Seventeen-year old Matt Foster has a lot to deal with right now. His older brother, T.J. was killed in Iraq six months ago. Matt's trying to make some sense of his brother's death, but his father just wants to shut the memories away, pretend like it didn't happen.
On T.J.'s list visit home, he asked Matt if he was serious about enlisting in the army.
"Do. Not. Enlist." Each word bounced off my brain. "Period."
Matt's father has removed all of the pictures of T. J. from the house. He's also hidden the flag and the small bag of things T. J. was wearing when he was killed. Matt wants to know more about his brother. He wants to learn as much as he can about T. J.'s last moments.
All that's left of T. J. is in that bag.
No way Dad would just throw away the flag from T. J.'s coffin. Wherever it is, the bag has to be there, too.
I'm not giving up.
Three footlockers filled with T. J.'s personal effects show up. Matt is determined, but his father wants to keep them locked away.
Dad's honoring T. J. by pretending he isn't dead and ignoring every big of evidence that proves him wrong. But me? What am I doing?
There is something I can do. And I already know what.
Personal Effects is a deeply emotional read. I found it to be hard to put down.
Rating: 10 out of 10 stars
*language, homosexuality, gay slurs
