Please enable JavaScript
Personal Effects | LitPick Book Reviews
Personal Effects
Personal Effects
Personal Effects
E.M. Kokie
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.

Book Details

Genre: 

  • Fiction

Age Level: 

  • Mature Young Adult
Profile Picture

Personal Effects by E.M. Kokie is about a teenager named Matt, who is attending high school and is functioning like a miserable failure. Falling behind in school and getting into trouble, he is internally falling apart. Matt’s older brother T.J, died in Iraq roughly 6 months ago.

To add your comments, login above or request a LitPick membership.
RECENT BOOK REVIEWS