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.

A poor, Appalachian mining community. A century-long blood feud. A corrupt local government. Nearly a decade of peace, tension building below the surface.

A hundred years ago, after the Twist Creek Calamity, Saint Abernathy was executed at the hands of Sherriff Davies. Ever since, it's been a game of eye-for-an-eye between the two families, a joint history of violence and animosity. Miles is 16-years-old, the great-great-grandson of the infamous labor riot leader, and a proud socialist. He loves his rural West Virginian hometown, despite the oppressive hand of the current Sherriff Davies keeping everyone under his thumb. Socially awkward and used to keeping his head down, he discovers something that could change the way Twist Creek County sees their beloved Sherriff. But before he can expose the truth, Davies' equally sadistic son attacks him, nearly killing and permanently disfiguring Miles. With threats of further retaliation hoping to keep him quiet, Miles looks to a new stranger for guidance—​a silent, soot-covered apparition who hovers over Miles' hospital bed and outside of his bedroom window. Realizing that the folks of Twist Creek might not be as loyal to their Sherriff as once thought, a plan hatches to rid the county of their oppressive leader. Time for a tooth for a tooth.

As with White's previous two novels, we have a transgender main character, sick of existing under the heel of those in corrupt power. We watch as they find their footing, stand up, and bite back. This novel is less supernatural (though not entirely so), and less visceral, but just as entrancing; I found that once I started, it was hard to put down. While considered a young adult horror novel, White proves that sometimes the monsters that haunt us are indeed human. The reluctant hero's journey from cornered animal to beast that bites back feels so real, as does the representation so reflective of our poorer, rural communities (as much as I can understand, not having lived such a life myself). I recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt like they are being held down, but are ready to fight for their freedoms. With transgender and nonbinary characters, as well as those on the asexual/aromantic spectrum, this story has the representation needed in current media. I will say, the amount of transphobia/homophobia experienced in an aggressively red state such as West Virginia was little to none—mostly just "needing to come to terms with" instead of "violently opposing." As unrealistic as this is, though, it's a nice reprieve from reality. We have enough "bury your gays" in the real world, we don't need it in our fiction.

Andrew Joseph White has done it again! I'm absolutely speechless after reading this. Compound Fracture is not what l'd typically read, but White is one of my auto-read authors. This is most definitely a thriller that is full of politics, gore, queerness, and family. As to not spoil anything, I will mainly focus on the characters and writing of the book, rather than the storyline.

Miles is an incredibly well written character that is trans with undiagnosed autism. Cooper was complex and White does a fantastic job of writing the complexity of Cooper. Dallas was a delight. They happen to be my favorite (besides Lady)! Miles' parents were not perfect, but you could tell that they're trying. Actually, every character was well written!!

White has a certain writing style that just hooks you in and this book wasn't any different. I enjoyed the plot of the book, I think it was very well done and concluded in the way all of White's books do.

Overall, I loved this. I highly recommend any and all of Andrew Joseph White's books. Thank you NetGalley and PeachTree Teen for the arc! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Author for gifting me this ARC!!

I truly don’t even know where to begin with this review. As a queer and neurodivergent reader/reviewer it was an honor to receive this arc. This book is bloody and brutal but also charming at the same time. This is a book I wish I could have had at a younger age. Growing with our main character as they figure out who they are was truly beautiful. I couldn’t put this book down. Plus there’s a dog and she survives. This book really makes you think about gender, trans identity, mental illness/neurodivergence, small town politics, and so much more. I don’t want to give any spoilers but this book is so beautiful and darkly written I’d recommend it to everyone. Thank you again Andrew and Team for gifting me this arc. It was truly an honor to meet Miles early. I know I’ll be thinking about this story for a long time.

Andrew Joseph White has quickly become an auto-read author for me, and I think Compound Fracture is his best work yet. As someone who grew up in the south, the voice, characters, and setting all felt very realistic and believable, and the plot kept me on the edge of my seat. This book is less paranormal than White's other books, but it's no less eerie, and if you're a fan of horror and gore, those elements are still strong here, even if the main concept is more of a political thriller than outright horror. Overall, I think anyone who enjoys White's writing will enjoy Compound Fracture, and I can't wait to see what White comes up with next.

I read this within the first week of receiving it, it's that good. It is not a book that will sit in a TBR pile for long. The character made me feel seen as a human being. The blending of history, genealogy, and the present was amazing and made for a highly enjoyable read.

Don't flinch, because Andrew Joseph White's Compound Fracture throws a lot at you–a trans teen fighting for justice, a simmering family feud, and a chilling brush with the supernatural. This Appalachian thriller buries you in the heart of Twist Creek, a town where the air hangs heavy with coal dust and simmering tensions.

White's writing evokes the weathered faces of coal miners, etched with hardship, but still holding a spark of defiance. You can practically feel the damp earth under your feet and taste the grit of determination in your teeth. But don't let the picturesque scenery fool you. This story is brutal. The violence is raw and unflinching, just like the struggles faced by the working-class folks in Twist Creek.

Miles is a complex protagonist. A socialist. An autistic teen coming to terms with his identity. And a flawed hero. Because how could you not be flawed growing up under a cycle of constant oppression? White also imbued the supporting characters with their own struggles and desires, all trapped in the same suffocating system.

The first half is a slow burn, building tension like a minecart rumbling down a rickety track. Then, the second half explodes into a wild ride! Compound Fracture will leave you bruised and breathless but ultimately hopeful. It's a must-read for anyone who craves a brutal tale with heart, grit, and a healthy dose of the unexpected. So, prepare to delve into the heart of Twist Creek. You might just find a hidden vein of strength and solidarity waiting to be unearthed.

Andrew Joseph White is already one of my automatic buy authors and he hasn't disappointed yet!

I've read both of his earlier books and adored them, so it wasn't a big surprise that I loved Compound Fracture. I resonate deeply with his characters, and while I don't share any of Miles' patriotism it was very interesting to see another pov on the American south that I hadn't really considered before. (Although I think there should've been more discussion of the Native Americans who are actually indigenous to the regions he felt so connected to)

The depiction of Miles' coming out was almost identical to mine in a rather depressing way (I texted my parents and then boarded a 9h flight and they essentially ignored it, like Miles' mom) and it brought out a great many emotions.
One scene nearly gave me a heart attack and I had to put down the book for while while I panicked but the way his family handed it had me sobbing.
I still tear up thinking about the line: "but it is what makes it click for Mawmaw. This was a violation. This was something taken from me. She don't need to get it; she needs to be kind."

I wasn't a big fan of Cooper to be honest, I could kind of tell from pretty early on that he would be Gale-ified but he ended up being not that bad.

The one thing I wasn't a big fan of was the romance, I'm not sure why but in my head they felt way older than Miles (although i know they weren't) and it just seemed to come out of nowhere, I normally like AJW's couples but I wish there had been a bit more buildup.

Overall, though, Compound Fracture was an intriguing and emotional book with AJW's typically hopeful ending and I can't wait to buy an actual copy!

Please check the trigger warnings before reading Compound Fracture has a lot of explicit and difficult content so always put your mental health first <3

Thank you to NetGalley & Peachtree Teen for giving me access to this arc!

Some things I loved about this book: the queer representation especially in a rural town. I enjoyed the talk of politics especially leftist politics in a small town.
It was fun reading about queers in a small town considering that is where I grew up. Many of the grudges held were not necessarily believable and the main characters were far too happy to murder for me but there were aspects of small town government that would definitely happen in real life. While I know it is fiction, I still didn't love the premise of so many murders. I enjoyed the first half of this book more than the second half. I gave this book 2.5/5 stars and will for sure pick up some of the authors' other work.

When I first heard about Andrew Joseph White’s debut novel (2022), Hell Followed With Us, a YA novel about a young trans man mutating into a monster meant for destruction, I immediately read and reviewed it. As a trans man whose fiction writing centers on trans characters being or becoming monsters, I am thankful for the author sharing these beautiful stories of trans bodies and monstrosities. His second novel, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, is just as astonishing. Now he stuns readers, yours truly included, with his upcoming YA thriller, Compound Fracture.

Miles Abernathy’s family has a history of enduring oppression and systemic violence at the hands of the Davies family. In his rural hometown in Appalachia (Twist Creek, West Virginia), Sheriff Davies holds the upper hand. The novel begins with Miles coming out to his parents via email and then sneaking into a party one night. Armed with evidence of Sheriff Davies’ motives and involvement behind a past tragedy that has affected Miles’s family and family friends, he shares the photos with his friend Cooper. But then Miles ends up in the hospital. Although he couldn’t clearly recall the people who had physically assaulted him that night, he was sure that the Sheriff’s son and his friends were the perpetrators. A visit and threat from Sheriff Davies propels this notion.

Compound Fracture spins a story about injustice and the fight to uncover corruption. Miles’s research on the Abernathy family history reveals his trans great-great grandfather named Saint, a socialist. Saint led the coal miners’ rebellion against the people who exploited them a century ago. Law enforcement publicly executed Saint, and this cycle of violence has continued since. In the present narrative, Miles begins to see Saint’s ghost now and then as he digs further into his ancestor’s life later in the story.

But before moving on with my review, I want to point out how Andrew Joseph White magnificently dispels the stigma and misconceptions surrounding rednecks. Until I read Compound Fracture, the word redneck conjured images of poor country people with sunburned necks. However, what I saw on TV and in films misconstrue the historical significance associated with the population. Through Miles’s point of view, the readers learn that coal miners living in rural West Virginia who oppose lawlessness and poor working conditions would wear red bandanas on their necks. The author has truly opened my eyes to the region and its history. I’m positive that other readers unaware of the true meaning and origin of the word redneck will have the same experience.

Now let’s move on with my review: After having been released from the hospital, Miles encounters one of the perpetrators of the attack, which leads to an unfortunate incident. Now Miles, with the help of his friend Cooper, has to cover his tracks to avoid repercussions. The desire for revenge, however, swells. Miles, at first, does not agree with Cooper’s intentions afterward. Miles has to consider whether to stay back or break this vicious cycle between his family and Davies.

This novel is a compelling, unapologetic thriller with a dash of surrealism. Within those pages, you will face vivid imagery and memorable characters. Miles, autistic and a proud socialist, explores his gender and sexuality while interacting with Cooper, Dallas (who is nonbinary), and other characters. Miles’s parents’ reactions to him being trans evolve over time – their denial and confusion turning into understanding and acceptance throughout the story.

Compound Fracture also unravels the devastating effects of recurring violence and injustice in a family or community. After the first incident, Cooper gradually fixates on avenging Sheriff Davies’ damage to the community. Miles, conflicted, finds himself even more confused as his trans ancestor’s ghost appears more and more. Miles, a character to root for, eventually fights against the people who have persecuted his family and community for generations.

Compound Fracture will leave you speechless from beginning to end.