When news reaches seventeen-year-old Matt Foster about his brother's death in Iraq, all he can think of is getting T.J.'s effects--his dog tags, clothing, or journals, whatever his brother had--and learn about his past, which was always secretive and unknown to Matt. However, when he gets T.J.'s effects, they bring up more questions than answers, and in order to learn what he wants to know, Matt may have to battle his dad, risk losing his best friend, and even suspension from school.