt sneaks into his brother’s old room and opens the footlockers. Among the clothes, CDs, and books, he finds packets of photographs and letters. Some are from him and their father. Most are from a woman named Celia. Matt knew nothing about her, but as he reads the letters and studies the photographs, he realizes just how important Celia was to his brother.
On the bottom is one last letter. T.J. never got a chance to send it.
So Matt, angry, lost, heartbroken – but not admitting it – decides Celia needs this letter. So what if he’s in Pennsylvania and she’s in Wisconsin? He needs to do this.
It’s what he finds in Wisconsin that changes everything.
Kokie gives us a troubled young man who nevertheless commands our attention and sympathy from the first page. I rooted for him almost immediately. Matt and his situation are immediate and gripping. His home, his school, his memories, his troubles—Kokie has the enviable talent of making the characters as real as the people sitting next to me on the bus.
Traveling with Matt to the end of the last chapter is a journey worth taking. You will not quickly forget him. E.M. Kokie has given us a winner.
Personal Effects, E.M. Kokie’s debut YA is about Matt Foster: seventeen and angry. And not dealing well with the recent death of his older brother, T.J., in Iraq. “Not dealing well” doesn’t cover it. His father’s not dealing in a worse way, and taking it out on Matt. Nothing new there: dad is ex-military himself, raising his sons with his fists to be real men and real soldiers.
Matt adored T.J. Younger by several years, T.J. was everything Matt strove to be—and was convinced he’d never live up to.
And then Matt had nothing but the footlockers of T.J.’s personal effects, delivered by the Army.
Disobeying his dad’s Not Dealing With It—and risking one of the worst beatings of his life—Matt sneaks into his brother’s old room and opens the footlockers. Among the clothes, CDs, and books, he finds packets of photographs and letters. Some are from him and their father. Most are from a woman named Celia. Matt knew nothing about her, but as he reads the letters and studies the photographs, he realizes just how important Celia was to his brother.
On the bottom is one last letter. T.J. never got a chance to send it.
So Matt, angry, lost, heartbroken – but not admitting it – decides Celia needs this letter. So what if he’s in Pennsylvania and she’s in Wisconsin? He needs to do this.
It’s what he finds in Wisconsin that changes everything.
Kokie gives us a troubled young man who nevertheless commands our attention and sympathy from the first page. I rooted for him almost immediately. Matt and his situation are immediate and gripping. His home, his school, his memories, his troubles—Kokie has the enviable talent of making the characters as real as the people sitting next to me on the bus.
Traveling with Matt to the end of the last chapter is a journey worth taking. You will not quickly forget him. E.M. Kokie has given us a winner.
November 2, 2012
This book was recommended to me, and for the first hundred or so pages, I didn't get why it was so extraordinary. It was an enjoyable story, but I wasn't quite pulled in. And then I got it. The book wasn't quite as predictable as I thought, and I began to enjoy it more and more. The plot was well-crafted with a few unexpected twists. Matt's father is abusive, and his brother, TJ, is a soldier in the war with Iraq. When his brother dies, Matt struggles to deal with the loss.
By the end of the book, I was sobbing. I ached for the characters. It's incredible, but I was mourning TJ's death as if he was my own brother.
This is a book about war. It is a book about grief. It is a book about recognizing and learning from your mistakes.
Really, read it. I lost some sleep because I couldn't put it down, and I certainly don't regret it.
By the end of the book, I was sobbing. I ached for the characters. It's incredible, but I was mourning TJ's death as if he was my own brother.
This is a book about war. It is a book about grief. It is a book about recognizing and learning from your mistakes.
Really, read it. I lost some sleep because I couldn't put it down, and I certainly don't regret it.
Want to read
March 1, 2012LOVE this cover.
June 6, 2017
♥ Find my reviews on Blogger ~ Reviews by Bookish Sarah
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Matt's life is a mess. His father is abusive and overly strict about everything. He is also pushing him to join the military as soon as he's able. Matt lives in fear of his father practically every moment of every day. He's also dealing with the fact that he has more-than-friendly feelings for his best friend, Shauna - feelings he's sure she would spurn. The worst issue of all is the loss of his brother, TJ. TJ was a soldier and died in combat 7 months ago. Ever since then, it's been a battle; a battle to deal with his overbearing father, a battle to deal with jerks at school, a battle with his own anger and sorrow, a battle to simply stay sane.
Matt loses this battle when peace-loving guy at school takes things a step too far. Matt loses his temper and beats the kid to a pulp. He then gets suspended from school and must face the wrath of his father.
During this suspension, TJ's footlockers arrive from Iraq. Three of them. Matt feels like he's losing his brother all over again. His father has already taken down all photos and memories of TJ, like he never existed in the first place. Matt is afraid he'll never have the chance to see inside those lockers - so he sneaks into his brother's untouched bedroom while his father isn't home and breaks into them. What he finds rocks the foundation of his world.
His brother was hiding a relationship from him. Determined to do one last thing for his brother, Matt makes a bold move and goes on a road trip to deliver a letter that TJ was never able to send. The revelations that await him will change his life forever.
- - -
I don't even know where to begin. This book moved me immensely. I cannot even begin to describe how inspiring, beautiful, and heartbreaking this story truly is.
Let's start with the writing. This book is told in first-person POV. I always enjoy a YA novel from a male POV, and this one was no exception. I think Kokie embodied the mind of a teenage guy very well. The thoughts in his head and his actions were that of a realistic teen in this situation. He isn't perfect and his view of the world has been skewed by his father's overbearing opinion. Matt is a very impressive character. He is scared to death of his father, but when the time comes to do something for TJ, Matt doesn't hesitate. He takes that letter and gets on the road almost immediately. He is brave and honorable. The story is told at the perfect pace and the writing is beautiful; it jumps right off the page and into your heart and soul. I felt every single emotion Matt was feeling. Connecting with him was as easy as breathing.
The military aspects were realistic and could also give some insight to people who don't know much about it. I am an ex-Army wife and I live in a military town. I have seen and learned a lot since living here. This book could've entered stereotype territory easily, but it didn't. It was told perfectly. Anyone who picks up this book could understand the military terminology and sympathize with the people and events within.
The relationship between Matt and his father was painful to read about. You see these moments where his father might not be a terrible guy, but in my opinion, he's a complete jerk. He taught TJ and Matt to be hateful and mean. He taught them that making mistakes is never acceptable. He is physically abusive and strict to the point of insanity. Then you have the relationship between Matt and Shauna. A beautiful friendship that was able to withstand many trials and tribulations. Matt tries to hide his feelings for Shauna so he doesn't ruin the friendship. When Shauna shows interest in him as more than a friend, it's at the worst possible time. This was also painful to read. The relationship troubles between them was heartbreaking all in itself. I think Kokie did a fantastic job with the romantic aspect of this book. It wasn't the main focus of the story, but when it was focused on, it was powerful and inspiring.
And of course, the revelations. The big secret TJ was hiding. I saw it coming, but at the same time I was surprised. Kokie got all the details just right. All the clues were there, but Matt (and me) didn't see them until the truth was thrown right into his face. Matt's reaction to the news was very hard for me to get past. I understand why he reacted the way he did, but it made me want to dislike him. I am trying not to give too much away, but it's hard. So I will just say it's powerful and it's a big issue.
Overall, Personal Effects blew me away! Kokie has woven a phenomenal story of love and loss. This book is raw. This book is real. It's powerful. It's emotionally charged. It's excellently written. The author obviously paid great attention to details. The book touches on controversial subjects and it's all played out perfectly from beginning to end. I found it nearly impossible to put this book down. Once you pick it up, get ready for tears. Get ready to stay glued to the pages, because you'll be lost in this heartbreaking story. As a new addition to my favorites shelf, this is a book I definitely recommend!
*Contains a lot of cursing and some mild sexual situations!*
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Book source: NetGalley
Publisher: Candlewick Press
May 4, 2018
Main character a little wimpy for me.
April 8, 2012
Having lost his older brother T.J. during the war in Iraq, seventeen-year-old Matt Foster is still trying to process the unexpected loss. His abusive father, a former military man himself, handles T.J.'s death by removing all his personal effects and leaving the condolence cards unopened. He runs the household with a heavy hand, and Matt dreads disappointing him by not joining the military. When he happens upon some photographs and passionate letters to his brother, Matt becomes convinced that he must follow their lead to Wisconsin where he thinks he will learn more about his brother's romantic life and a possible child. Maybe there he will find a connection to his brother and some clue to help him make sense of his death. Clearly, his brother had a life about which Matt knew nothing, and Matt is puzzled as to why he never shared that life with him. Borrowing a car from his best friend Shauna and leaving their budding romantic relationship in limbo, he leaves Pennsylvania in search of the truth and to deliver an unopened letter from T.J. Once he reaches Madison, he finds a different version of T.J.'s life than he had imagined. My heart ached for Matt but even more it ached for T.J. and Curtis and what might have been. The letters written by Curtis to T.J. are deeply emotional and show how strong the connection between the two men was. Because Curtis was not considered T.J.'s closest relative, his personal effects went to T.J.'s family while the casualty notification officers notified his father and not Curtis first, a result of the government's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. This is an important story, another aspect of the consequences of war and of a policy that encourages dishonesty, and it's told with grace and empathy by a skillful novice author. I raced through the pages, and felt sad when I came to the last page. My only criticism is that I would have liked to have known more about the reasons behind the behavior of Matt's parents and understood more about how their relationship fell apart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2012
There’s an honesty to Matt’s voice with him owning up to his attraction to Shauna, him frankly talking about his reactions to her, and later on him being so matter of fact -even resigned- to how things were with his father. I liked the guy even when he pulled some dick moves because I also felt sorry for him, with a dad like he was and with his big brother gone, there really was no other reaction I could have mustered up.
Matt’s story mixes a lot of what he recalls of his brother and what he recalls in general of his family that’s in sharp contrast to where things stand with his brother gone. So that I’m waiting, hoping really for something big to come the kid’s way. Except when things do finally start happening, with him thinking he’d finally pieced things together, he decides that his going all out to do something for his big brother. Still there was also that feeling on my part: that’s someone somewhere just missed something important, so that I was dreading what’s he’s going to encounter, but couldn’t help watching all the same.
It was not a complete ‘train wreck can’t tear my eyes from it situation’ because some of it was good… like Shauna and his conflicted feelings for her, or him and Mr. Anders or even just memories of TJ, but overall you just want the kid to get out from where he was… and do something, but as he’s just about to do something… well, like I said, someone missed something vital somewhere. And when smacked with the truth, Matt’s reaction made him shine brighter…well eventually at least with doing what he did.
Unlike IF I LIE, things are not long and overdrawn where your emotions get pulled thin by how much the key character suffers and I still rooted for Matt anyway. Because while he doesn’t suffer as much as the girl in IF I LIE, he does suffer a different sort of thing. There were other parallels too with a father who is overbearing and a mother who’s out of the picture, but this story is of Matt finally seeing things for what they are and standing up.
3/5
Matt’s story mixes a lot of what he recalls of his brother and what he recalls in general of his family that’s in sharp contrast to where things stand with his brother gone. So that I’m waiting, hoping really for something big to come the kid’s way. Except when things do finally start happening, with him thinking he’d finally pieced things together, he decides that his going all out to do something for his big brother. Still there was also that feeling on my part: that’s someone somewhere just missed something important, so that I was dreading what’s he’s going to encounter, but couldn’t help watching all the same.
It was not a complete ‘train wreck can’t tear my eyes from it situation’ because some of it was good… like Shauna and his conflicted feelings for her, or him and Mr. Anders or even just memories of TJ, but overall you just want the kid to get out from where he was… and do something, but as he’s just about to do something… well, like I said, someone missed something vital somewhere. And when smacked with the truth, Matt’s reaction made him shine brighter…well eventually at least with doing what he did.
Unlike IF I LIE, things are not long and overdrawn where your emotions get pulled thin by how much the key character suffers and I still rooted for Matt anyway. Because while he doesn’t suffer as much as the girl in IF I LIE, he does suffer a different sort of thing. There were other parallels too with a father who is overbearing and a mother who’s out of the picture, but this story is of Matt finally seeing things for what they are and standing up.
3/5
March 1, 2015
This is definately a 5 star book. It was just so so good. I cannot say how much I loved this story. I loved it so so much. It was way past what I thought it was. It really is one of the best novels I have read in awhile. If i could I would rate this 10 or more stars. It really is just THAT good. To make it even better this is a DEBUT novel. I can't believe this is a debut novel. This author is really really good. I know this me ranting but you should definately read this story.
TJ is Matt's brother. Matt is the main character. TJ is the brother who died in the war overseas. Matt and his dad recieves his personal effects. His items that were overseas and his items that were in his footlockers. Everything that was personal to TJ. Their dad is a bully. He is just so mean to Matt. Probably because TJ was considered the favorite. Matt will do whatever it takes to find out about TJs past. He ends up finding something in one of the footlockers. And he is trying to find out about these items.
I really liked the writing style of this author. The plot was amazing. Just this whole book is so so good. 341 pages. You really fall in love with all these characters. Even though TJ is dead. He is still a strong part of the story. Shauna is Matt's best friend. She is a big part of this story. These characters are just amazing.
This is a story that really any age could read. There are a few kissing scenes in this but nothing too much. There is a big shocker in this story. I wasnt expecting but some people could probably expect it. But for me, I was really shocked. But this is definately one POWERFUL story. Definately memorable.
TJ is Matt's brother. Matt is the main character. TJ is the brother who died in the war overseas. Matt and his dad recieves his personal effects. His items that were overseas and his items that were in his footlockers. Everything that was personal to TJ. Their dad is a bully. He is just so mean to Matt. Probably because TJ was considered the favorite. Matt will do whatever it takes to find out about TJs past. He ends up finding something in one of the footlockers. And he is trying to find out about these items.
I really liked the writing style of this author. The plot was amazing. Just this whole book is so so good. 341 pages. You really fall in love with all these characters. Even though TJ is dead. He is still a strong part of the story. Shauna is Matt's best friend. She is a big part of this story. These characters are just amazing.
This is a story that really any age could read. There are a few kissing scenes in this but nothing too much. There is a big shocker in this story. I wasnt expecting but some people could probably expect it. But for me, I was really shocked. But this is definately one POWERFUL story. Definately memorable.
November 5, 2012
so this novel brought me to tears.
which is a testament to kokie's writing
because i can honestly not remember the
last time that has happened to me while
reading. i am not a crier and i hate crying.
having said that, i don't want those who
hate crying, like myself, to be leery about
reading the novel. i'm one that doesn't like
to be emotionally manipulated by a book--
not in blatant ways.
i think good writers draw you in subtly,
until you care more than you realize and
are totally invested, and this is exactly
what kokie did for me in her fabulous debut.
i loved matt as a narrator: raw, real,
and hurting. the voice was spot on, and
despite the destructive mistakes he made,
you couldn't help but sympathize with his
situation.
i'm very particular about the contemporary
novels i fall in love with. everyone knows
i'm a Fantasy First reader and writer through
and through, but this debut is stunning.
[SPOILER} so worth
the read for not only the writing and the storytelling,
but humanizing the harsh reality of Don't Ask,
Don't Tell, so its not just some unfair policy
that happened. kokie brings it home for us in
Personal Effects, and hits us in the heart. in
the best ways possible.
one of my favorite YA reads of 2012.
highly recommended.
which is a testament to kokie's writing
because i can honestly not remember the
last time that has happened to me while
reading. i am not a crier and i hate crying.
having said that, i don't want those who
hate crying, like myself, to be leery about
reading the novel. i'm one that doesn't like
to be emotionally manipulated by a book--
not in blatant ways.
i think good writers draw you in subtly,
until you care more than you realize and
are totally invested, and this is exactly
what kokie did for me in her fabulous debut.
i loved matt as a narrator: raw, real,
and hurting. the voice was spot on, and
despite the destructive mistakes he made,
you couldn't help but sympathize with his
situation.
i'm very particular about the contemporary
novels i fall in love with. everyone knows
i'm a Fantasy First reader and writer through
and through, but this debut is stunning.
[SPOILER} so worth
the read for not only the writing and the storytelling,
but humanizing the harsh reality of Don't Ask,
Don't Tell, so its not just some unfair policy
that happened. kokie brings it home for us in
Personal Effects, and hits us in the heart. in
the best ways possible.
one of my favorite YA reads of 2012.
highly recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2013
Matt's older brother, T.J., didn't make it home from the Iraq War. He and his father have no relationship or communication, unless it's his dad yelling at him, hitting him, or reminding him how long he has until Matt enlists in the army. Matt is angry at his brother and father, gets into fights at school, has barely passing grades, and is having impure thoughts about his best friend, Shauna. All he wants is some closure. The opportunity presents itself when his brother's personal effects arrive several months after his death. He secretly goes through T.J.'s belongings and finds a whole new life Matt never knew existed. Wanting to do one last thing for his brother, Matt finds himself driving to Wisconsin to get the closure he needs and wants.
Throughout this story, Matt's emotions are very strong and on the surface. This novel has strong language that fits Matt's personality, but might be a bit much for some. Although there isn't technically any sex in the book, descriptions (think 17 year old boy thoughts) and scenarios do exist. With that said, I really enjoyed this book and its emotions. It would be interesting for classes to read Alice Bliss and compare these two novels. Similar themes, but different tones, writing style, and point of view.
Throughout this story, Matt's emotions are very strong and on the surface. This novel has strong language that fits Matt's personality, but might be a bit much for some. Although there isn't technically any sex in the book, descriptions (think 17 year old boy thoughts) and scenarios do exist. With that said, I really enjoyed this book and its emotions. It would be interesting for classes to read Alice Bliss and compare these two novels. Similar themes, but different tones, writing style, and point of view.
March 19, 2013
This is a complex, subtle, and powerful book about a teen on the verge of adulthood who learns that becoming a man means something entirely different than he'd ever been told or expected. Engaging, honest, challenging, and satisfying.
Publisher blurbs usually don't do it for me, but I'm having trouble coming up with anything that describes it better than this (copied from above if you're on the main Goodreads page for the book; included for those of you who aren't):
"Ever since his brother, T.J., was killed in Iraq, Matt feels like he’s been sleepwalking through life — failing classes, getting into fights, and avoiding his dad’s lectures about following in his brother’s footsteps. T.J.’s gone, but Matt can’t shake the feeling that if only he could get his hands on his brother’s stuff from Iraq, he’d be able to make sense of his death. But as Matt searches for answers about T.J.’s death, he faces a shocking revelation about T.J.’s life that suggests he may not have known T.J. as well as he thought. What he learns challenges him to stand up to his father, honor his brother’s memory, and take charge of his own life. With compassion, humor, and a compelling narrative voice, E. M. Kokie explores grief, social mores, and self-discovery in a provocative first novel."
Publisher blurbs usually don't do it for me, but I'm having trouble coming up with anything that describes it better than this (copied from above if you're on the main Goodreads page for the book; included for those of you who aren't):
"Ever since his brother, T.J., was killed in Iraq, Matt feels like he’s been sleepwalking through life — failing classes, getting into fights, and avoiding his dad’s lectures about following in his brother’s footsteps. T.J.’s gone, but Matt can’t shake the feeling that if only he could get his hands on his brother’s stuff from Iraq, he’d be able to make sense of his death. But as Matt searches for answers about T.J.’s death, he faces a shocking revelation about T.J.’s life that suggests he may not have known T.J. as well as he thought. What he learns challenges him to stand up to his father, honor his brother’s memory, and take charge of his own life. With compassion, humor, and a compelling narrative voice, E. M. Kokie explores grief, social mores, and self-discovery in a provocative first novel."
November 6, 2012
My teacher recommended this book to me, so of course I took it. The title didn't quite draw me in, but reading the front cover did. Matt struggles with his father, the lose of his brother, his strained friendship with Shauna, and coping with everything while trying to prove to everyone, and himself, he's as strong as his brother was. I was in tears at the end of the book; I felt for the characters as if I were friends with them. This book doesn't just teach you how strong a teenager can be, it teaches you how strong men and women can be even if they want to sit there and cry. It also shows you don't really know a person, even your own brother, until you've experienced their life. This book is amazing, it definitely deserves recognition for being so heartfelt. If you read this book and find it slow, it is, but it gets amazing. This was not a predictable book and I can say I was surprised at some turns but I loved every bit of it.
April 17, 2014
I thought EM Kokie did a good job telling the story of a teenager who loses an older sibling and how grief affects different family members differently.
As a person who lost an older sibling this book broke my heart. Not because of the material, but how I kept thinking "this is how it feels". When a child or a young person dies, people focus on the parents or the family as a whole, not too many people seem to think about the siblings. Esecially younger ones; the person who has died never knew life before their older sibling...
I was able to empathize with Matt. The fact that TJ was military was a side point; to me at least. Obviously he was killed in action, but he died. EM Kokie did try to cover a boat load of issues, but I think it was well done. Plus, part of the story takes place in Madison, Wi which totally rocks! Go Badgers!! ;)
As a person who lost an older sibling this book broke my heart. Not because of the material, but how I kept thinking "this is how it feels". When a child or a young person dies, people focus on the parents or the family as a whole, not too many people seem to think about the siblings. Esecially younger ones; the person who has died never knew life before their older sibling...
I was able to empathize with Matt. The fact that TJ was military was a side point; to me at least. Obviously he was killed in action, but he died. EM Kokie did try to cover a boat load of issues, but I think it was well done. Plus, part of the story takes place in Madison, Wi which totally rocks! Go Badgers!! ;)
June 3, 2014
Loved. This. Book. Personal Effects is the story of Matt Foster who is struggling to come to terms with his older brother's death in Iraq several months prior. His grieving process is made even more difficult because of his turbulent home life. His father a retired Army officer offers no kind words or safety net to help his remaining son to come to terms with T.J's death. When T.J.'s personal effects are delivered home Matt looks through his brother's things and discovers he had a life that he knew little about. This story is well written and realistic. The author deals with several tough subjects in an honest way. I loved most all of the book's character's except for Matt's father. I cried at the book's end. I'm hoping there is a sequel. I would love to see where everyone lands.
April 10, 2014
So, I listened to this book, and I think my narration crush on Nick Podehl probably gained it an extra star, but this story was also great. It felt so raw and so real - my heart just kept breaking and healing again the whole time.
(especially toward the end of the book, I was reminded of the part of Jesmyn Ward's "Men We Reaped" where she writes something along the lines of how, when a sibling dies, they take our stories with them. If I was still in college I was write a paper, or at least a 5 paragraph essay, about these books).
Anyway, I kind of don't want to start another audiobook, even though it would mean listening to the radio on my long drive to work, because my brain is still mulling over this one.
(especially toward the end of the book, I was reminded of the part of Jesmyn Ward's "Men We Reaped" where she writes something along the lines of how, when a sibling dies, they take our stories with them. If I was still in college I was write a paper, or at least a 5 paragraph essay, about these books).
Anyway, I kind of don't want to start another audiobook, even though it would mean listening to the radio on my long drive to work, because my brain is still mulling over this one.
April 12, 2015
Though this is not a subject matter that would normally interest me in the slightest, this author managed to write an incredible story with such an engaging style that I couldn't stop reading. There was such a strong voice to the main character who was very well flushed out and so very REAL. There were twists that were entirely unexpected, so it was not at all predictable and not at all what I thought this book would be. It certainly took me by surprise and I was very impressed. My only complaint would be I think she may have gone a little overboard on how sex obsessed a teenage boy would be to seen like she understood the mindset, but maybe that's just how this particular character was. All in all a wonderful, powerful read.
March 17, 2015
Eh.
I had several problems with this book:
1. The beginning conflict. I would have understood why Matt hated Pinscher so much if the guy ranted on and on about how soldiers were all terrible people, but all he does is wear some cheesy stickers against the war in Iraq like "War is not the Answer" and "Practice Nonviolence."
2. The word "tits." You only need so many descriptions of how hot Shauna and Harley are. We get it.
3. Just in general, I found Matt to be an unsympathetic character. He gets better in the second half and has some personal growth, but the first half of the book really drags on.
I had several problems with this book:
1. The beginning conflict. I would have understood why Matt hated Pinscher so much if the guy ranted on and on about how soldiers were all terrible people, but all he does is wear some cheesy stickers against the war in Iraq like "War is not the Answer" and "Practice Nonviolence."
2. The word "tits." You only need so many descriptions of how hot Shauna and Harley are. We get it.
3. Just in general, I found Matt to be an unsympathetic character. He gets better in the second half and has some personal growth, but the first half of the book really drags on.
May 13, 2018
I love coming-of-age stories because they focus in on that moment when we each begin to glimpse the true thread of who we are. As we slowly let go of the noise around us, we are left with our own voice. We discover, often with surprise, that what matters most has changed, shifted, or simply become more clear. Personal Effects is an intense coming-of-age story about family, grief, and love. (And part of it is set in Madison, Wisconsin!)
July 10, 2015
Very few books have ever made me bawl my eyes out but this is one of them. I'm not even really sure why. I guess it was just the fact that Matt loved his brother so much and was having such a hard time getting past his death and then... finding out all these secrets. E.M. Kokie handled the events in this book very well, it was extremely real and emotional.
I would love for there to be a sequel. I would love to know what happened to Matt and how/if he gets to know his new family.
I would love for there to be a sequel. I would love to know what happened to Matt and how/if he gets to know his new family.
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