Find my reviews on Blogger ~ Reviews by Bookish Sarah 
 - - - 
 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!* 
 - - - 
 Book source: NetGalley 
 Publisher: Candlewick Press