Set in the context of the 2016 US elections and Trump’s impending victory, and the increasing boldness of the conservatives, this book was brimming with righteous anger at the direction in which America has been moving towards. There was hardly a moment when I wasn’t worrying for Miles’ safety, and that of those close to him. This book criticises the systems that perpetuate and enable the violence of those in power, their corruption for personal gains, and how it is magnified beyond the county, extending to American violence in other countries. Noah and his friends—do they deserve what’s coming for them, or are they as children also victims of a failed system? If the youths aren’t safe, if they are getting seriously hurt because the system lets it keep happening, then it is the system that has failed. That’s what Miles believes.

tw / transphobia, gore, animal cruelty, murder, (gun) violence

All I can say is, when I finished reading this book, I very badly needed a lie-down. It was: A Lot. I loved that it was so queer and anti-establishment, that it raged against systems of oppression and class inequality. This book had me at the edge of my seat, wondering what will happen next, worrying for Miles and Cooper and anyone else who’s been silenced by Davies. It had me smiling at Miles’ mother and extended family coming to terms with his being trans, learning to accept and love him all the same.

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for the advanced copy.

"Compound Fracture" is an immense story, but one that is happening in the USA today. While it can seem a little far fetched in moments, the point it is getting across is entirely dire and necessary in our current state of governance and society. At times, characters who we were made to love acted violently and out of malice. That is the reality of these issues. When you are fighting to survive, when you are screaming and slashing and begging to live your life in peace, violence and malice become imperative. This book is truly a masterpiece, though dreadful, it might just empower those who need it most.

I don’t know if I can talk about this book without getting emotional, but that is the case with every Andrew Joseph White book at this point. This story is incredible, the intergenerational elements to it were handled so well, and the representation was amazing as always.

I continue to be the target audience for every single book Andrew Joseph White publishes.
I read Compound Fracture deliberately slowly to give myself the appropriate time to fully digest all of the emotion in it. There was not a moment of this book that was not perfectly executed.

Great beginning but after it slowed down to a standstill. Not Andrew's best work but still a really entertaining novel to read

This novel follows Miles, a newly trans boy who's family has been traumatized by the local police for generations. The historical fight has gone on for so long, that it's time for an end. Miles finally puts their foot down and fights back.

I didn't like when Dallas came in. Even though they seemed like a safe space they came on way too strong and obviously made Miles uncomfortable and was super overbearing. Don't they know how awkward the implications are? Yeah I'm not liking him and his family coming into the story. I thought we would concentrate more on cooper and their plans for revenge now.

Ugh and then the bait and switch came 70% where our one good male character just totally flips his switch on us and I hate it so much. But I guess after finishing I get it now?

I didn't like how we just ignored the existence of other actual police officers from other towns or cities? To go the hospital instead of heading to someone's house? Doesn't make any sense there were plenty of witnesses!

Lady, the dog and main character imo, was a great addition to have! I love that she was Miles' emotional support animal as well as protected them whenever it was needed. A good pupper!

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free book!*

"Compound Fracture" is a very odd book about a trans, autistic teenager who all of a sudden chooses violence and revenge. When reading, I felt like I had missed a prequel because the backstory was so grand. And while I'm all for queer rep and small town revenge, I found none of the characters convincing, the story escalated beyond measure and the ending not only felt unrealistic but also rushed. It was in parts fun to read, other parts were horrible though: transphobia, deadnaming, outing against one's will (also publicly), torture, murder,...

I wanted to like this book but I just didn't.

Content Warnings: Violence, death, gore, gun violence, transphobia, outing, car accident, fire, ableism, pedophilia, deadnaming/misgendering
Representation: trans, trans man, nonbinary, agender, T4T, QPR, nblm, mlm, aromantic, autism
Favorite Quote: “Is he as afraid of losing his power as we are of dying?”
Compound Fracture is a gritty novel that pushes the boundaries of the YA genre. The novel follows an autistic trans teenager named Miles who is in the process of coming out to his family when he accidentally dredges up a generations-long family blood feud. In retaliation to Miles attempting to expose the involvement of the county sheriff in what was passing off as an accident, the sheriff’s son and his friends beat Miles nearly to death. Spurring on the same violence perpetuated by their ancestors.
Upon waking up in the hospital, Miles finds himself curiously haunted by a figure from another time—from the age of mining in his small rural county. This figure becomes a guide for Miles to put an end to this blood feud once and for all, but when the weight of such violence is placed on the young shoulders of a teenager, there are inevitably missteps.
This novel is unabashedly political as it makes the argument that everything is political as people fall in line with the roles that they are thrust into by struggles for power and autonomy. When people are willing to kill for power equate that to being willing to kill for safety and security, everything is political. Miles believes this and approaches the situation around him through a socialist lens. He and the book alike are outspokenly queer, pro-worker, and anti-cop.
Miles’ identity is approached in an exploratory fashion. As a young teenager without the encouragement to explore his identity from his community, Miles is still piecing together who he is throughout the book. There is also a deliberate use of misgendering, deadnaming, and ableism to set the scene of the novel. As a theme in Joseph White’s novels, however, the outlook is not hopeless for queer and neurodivergent youth. Instead, the author gives queer youth the autonomy and strength to break free from the control of their abusers. This book does not pull its punches in doing so.
4.5⭐️

AJW’s latest horror novel centers on Miles Abernathy, a trans teen in Twist Creek, West Virginia, caught in a centuries-old feud between his family and the Davies. Miles’s discovery of a deadly secret about Sheriff Davies sets off a chain of violent events, complicated by the ghostly presence of a long-dead miner.

While Miles’s family is portrayed realistically, with all their messy and awkward moments, some characters come off as exaggerated stereotypes. The supernatural aspects were interesting, especially with the spirit? ghost? Saint, but the pacing of the book is off as it starts strong but drags in the middle, and by the end, the plot feels a bit far-fetched.

Overall, it is an okay read with some standout moments. If you are into character-driven horror with a unique twist, you might still find it worth checking out.

Thank you to Peachtree Teen for the ARC!

I've tried reading Andrew Joseph White's book "Hell Followed with Us" before this and only got up to 20% before I dropped it. The plot was interesting, I heard it get compared to Owari No Seraph which I love. But I didn't like it because although the plot was interesting, the execution was.... forgettable. Then I saw this book and thought, I should give Andrew another try. There's room for improvements and, again, such an interesting plot. However, I had the same problem. I did not care for the writing, I did not care for the characters. The fictional character felt, well, fictional. The plot was good, I'll give Andrew that. This book wasn't bad or anything, it just also wasn't good. I've already forgotten half the book as I'm writing this.

i LOVED the spirit bares its teeth but this... i don't know it just didn't hit the same way.
the whole book i was wondering what the hell this hundred years old feud was about and why did it start and it never is explained.
the whole first 50% of the book is soooo slow i debated wether or not dnfing it, and even though the whole book is more character driven than plot it just wasn't enough? i don't know i didn't vibe with it.
plus since the book is so character driven i expected these characters to have depth or whatever but they seemed like caricatures? the "villains" actions are so exaggerated they seem ridiculous, and miles is ALWAYS right... like this is a 17-years-old boy he CAN be wrong he doesn't have to have the right answer to everything plus his relationship with his family should have been the focal point of the book but they just show up at the last 80%? like what?

I honestly wasn’t sure about this book in the beginning. This is the first book I’ve read by Andrew Joseph White and has definitely piqued my interest about his other work.

Overall, I think the story and themes are very timely - despite the book being set in 2017 (Publish date: Sept 2024), much is still and perhaps more relevant today. It feels like history is repeating itself.

As a Canadian, I don’t have a deep connection to American politics, but I was still able to appreciate and understand the struggles of the community.

I read another readers review that pointed out some potential inaccuracies (I use this word lightly) and less-than-subtle moments of the story, and while I agreed with many of their points, I also understand that this is YA and a certain amount of exposition is okay.

However, some points did feel rather heavy handed and spelled out the themes word for word.

In terms of plot, I honestly wasn’t sure where the story was going most of the time. I wasn’t hooked until maybe 1/3 of the way in. At some points, the actions of the characters felt a little nonsensical and over the top. Yes, it got brutal and bloody and gory, but at points it kinda felt unnecessary.

Miles, the main character, was very refreshing to read about - his journey of self discovery being trans, on the aromantic spectrum and autistic hit a lot of familiar points with me.

Miles’s parents are very refreshing and his family dynamic is fascinating. It was interesting to watch them all grow and react differently to various situations. But, at times, characters also felt cookie-cutter/less layered.

I always find it hard to read books set in present-day and not make things (technology, social media, pop culture references etc) seem cringe or fake. It’s not bad here, which is nice. The characters texts also felt very authentic.

I liked the ‘supernatural’ element a lot and how that tied directly to the history of the family and the area.

In the end, I read the last 2/3 in one day and wanted to know what happened next. I thoroughly enjoyed my read, but also felt that the story had a lot going on, flirted with being unrealistic rather than horror-based, and struggled to focus on its main plot without falling back on exposition.

In the end, 4 stars from me!

*Thank you to NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book!*

First of all, a great big thank you to Peachtree and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC! I loved Andrew Joseph White's previous books and was so excited when I heard this one announced.

I have to say, I just genuinely enjoy the way White crafts such strong characters, and yet they don't overpower the plot or the setting at all. In fact, all the elements just work together almost seamlessly. The main character, Miles, and his family are outcasts from the town they live in due to their intense family history, including a major blood feud, but Miles also feels the creeping doubt of being something else; something other. Miles is explicitly coded as Autistic, but even he isn't totally sure of why he feels so different from everyone around him. The way that this piece of Miles' character shined throughout the book via both his internal struggles as well as the external forces of the blood feud seemed masterfully done.

Something I really appreciated in this book as well was the underlying hope and the passion for rights overturning wrongs. That, even in the most bleak situations, when you think all is lost, there are still people out there willing to support you and make things right again. Especially when this book touched on many possibly triggering topics (see trigger warnings), including everything we tend to see on the news from the political to the gruesome; it would've been easy to sink into a sort of pessimistic view while reading or writing this. So hats off to White for giving a good look at reality while also allowing for optimism to shine through. This book could've been the most depressing I'd read in a while, but after finishing I felt hopeful that things could be different, that bad people can lose and good people can win.

The reason I'm giving this book a 4.5 star rating, and not a 5 star like White's other books is simply that I think I am just a little tired of his formula. While tried and true, I think I'm okay leaving off on this book if this is what the author will continue to put out. I think The Spirit Bares Its Teeth will remain my favorite of the three that are out, though that could change in the future. I don't think Compound Fracture is a bad book by any measure. It's very good, because White is very good at creating these interesting settings and characters and deeply weaving them together to create a plotline that will sink into your bones and haunt you for a bit. I just think I've had enough for now. However, I can guarantee, if you liked one or both of Andrew Joseph White's previous books, Hell Followed With Us and The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, and you really want more of his work and style, you will DEFINITELY like Compound Fracture.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read the E-ARC of this fantastic book!

Compound Fracture is a beautiful crafted story with so many wonderful quirks to it! Being from the south and growing up in a middle of nowhere town made this book feel extra personal to me. Miles as a character is so complex because even though he is strong and firm in his beliefs, he’s still a kid who’s growing into his own self.

For most if not all of the book, I was on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t put it down and had to force myself to stop so I didn’t finish it all in one day! A true thriller with substance and character growth.

Compound Fracture is so eye opening to people who don’t live in the south as well. For most of the US we are seen as unsalvageable, conservative, god fearing patriots, when we are so much more than that. We’re queer, we’re proud, and we put up a damn good fight.

I’d recommend this to anyone who wants a good, gorey thriller with southern truths, pride, and queer liberation. This book is for those always willing to put up a fight. (Also the dog doesn’t die!)

(Not on StoryGraph Review) The only valid criticism that I could give is how one or two of the sentence transitions don’t feel cohesive. For example on Page 43, “He says, “And you’ll lose those photos, won’t you?” The burned down theater, where Davie’s ancestors executed mine, is still standing in McLachlan.” It might just be a personal nit-pick but I read over it a few times and still was confused with the transition. But that was it!

Another great book from one of my favorite YA authors! This story is deeply personal and features an autistic trans boy dealing with intergenerational class conflict in his West Virginia small town home. Brutally attacked, Miles has to deal with trying to fit in, healing from their many physical scars and the ghost of a trans ancestor that helps guide him in what will be a bloody battle to the death. This was great on audio narrated by Dani Martineck. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review!! Slightly gruesome, but very relevant and relatable, this was a standout for me!

4.5 stars!

Thank you to Andrew Joseph White and Peachtree Teen for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!

AHHHHHHHHH ASDJASHDLJSK okay, I got that out. AJW can just do no wrong, I enjoyed this book so much. I've read his two other books already and I would put this firmly in the middle with The Spirit Bares Its Teeth still being my favorite.

Usually, I split my reviews into what I did and didn't like but I only have positive things to say. Not to sound like I’m writing an essay right off the bat, but I really appreciate the role of setting in this. The small, Appalachian, former mining town Twist Creek was genuinely such a perfect setting and it doesn't feel like just a backdrop. The history and the politics and the people all play a vital role in the story. I love Miles and I love how characterization is threaded into every interaction. Compound Fracture definitely has less pronounced sci-fi/fantasy elements than AJW's other books but (without spoiling) I really enjoyed how they manifested in this. Usually, I find political themes in YA (and Adult honestly) to be kind of oversimplified and patronizing, but I really think this has a level of nuance that was engaging as well as relevant given recent...political developments. I also usually have trouble being compelled with stories that involve a lot of intense familial relationships but you can really feel the struggle between love, acceptance, and safety here.

This was the kind of book that was (pleasantly) upsetting as a reader, but that I found really well-constructed and a little admirably evil as a writer. There are just points where you don't think things can get any worse, but they always can and this is horror so they probably always will. I didn't find it too overwhelmingly disturbing so it's a good entrance into horror (as are his other books) but I also read some intense stuff so mind the content warnings and figure out your comfort level.

Happy reading!

A dark, emotional young-adult horror about a trans autistic teen living in rural West Virginia who, after almost being murdered, finds himself in the center of a century-old blood feud. It's been a while since I've been so enraptured by a story, but Andrew Joseph White draws you into this bleak, yet all too realistic world. Miles's character is unique (I've never read about a protagonist who identifies as a socialist!), the writing style is fast-paced, and the story is oh-so compelling. While I agree with some negative reviews about the cartoonish villains and too-perfect ending, I still thoroughly enjoyed this YA horror and can't wait to check out more of White's work!

Compound Fracture centers Miles Abernathy, a queer teenager in rural West Virginia who is attacked by his classmates because of a hundred-year-old blood feud between his family and the sheriff's family. It's a thriller that toes the line with the supernatural, and I found This book is infused with a love for West Virginia and the people therein. I personally adored this book, and found few flaws — at times I felt dialogue felt a bit forced, but it was easy to overlook that for the rest of the book. If you grew up in West Virginia, are a fan of books like Barbara Kingsolver, or are a fan of the author's other books, this one is for you. I hope you come away from it loving West Virginia as much as it's clear this book does.

Netgalley and Peachtree Teen provided me with an ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts in this review are my own!

This is my second book from this author and they are becoming an auto buy author. I loved Hell Followed with Us so I was really exited to be approved for this arc. I was a little anxious starting this one, being French I thought it might be too American but not at all. This is a beautiful story, sometimes hard to read because you can't help but to root for the characters. The only "negative" thing I can say is that I wanted a little more of when things ended, like what happens after all of that, how do you cope with all of this? But this aside, I had such a good time reading this gem of a book.

The Abernathys and The Davies have been at war in Twist Creek County for generations, after the Davies killed Saint Abernathy to break a mining strike. After Miles Abernathy uncovers proof that Sheriff Davies is still wielding his unchecked power to hurt members of the Twist Creek community when they try to stand up to him, Miles is beaten and left for dead by Sheriff Davies's son and his cronies. After the injury, Miles is told to "forget" what happened, but ignoring the ghost of Saint Abernathy is impossible. What follows is a brutal tale of revenge, family, and community.

This was my first time reading Andrew Joseph White, and I am so excited to read other books of his. I really enjoyed Compound Fracture, especially Miles's relationships with his family and with Dallas. There were parts of this story that I found lacking: the prose was repetitive at times eg. "all _____ and _____," when describing something, the pace lagged for a bit in the middle, and there really were no consequences for a handful of murders. The other thing that felt lacking that some other reviewers brought up and I thought was on point is that this book goes into issues of class, neurodiversity, and queerness, but leaves race untouched/unmentioned, which feels like an omission in a book with such an obvious political bent/point of view. With these few critiques aside, it was a brutal and satisfying story. I think you'll love it.

Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Holiday House/Peachtree/Pixel+Ink for a free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Phew, this was a hell of a book. Chock full of gore, generational trauma, growing up trans and queer in a very rural area, deadly family feuds, and how the land holds its history, I would not say this is for the faint of heart. My reading experience was full of grimacing, wincing, and shuddering. I felt a deep connection to Miles as someone who grew up in a rural hometown in Michigan that was shockingly similar to the story's West Virginian town, although I figured out my transness much later. Similar to Miles, I was naive in my belief that my parents were good people, and therefore, if I came out as trans to them, they would do the work to understand. Instead, I send TikToks to a groupchat of "how to use they/them pronouns" that go ignored and unopened, similar to the abundance of resources Miles painstakingly collects in his coming out email to his parents, which they ignore at first. The growth of his family and the way they stuck together even when they didn't understand Miles' transness fully was a consistence I needed in this book, painful learning curves and all. There was also an emphasis on being queer and trans without leaving your rural hometown--acknowledging that we still exist in rural spaces, even if the world seems to think we don't.
I really liked the discussions of neurodivergence, both because they were relatable and because they highlighted the importance of finding neurodivergent community to support you and share advice on making your environment as accessible as possible for your needs (loved the shower ritual scene that Amber shared with Miles; it warmed my heart and made me rethink how I force myself into discomfort because I feel like I should be able to handle it.)
I will say that this book lost me towards the middle when it felt like an endless loop of "let's kill these kids! but wait, they're a product of their environment, so isn't this wrong, actually?" I don't know how to feel about the violence these kids enacted on each other throughout this book <spoiler>and that the conclusion for most of them was gruesome and bloody death</spoiler>--it made a lot of the valid arguments about how they weren't necessarily at fault for how they were raised and the pressures that forced them into working for the Davies' feel meaningless to me.
I'll admit I don't know a lot about communism, but it felt like it was kind of sloppily slipped into the story at some points? Like, it felt like the author just wanted to talk about communism and threw in their thoughts as they saw fit.
<spoiler>More weird plot things that didn't make much sense to me: Miles' parents not guessing that the Davies' and their posse attacked him until Miles said it outright late into the story because it seemed so obvious; Cooper's death felt like a cop-out to me because he was mentally ill and "too far gone" instead of doing more with his character, and I wonder if part of killing him off was to make room for a queer-platonic relationship between Miles and Dallas; the insistence on recreating history with both Miles' family sending him off to trap Noah with the same tools as his ancestor and Davies' insistence on killing Miles with the railroad spike just like his ancestor did to Saint; the family absolutely normalizing Miles and Cooper killing Paul and Eddie as if their family feud excuses them as casualties; genuinely how did Noah know so much about Miles' life and actions? </spoiler> I think I enjoyed this book overall? The writing style and sensory details were good, but I think the plot just lost me a little bit.