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elnaann1313's review against another edition
3.0
Despite being formulaic and didactic, it's an engaging read about a boy coming to terms with his older brothers' death and the hidden family (boyfriend/lover) that he left behind.
mollywetta's review against another edition
5.0
Personal Effects by E. M. Kokie gets you in your heart with its very simple and real story. Matt is full of anger. Frustration. Even young men who have not experienced the devastating loss of a brother dying during combat will relate to this character.
The story opens with Matt at school trying to ignore the jabs of another student who is part of the pro-peace movement and walks around wearing shirts that say “Bush lied” and such. When he taunts him with a shirt that bears his brother’s name, Matt snaps, and the boys get into a fistfight which lands him in the principal’s office.
While home from school during his suspension, Matt’s brother’s personal effects are delivered. His father has all but erased the memory of TJ from their house, hiding the flag from his casket and the pictures of him that used to be scattered around the house. Matt risks a beating from his angry, violent, former military father to explore the contents of his personal effects, and what he finds sends him on a journey: dozens of very intimate letters signed simply “C” and one letter from TJ to the address on the postmark of all the others. Matt has to deliver it, and in doing so, finds out who is brother truly was and the kind of person he wants to be—an accepting one, who’s strong enough to stand up to his father.
I’m not gonna lie; this book is heart-wrenching, through and through. Matt’s best friend, Shauna, who he is in love with, is a bright spot. Her unfailing support even when Matt is being a total jerk is endearing, and their shy romance is well done and feels true to anyone who has suddenly realized they were in love with their best friend.
I loved this story, with it’s believable, compelling plot, and I loved these characters, who all felt full and lively. Yes, it’s a book about grief, about the military, about domestic abuse, and about mental illness. But it’s also about friendship and family and identity. The book transcends its themes to get at the truth.
If you are interested in other books about siblings of veterans or the aftermath of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, you might like these novels: Badd by Tim Tharp; Something Like Normal by Trish Doller; In Honor by Jess Kirby or This is Not a Drill by Rebecca McDowell.
The story opens with Matt at school trying to ignore the jabs of another student who is part of the pro-peace movement and walks around wearing shirts that say “Bush lied” and such. When he taunts him with a shirt that bears his brother’s name, Matt snaps, and the boys get into a fistfight which lands him in the principal’s office.
While home from school during his suspension, Matt’s brother’s personal effects are delivered. His father has all but erased the memory of TJ from their house, hiding the flag from his casket and the pictures of him that used to be scattered around the house. Matt risks a beating from his angry, violent, former military father to explore the contents of his personal effects, and what he finds sends him on a journey: dozens of very intimate letters signed simply “C” and one letter from TJ to the address on the postmark of all the others. Matt has to deliver it, and in doing so, finds out who is brother truly was and the kind of person he wants to be—an accepting one, who’s strong enough to stand up to his father.
I’m not gonna lie; this book is heart-wrenching, through and through. Matt’s best friend, Shauna, who he is in love with, is a bright spot. Her unfailing support even when Matt is being a total jerk is endearing, and their shy romance is well done and feels true to anyone who has suddenly realized they were in love with their best friend.
I loved this story, with it’s believable, compelling plot, and I loved these characters, who all felt full and lively. Yes, it’s a book about grief, about the military, about domestic abuse, and about mental illness. But it’s also about friendship and family and identity. The book transcends its themes to get at the truth.
If you are interested in other books about siblings of veterans or the aftermath of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, you might like these novels: Badd by Tim Tharp; Something Like Normal by Trish Doller; In Honor by Jess Kirby or This is Not a Drill by Rebecca McDowell.
justlily's review against another edition
4.0
I just have so much affection for this book. I feel like it's a puppy that I adopted and I just want to hold it and cry.
I'm so damn proud of Matt and the person that he grows to be from the beginning of this book to the end of it that I don't even know what to say.
I don't know, man. I don't know. It's just good. It's really, really good.
I'm so damn proud of Matt and the person that he grows to be from the beginning of this book to the end of it that I don't even know what to say.
I don't know, man. I don't know. It's just good. It's really, really good.
readwithpassion's review against another edition
5.0
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.
kaitrosereads's review against another edition
4.0
Personal Effects has been on my to-read list since I first heard about it. I had really high expectations for this book and while it wasn’t quite as awesome as I had hoped it was still a great debut from E.M. Kokie.
It’s always interesting to read a book told from a male point of view that is written by a female. E.M. Kokie really captured the male perspective and Matt never came across as contrived or false. Matt was both the average teenage boy but also so much more. He thought about girls and sex and his future but those things were always second in his mind. Always at the forefront was worry about his dad and what kind of mood he might be in or what he might do to set him off. His home life was terrible but he tried not to let it affect the rest of his day-to-day life. Sure he had some attitude issues and he caused a bit of trouble at school but mainly he was a good guy. He was funny and kind-hearted. He was just misunderstood by most people.
The secondary characters were surprisingly well-developed. At first it seemed like Matt’s dad would just be the nasty father who didn’t really have any reason to be that way but I was pleasantly surprised when his back-story was revealed. He had a lot more going on than I originally thought and while I never really felt anything for him, by the end I could kind of understand him. Shauna was my favorite character by far. She was super nice and funny and lovable and she was the best friend ever to Matt. She stuck with him through everything and even when she was super mad at him she always cared for him. And while the rest of the characters play a big role in the story they weren’t actually present for a lot of the book. However they were well-developed and I really felt connected to them.
The story itself actually reminds me a bit of another military related book that was released this year; In Honor by Jessi Kirby. Now don’t get me wrong I’m not saying they are anything alike it’s just that the stories have some similarities that I really enjoyed in both of them. Matt finds out some things about his brother and he sets off on a road-trip to do one last thing to honor T.J. The road trip is only a minor part of the story; it’s what he finds when he reaches his destination that really changes everything for him. There was so much more to the story than the summary hinted at and there were quite a few surprising revelations. I would say that Personal Effects is a more serious, boy version of In Honor.
Overall, Personal Effects is another fabulous contemporary for 2012. Military related books seem to be a new trend this year and of the few that I have read I think Personal Effects is definitely one of the best!
It’s always interesting to read a book told from a male point of view that is written by a female. E.M. Kokie really captured the male perspective and Matt never came across as contrived or false. Matt was both the average teenage boy but also so much more. He thought about girls and sex and his future but those things were always second in his mind. Always at the forefront was worry about his dad and what kind of mood he might be in or what he might do to set him off. His home life was terrible but he tried not to let it affect the rest of his day-to-day life. Sure he had some attitude issues and he caused a bit of trouble at school but mainly he was a good guy. He was funny and kind-hearted. He was just misunderstood by most people.
The secondary characters were surprisingly well-developed. At first it seemed like Matt’s dad would just be the nasty father who didn’t really have any reason to be that way but I was pleasantly surprised when his back-story was revealed. He had a lot more going on than I originally thought and while I never really felt anything for him, by the end I could kind of understand him. Shauna was my favorite character by far. She was super nice and funny and lovable and she was the best friend ever to Matt. She stuck with him through everything and even when she was super mad at him she always cared for him. And while the rest of the characters play a big role in the story they weren’t actually present for a lot of the book. However they were well-developed and I really felt connected to them.
The story itself actually reminds me a bit of another military related book that was released this year; In Honor by Jessi Kirby. Now don’t get me wrong I’m not saying they are anything alike it’s just that the stories have some similarities that I really enjoyed in both of them. Matt finds out some things about his brother and he sets off on a road-trip to do one last thing to honor T.J. The road trip is only a minor part of the story; it’s what he finds when he reaches his destination that really changes everything for him. There was so much more to the story than the summary hinted at and there were quite a few surprising revelations. I would say that Personal Effects is a more serious, boy version of In Honor.
Overall, Personal Effects is another fabulous contemporary for 2012. Military related books seem to be a new trend this year and of the few that I have read I think Personal Effects is definitely one of the best!
joyousreads132's review against another edition
5.0
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.
kelleemoye's review against another edition
4.0
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]
rebeccawolfe's review against another edition
4.0
Good guy book. Language, content make it best for h.s. kids.