** I received an arc of this book off of NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ugh, another 5 stars for Andrew Joseph White. As an autistic person, I felt seen in the way autism is written so unapologetically real. There’s no beat around the bushes when it comes to how living with autism and coming to terms with it is, and I always appreciate it when I see it. I loved the shoelace Miles had. Every time I get a string in my hand I’m always doing the biting and tying knots as described in the book, lol. Maybe I should get one of my own to fidget with!

The plot itself was like one I’d never read, unique and made it so I was unable to put the book down. I liked the Cooper/Miles subplot because it lowkey gave me Heathers vibes. I liked how the entire book challenged you to think. All the characters (minus the obvious antagonists) were cool as shit.

Best part though? Lady made it out safe!! Trigger warning for my pupper lovers, there is mention of a dog being killed, but it isn’t shown explicitly and Miles’ dog is never hurt 🐶

10/10, so excited to get a physical copy when it releases!!!

received e-arc from net galley
trans teen involved in a 100 year blood feud survives attempted murder while trying to set things right and bring justice to those oppressing the rural poor.
Sometimes violence is needed in order to set things right and sometimes it gets caught between the desire to just hurt others
Miles is my child and I'd do anything for him
this book is beautifully crafted and it's surprisingly easy to read, I ate it up in just a couple days and couldn't bring myself to put it down
while I would've loved to see more of Connor's mental state and how the break happened, I understand why we're shown only part of it
you can only help others so much when you're going through hell yourself
but a whole community of people going through the same hell?
there's power in community and I think this book illustrates it really well

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree for providing an advanced digital copy of Compound Fracture. I was shocked and delighted when I got the email saying I was approved for an eARC.

As with Andrew Joseph White's other books, some parts were graphic and hard to read, but I enjoyed the toned-down supernatural elements in this one. Capitalism and other people were the only monsters needed. The setting and political commentary made the story feel more grounded and so, so relevant to current events.

I can't express how much I loved every aspect of this book. Not only does White create a unique, bone-chilling, and incredibly engaging story - full of representation - but the diversity fits naturally into the narrative, in a meaningful way, without feeling like a checklist of identities. Though, maybe I'm biased because of how much I related to Miles (and Dallas): trans/non-binary, autistic, a-spec, disabled, and a hard-core leftist in a deeply red part of the country... it's like AJW was in my head!

I honestly didn't want to put it down. I was anxious the entire time but needed to know what would happen. I was also dreading it because I was convinced something bad would happen to Lady, and having recently lost my dog, I wasn't sure I could've handled that. (I should have read the author's GR review saying she would be fine). Not that the characters (or readers) were spared heartbreak, but much like The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, the ending was generally happy and satisfying.

Compound Fracture has become my favorite AJW book and is one of my top reads of the year. White is also now on my instant-buy authors list! The only downside to reading this five months in advance is waiting until September to talk about it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree for approving my request for a review copy!!

Like the rest of AJW's work, this was amazing. Significantly more realistic and grounded in reality, but still so amazing to read. Everything from plot to characters was astounding, especially with the realism regarding the characters. Miles' parents do struggle to understand what Miles being trans means and involves, Cooper is not a 'perfect victim' as I like to put it, he is traumatized and angry and this fact shows through his actions and how he reacts to the things happening around him. This is something I've repeatedly seen in White's novels, the victims aren't perfect or 100% justified because they were harmed, no, they CAN be awful and angry and do more harm than anticipated. And Saint Abernathy's entire character is amazing. He's a great testament to the fact that queer people have always been here.
Also the way Lady is written!! It's such a small part of the book, but as someone with a dog loving family, she's amazing. The relationship Miles and Lady have is so adorable.

My only criticism would be the lack of answers and closure for some aspects of the book, which while realistic, did leave me a bit upset after the ending.

Either way, I'm very excited for when this releases in September and whatever AJW releases after.

want to start off by saying thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for giving me an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book has immediately shot itself up into my list of favourites. It was gruesome and grimy and yet still had so much heart and character. Between Miles, Saint, Cooper, Dallas and more.. the characters in this book are so well developed. The storyline has a lot of history and lore and it does such a good job of teaching you it without feeling like an info dump, and actually making the information stick. Great representation of identities including a transgender male aromantic/allosexual main character, and a realistic experience of the mixed reactions to coming out. I can’t say much else without plot spoilers, but this is a must read. It does handle some triggering topics so please check the list of warnings, but be assured that these topics are handled WELL. I can’t wait for the official release, so this can sit proudly on my shelf.

Andrew Joseph White has a way of inspiring you to take on the world with bared teeth.
His next book, Compound Fracture, gleams with all the blood and gristle you'd expect from him.
It's a story about doing wrong to make right, and about generational trauma; it's a story that drips in the blood-soaked history (and present-day) of this country.
With the growing tension of a real-life class war, this novel might just make you snap and do something about it. It's the perfect book to inspire radical change—especially during an election year.
So punch back. Show your teeth. And don't go down without a fight.

I think this may be my new favourite Andrew Joseph White book because DAMN, this was phenomenal. I barely know where to begin with how much I loved Compound Fracture. It was just such a visceral, angry book.

I loved Miles in all his trans, autistic, aromantic glory. I loved his voice and just, I don't have the right words to describe how much this angry, blood-feud, class war, deadly book just worked so fucking well. It was this raw, visceral, gritty, nasty story that I loved to bits. The characters were so real, the relationships were so well-crafted. Characters could be awful, understandable and pitiable all at once. Just so fucking good!!!!

First thing i want to thank Peachtree Teen and NetGalley for providing me this ARC!

Oh wow this book... I really cannot predict how the plot is going and it got me seated to the point i don't want to put it down. This book is one of my anticipated releases of this year!

The story is about a trans boy, Miles Abernathy who just came out to his family and not long after that he became a victim of the town sheriff's son. And there's a long feud between his family with the sheriff's.

After his near death, he starts seeing a ghost. This story covers police cruelty, brutality, unfair & flawed justice system. And it also covers Miles exprience as a teen trans boy.

Oh few last chapters and the ending i quite like it!

Andrew Joseph White is doing horror with queer characters right. Compound Fracture is a ghost story, but also a story of class war, politics, and acceptance. It’s upsetting but entirely effective at conveying its message: everything is political. The systems of oppression will work against us forever if we don’t enact change.

The main character, Miles, is trans and autistic, living in rural Appalachia where Confederate flags are flown frequently. After surviving a murder attempt, he is threatened into silence by the sheriff. The sheriff holds immense power, aided by covering up years of misdeeds by forcing people to look in the other direction. In a location with few resources and guided by the ghost of his ancestor who was brutally murdered after unionizing in the coal mines, Miles must fight to survive… even if that means taking desperate, bloody measures.

It is so refreshing to see YA parents who are alive, supportive, and have their own character arcs. The characterization in this book is so delicious. Even small side characters had layers to them that I wasn’t expecting. No one was exactly as they first appeared to be. Miles's voice is unique—getting emotionally invested in his story was effortless.

I absolutely recommend this book and everything else by White. Queer stories can be gross and graphic and bone-chilling—White is truly defining a genre. Instant purchase anytime he releases a new book from here on out. I will be buying my own physical copy of Compound Fracture as soon as it hits shelves in September.

Happy reading!

Andrew Joseph White has always been a name to watch. With COMPOUND FRACTURE, he takes his already amazing writing to the next level in a commentary on class, revenge, and justice.

When I first received the email that I had been approved to read an advanced copy of this from NetGalley, I was shocked. I’ve never really done a book review like this and the only thing going for me was that I’m a transgender adult who lives in Virginia and has read Andrew Joseph White’s work as fast as he’s getting it published.

Now on to the book. I read this in six days and it’s everything that the description promises it will be. Miles Abernathy is everything I wish I could be and will try harder to maybe model myself after. I loved their voice, heard myself and my friends in the way they talked and behaved. I loved Saint’s presence in all of this and the way the Abernathys came together and had their community with them when it was needed most. I look forward to seeing what Andrew Joseph White writes next because well… I’m a transgender person who wishes that they could be a monster too.

Thanks to Peachtree Teen & Netgalley for this ARC!

I'm not going to lie, I have been waiting for this book from the moment it was announced.
One thing Andrew Joseph White can do is create a strong character voice. Miles Abernathy feels so real, and is consistent in his beliefs and emotions.
Compound Fracture is a deviation from AJW's previous books, far more grounded in reality, and yet the horror is strong. A horror grounded in the reality of our world. It is brutal, bloody, and far too familiar. I know nothing about Appalachia, yet I never felt disconnected from the world. AJW writes from his own experiences in such authenticity, it welcomes you and drags you in.


*SLIGHT SPOILERS*
AJW posts great trigger warnings for his novels, which I am eternally greatful for. I believe there should also be a warning for sexual abuse of a minor/CSAM. A character is mentioned to have filmed his under-age stepsister in the shower, and to have spead the video online (Page 235 of ARC).

Thank you PeachTree Teen and NetGalley for the eARC of Compound Fracture!

I'm a big fan of White's work, and this newest book is no exception. While not perfect, it's a brutally honest look at what it means to be a queer teen in rural America during a time that's so fraught with hatred and civil unrest.

Compound Fracture---the story of Miles Abernathy and the century-old feud between his family and the local Sheriff's---takes a bold look at how our current political system serves not those who need it most, but those who are already in power. A system that will do anything to perpetuate itself rather than put in the work to uplift its average citizens. The book is gory and sometimes uncomfortable, but books with this much to say are important. Heed the content warnings on this one.

Characters: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The characters all feel very real and deeply nuanced, especially Miles as he goes through the process of both coming out to his family as Trans and of dealing with inheriting the struggles of his ancestors, and that inheritance finally coming due. The side characters were also great, including an awesome nonbinary character who is described as "fat" in such a refreshingly neutral way.

Plot: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

The blood feud between the Davieses and the Abernathys was such a cool premise, as well as the ratcheting up of the tension and bloodshed. There were a couple places where I felt the narrative could've been tightened to alleviate a few questions that never got answered or things that felt like conveniences to further the plot, but nothing that truly ruined the enjoyment for me.

Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

As always, White's writing shines, especially here where he really gets to dig into a fun-to-read and authentic narrative voice. You can tell this book was a very personal one for him. He's an absolute genius at gore (which sounds like an odd thing to say, but it's true), and he's definitely an instant-buy author for me now.

Pacing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is where the book got me a bit. There are parts where it's snappy and fast-paced, and the tension is very strong throughout, but there were also several times that it lagged for me. I found too much time passed between the inciting incident and the next major beat, and I lost some of my momentum. I thought maybe the main plot needed a bit more love in comparison to some of the political commentary, but honestly your milage may vary on that.

Total: 4.5 🌟 rounded up to 5 🌟 I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to read this, and I'm hype for it to go out unto the world so I can talk to others about it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for giving me an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review!

It is rare for a book review that I am left speechless— but frankly I can’t truly think of any amount of praise or commendation that would do justice to the way this book made me feel. I’ve honestly been struggling to find any words at all to do it justice. I had this same issue with “The Spirit Bares Its Teeth,” how do you review a masterpiece? This book strikes to the core of anyone who’s ever felt like they don’t fit where they were placed— who does everything they can to belong, and it still doesn’t feel like enough, because everyone else is in on some joke you just don’t get. This book is about the dangers of rural towns and some folks you may find therein, but also about how most people are fundamentally good, and how we can’t forget where many of the great revolutions of our past began. This book is about power, and the difference working collectively can make when you need to oust a corrupt ruling body. This book is about being trans, and autistic, and in the middle of a blood feud that goes back generations and that feels like nothing can stop it— and doing what you feel like you *have* to to stop it. This book… This BOOK y’all…

I don’t have an eloquent wrap up or a cool ending note— just please go pre-order this book. I have an ebook and I’m still gonna get a physical copy as soon as it comes out. You will not regret it.

Andrew Joseph White’s book always have monsters. But in this one, the monsters are ONLY human. And that makes them MORE sinister because they have no excuses. They CHOOSE to act monstrous, to kill and terrorize in the name of power. It’s a game to them, but one they will ALWAYS win. Because fear is self-defeating, is it not?

But what happens when you have a spark? One person who is definitely no hero - who is flawed and imperfect and confused but also strong in ways yet to be discovered? Is one queer, disabled kid enough to burn down a card house of hate built over literal generations?

This book encompasses so much that I had to sit with it for a few days before I could read anything except nonfiction. The disdain so many have for certain classes of folks, the harm done to small communities by government and each other. The choices we all must make every day to NOT become that monster, to lift up each other and to be who and what we are meant to be. The darkness that sits within us all. But with the darkness, there is ALWAYS redemption. It just might not always take the path one expects.

This is not a book where any one review can cover it all. Every single reader will walk away with something different imprinted on their soul. To me though? That is the mark of a good book. One that reaches in and twists, ever so slightly, to remind us of our shared humanity.

Thank you Peachtree Teen for the opportunity to read and review this upcoming book!
It is hard to find the words to describe something written as well as this book is. This book captures the rage and despair of a young queer kid so well and it is incredible every second of the ride. The tension that I felt in this book was incredible. This book is Young Adult, yes, but it treats the intended audience with more respect than a good number of adult books I have read. The topics tackled in this are incredibly deep and serve as a great way to introduce someone to these themes, while also giving them an incredible and tense story that will have them glued to the page. A particular highlight was how the author played with the expectations of a novel, but I will leave that for the future reader to discover and enjoy for themselves.

Toughly loved this book and look forward to buying copies for all my friends.

I don’t have words for how amazing this book was. Andrew never disappoints in bringing a poetic ness to the gore that his characters endure, and Compound Fracture was no exception. This book somehow perfectly captures the feelings of someone in Miles’ situation, and all the characters, even when they’re making completely human mistakes, are amazingly well written and lovable (okay, not all the characters are lovable but you get what I mean). Also, as an autistic person, Miles was scarily relatable and it’s so amazing to see yourself reflected in something you read. A town coming together to do what was needed to free themself from the oppressive forces that terrorized them was what I was promised, and the book more than delivered. Amazing as always

This is by far my favorite book by Andrew Joseph White and if you’ve read my other reviews or have listened to me gush about them, you know that is saying a lot.

For me Compound Fracture is the darkest and hardest of White’s novels. It is violent and unabashedly brutal, you feel the defeat so deeply in your bones. Is it because so much of what is inside this book is what we see every day but stripped bare and laid out so we can’t delude ourselves into thinking otherwise? I think so.

This a book about legacy and finding your own future in a world that has paths carved out for you based on how it perceived you to be due to its rigid structures and labels.

This is a book about community and the strength we have in each other, the I mportance of remembering that we have to protect the vulnerable members of our community regardless of the politics of where they’re from. Whether from the most southern parts of the United States to the most “liberal” parts, communities deserve to be fought for and cared for. That the people that make up those communities are stronger together than apart. We cannot leave each other behind in our fight for freedom.

About power of resistance This is a book about taking action and admitting that bravery is terrifying and can be deadly. But bravery is necessary to make change.

And as I read Compound Fracture I could not stop thinking about the activists and heroes standing up for a free Palestine. All of us causing damage, making demands and screaming “We will not be silent”. We will not be silent until we see a Free Palestine, a free Congo and Sudan.

I could not stop thinking about the policies and politicians harming transgender people and their rights to exist. I could not stop thinking about the policies and politicians targeting free healthcare, homeless people and the disabled community. And I think of all the people who continue to fight tooth and nail to defend our communities from this evil.

Resistance is not peaceful and can never succeed if it is. Because resistance is tearing the rot and evil out, making the wounds bleed and the burning of the disinfectant and stitching of the wounds as they heal. Yes, resistance is bloody, scary, dangerous, full of hurt and discomfort. But resistance is full of community, collective strength, hope and future.

I have so many things to say about this book and I do not have the ability to say all of them, but my overall review is just that you should read this book and it was amazing and I am going to be autistic about it for a while. This is a more grounded book than the author has written before, even though there is a ghost in it. Less gory and less horror and more thriller, although I would definitely say to check the trigger warnings– this book is certainly very intense for a YA novel. The portrayals of autism and transness are also very well-done in my opinion (as both of them) , and I also enjoyed how the aromantic spectrum was talked about in the book.
What I am going to talk about is the characterization that is in this book (and in the author’s two previous books as well but not to the same extent) Effectively, there is this one trick done where the secondary antagonists will not be the ones blamed for their actions entirely, but society will be blamed for it in place, because it is acknowledged that not everyone has complete and total agency over all of their actions. It’s balanced very well, especially in this novel, and there’s always something that is both a betrayal and a continuation of the characters' morals in the first place. Very painful, masterfully written. I have so much more else to say but I would have to dive into spoilers so I am not going to, I will probably add that after the book releases.

4.5⭐️ Rounded up to 5⭐️

I’m not sure I can even articulate just how much I enjoyed this book, and just how quickly I devoured it. Andrew Joseph White has rapidly become an auto buy author for me and I absolutely adore everything that he writes; his writing style is so captivating and flows so fluidly, keeping me so hooked and drawn in.

The autism rep is my absolute favourite and genuinely had me absolutely bawling my eyes out when Miles realises that he is autistic and that he doesn’t have to get a professional diagnosis to be autistic, and that there’s nothing actually wrong with him. I felt so seen by him and the way that he views the world, and the way that he struggles with stuff like showering and brushing his teeth. It’s always been a thing I’ve struggled with, and been insanely embarrassed about, but the whole thing is just a sensory nightmare.

The story was so captivating and genuinely passed in the blink of an eye, I felt like I’d just started and was suddenly at the end. Eddie, Noah and the other one got what was coming to them, and they honestly deserved it after the sickening things they did. I was sad that Cooper died tho as was quite fond of him despite the fact he’d become so consumed by his anger and so torn up by his trauma that he was a complete dickhead at times. I’m so glad that nothing happened to Lady as I spent the whole story as anxious about something happening to her as Miles was.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I will happily read anything and everything AJW writes.