Omg This story!

If you want a story that packs a punch, both emotionally and politically, then Andrew Joseph White’s Compound Fracture is the book you’ve been waiting for.

Set in the rugged Appalachian landscape, this queer thriller is not just a tale of survival but a call to arms for those who see the world’s failures and are ready to push for radical change.

The protagonist, Miles Abernathy, is a trans autistic teen living in Twist Creek, West Virginia, where a century-old blood feud between his family and the corrupt sheriff’s department still festers. The story starts on the night Miles comes out as trans to his parents and decides to attend a party with a purpose, he’s carrying evidence that could expose Sheriff Davies for the killer he is.

But what starts as a mission for justice turns into a fight for survival! After a brutal attack that leaves Miles on the brink of death, he’s visited by the ghost of his great-great-grandfather, a symbol of the miners’ rebellion that began this whole mess. And as if dealing with a corrupt sheriff, his cronies, and his own recovery isn’t enough, Miles accidentally kills one of his attackers, setting off a chain reaction that forces him to decide how far he’s willing to go to end the cycle of violence.

Compound Fracture is not for the faint of heart. White doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of systemic oppression, making this book as much a thriller as it is a commentary on the rural poor and the exploitation they endure.
However beneath the grit and the grime is a story of resilience, community, and the fierce desire to create a better world, even when the odds seem impossible.

This story is raw, it’s real, and it’s utterly unforgettable. Highly recommend!

I got access to this ARC in March. I only finished today after starting it about 2 weeks ago.
This isn’t the first time I’ve felt a connection to a character written by Andrew Joseph White, but when he writes transgender and autistic characters, I can hardly be surprised by it.
One of the quotes I found very relatable was: "In the stories I've read online, parents seem obsessed with performing their grief about a child's transition. Don't you know how hard this is for us?” This is a sentiment that comes up in many a story you’ll find online about any queer person coming out to their family, but particularly when it comes to people who identify somewhere on transgender spectrum.I get the impression that this section could be a long one just based on the amount of quotes I pulled as I was reading.
I loved Miles. I loved Amber, what little you see of her. And I loved Dallas.. I loved the connection Miles formed with their family and with them. I really liked the fact that Miles had someone who he could talk to about gender stuff, and not be looked at weirdly. I liked that each of them could be themselves around the other without feeling a need to censor themselves or change aspects of their identity or personality. They could talk candidly and not feel weird for it.
Ultimately I just loved the characters, plot and atmosphere that Andrew Joseph White created with this book. And I liked that I could relate to many aspects without needing to necessarily completely understand the context of American politics.

I’m sort of left speechless at how much I loved this book. From the narrator’s tone and language to the gritty environment depicted, the whole novel felt very atmospheric. It was like I was there, watching everything play out, and I loved that because it didn’t feel like I was merely reading something - I was there.

I first read Hell Followed With Us by the same author a couple of years ago when it first came out and I liked it for how weird and unflinching it was. It also took place in this sort of apocalyptic society. Compound Fracture has all the same elements (maybe a little less body horror), but the setting of the story is rooted in our reality and it really helped solidify the characters and reality of it in my mind. The family and generational aspect to it all - ugh, that’s my bread and butter. The family is tight-knit, eventually understanding, and the generational rivalry and all its tension was set up so perfectly. I was in suspense when I needed to be, I gasped when things happened, and that’s all I really need from a book. You also never really know where White is going to go in his novels or who’s going to be hurt or healed next, and I love it. (But don’t worry…the dog on the cover isn’t harmed :)).

I’ve seen a lot of reviews saying this book feels like a love letter to Appalachia, the trans community, the working class, everyone who has questioned how things are run. Reading it really does feel that way. I also finished this novel and became more motivated to continue writing my own WIP, so that’s always nice. I can’t wait to check out his other book, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, and anything he writes in the future.

Everybody - keep writing weird stuff, and keep being you!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. This review reflects my honest opinions.

Andrew Joseph White has done it again! I loved his first two books and this one does not disappoint. The inclusion of socialism in West Virginia and the miners resonated with me. His neurodivergent and trans characters are very relatable as a reader and are fully fleshed out.

As usual with AJW novels, this one smacked me in the face and I loved it! I have so much joy that trans people, queer people, neurotypical people, etc., etc., etc., get to have authors like AJW writing for and about us!!!

Also, as per usual, this has lots of gore and body horror so read with that in mind!!!

My favorite part of this was its setting of Appalachia and finding out that AJW is from the area and that this is like a love letter to Appalachia and his family. I hesitate to say I had FUN due to the actual plot and contents of the story, but I raced through this book, and I couldn't put it down. I finished all in one day, almost one sitting. There's murder! There's a long-term family feud that goes back generations! There's scheming and terror and abuse and love and joy and understanding. This book is so much about understanding. About understanding and finding yourself and also getting to have that from your friends and family even if they don't get to it very quickly.

I appreciated so much the truthfulness in this book that AJW included. As much as he obviously cares for the place he's from, the book also talks a LOT about access to mental health services and higher education and queer spaces and how those things can be hard to find for kids like the MC (or anyone!).

I loved the ending because I genuinely did not know what was going to happen and I rarely fear for characters' lives in YA books so that was fun! (Fun???)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC! I can't wait for the next one!

I only learned about the miners’ rebellion in 1920 earlier this year when I read Mine Wars by Steve Watkins. It was hard to imagine the bloodiness and violence of those events, but having read a historical account, I couldn’t help thinking about how the violence in this book echoed the horror of those real-life experiences.

Every time I pick up a book by Andrew Joseph White, I worry that it will be too much for me. I tend to be more sensitive to violence in media, so it’s hard for me to read certain things. Yet, every time I pick up one of his books, I’m swept away by the writing and the unapologetic storytelling that centers characters who survive some of humanity’s darkest treatment.

Compound Fracture drops its readers into the middle of a generations-old feud in a small West Virginia town. Early in the story, the main character, Miles, is beaten severely. We know what happens largely because we see him surrounded by people with ill intent, and then we get an account of his severe injuries when he wakes up in the hospital later. I appreciated that this scene, in particular, wasn’t shown in detail.

I couldn’t stop reading this book. The story feels urgent and intense in the kind of way that makes you want to squeeze in one more chapter. And one more. And…

Which is how I read this whole book in less than 24 hours. If you love dark Appalachian stories or stories with a strong tie to historical events, check this one out. It reminded me a little bit of The Ballad of Dinah Caldwell by Kate Brauning.

Also, shout-out to Lady, Miles’ dog and one of my favorite characters in the whole book. I love that she’s pictured on the cover!

4.5 stars. Even though the material is dark and quite graphic at times, Andrew Joseph White’s COMPOUND FRACTURE is a pleasant surprise and with the election coming up, important and timely. The Appalachian backwoods setting of West Virginia provides an eerie atmosphere, complete with bloody family feuds, ghost miners and strong trans and neuro-spicy representation. Of course I’m a flaming liberal, so I loved the not so subtle messaging, but I’m not sure the MAGA crowd will love it as much as I did.

What I loved about White’s writing and characterization is that he deconstructs the redneck stereotypes thru an open-minded and queer angle. I like that despite Miles being beaten by those heinous boys, he still has hometown pride, love for West Virginia and hopes for a better future for the folks of Twist Creak. I was also pleasantly surprised by the reactions of Miles’ family members when he first came out as trans. It was heartwarming to see. And don’t get me started on that scene between Miles and Dallas - getting to share their true identities with one another in a safe and non-judgmental space. Beautiful.

The characters are unapologetically queer, compelling, and I felt for all of them at one point or another, even the ones I hated. The moment Miles said, “People are too much work, and I don’t like most of them” - he immediately won me over. Although, the real scene stealer is obviously Lady (the dog), but boy did Andrew make me hate the ever living daylights out of Sheriff Davies and his son. And re: the political conversations…I think most of it can be summarized in this quote: “Workers are exploited, rent is astronomical, the cost of healthcare is life-destroying not because they are the path a river carves through a canyon, but because some capitalist fuckers decide they wanted it this way.”Periodt. Union strong, because as White writes, human history created an economic system that loves profit and power more than people. Special thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House/PeachTree/Pixel+Ink for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!
I truly have not read a book like Compound Fracture. Almost every character ranges from morally grey to straight-up evil. I really appreciated the representation of rural Appalachia from the small-town politics, lack of medical and mental health care, the opioid epidemic, and marginalized communities. This story is brutal and doesn't hold any punches. I loved that it had a clear message on who the real enemy is. The audiobook was great as well.

So. I struggled with this. This is my first time reading this author, though I usually love books with trans main characters. But this book is definitely too gruesome for me, and it felt really hopeless for the first 70%. The actual writing style is pretty engaging though, which was why I didn't want to DNF it even when I was struggling with it.

That said,the reason I'm giving 3 stars is just because I don't actually feel like Miles DID anything in this book. Everything happens TO him, he doesn't really get to make any choices himself. <spoiler>The first character Miles kills dies by accident, then the next character Miles almost decides not to kill, but then Cooper kills him. The 3rd character Miles just, again, ACCIDENTALLY kills, and the 4th character gets killed by Miles's dog and grandfather. Like I dunno, narratively it'd have been better if they'd actually decided to kill one of those characters. </spoiler> It also just kind of brushes past any decisions Noah and Cooper make - just a "oh they only did those horrible things because they were also victims of circumstance. Like, I just don't think I agree with that.

The first 50% of this book is also just very slow and there's a lot packed into the last 40% that could have used some breathing space between each scene.

Compound Fracture is a moving and forceful Queer YA horror by Andrew Joseph White. Our trans male autistic mc, Miles, will capture you're heart and you'll root for him every step of the way. For him to get justice and for him to find some sort of peace. His story, set in Appalachia, is filled with violence, death, corrupt politics, family, poverty, trauma, and a satisfying ending.


p.s. I also adored Dallas and they should be protected at all costs.

I love everything Andrew White writes. I've ARC read all of his novels, and I will continue to do so as long as I'm able. He writes so honestly, matter-of-factly, so uniquely from other YA authors of the time. I feel so seen every time I pick up one of his books, this author has changed my life, so thank you.

Thanks to PeachTree Teen for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!!

This is my third AJW and definitely my new favorite! Just as raw and brutal as his previous works, but thematically stronger than previously as well. Social change doesn't come from an individual or a few individuals; it comes from community. It is not easy trying to enact change to an unjust system, and I will continue to feel grateful that AJW has books for teens (especially queer and/or autistic) to relate to and help guide them through this complicated feelings. If you haven't checked out any of AJW's works yet, I implore you to start sooner than later. AJW continues to be a powerhouse in the YA horror/thriller space.

Andrew Joseph White can do no wrong! One of the best new YA authors out there, and this one stands up to that title.

DNF at page 95 (Chapter 15). I don't wanna rate the book but since feedback here requires star rating I'm giving it average 3 stars.
Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me as much as I thought it would. I was really looking forward to it bc the main character is a transboy who is on the autism spectrum. So when I got the ARC I was over the moon. But, unfortunately, after reading more than 90 pages of it, I don't wanna continue bc I realise I had completely different expectations from it.

First of all, I didn't know this is a YA horror not adult. I don't usually read YA books so this already put me off. Secondly, I didn't like the main character. Not bc of his personality but rather lack of it. We don't really see much of his personality other than the traumatic stuff. He is also on the spectrum but ngl I didn't like the depiction of it sometimes bc there was inconsistencies. Like sometimes he would 100% understand what people were implying but other times he couldn't even read sb's expression or understand what they meant. I was confused. But even though this put me off a bit, I can understand that people aren't exactly consistent in real life either. So this isn't exactly a criticism. Finally, the plot was very slow. The prologue was great but after that I was mostly bored. I read almost 100 pages but I still didn't feel any horror vibes from the book. And when I realized I still had 270 more pages to read I just gave up. It felt more like a contemporary fiction with some dark moments. But maybe this typical for YA horror idk bc I haven't read any, as far as I'm aware.

It's also set in West Virginia so it's also kind of about the life of people living in the rural parts. I would've liked the setting more if it discussed conservatism in these rural areas among the working class better but instead it came across to me as more patriotic and more of an excuse than a nuanced look at living on the edge of poverty. But since I'm not from US and know nothing about these regions, I have no idea whether this was a good and accurate depiction or not.

All in all, I would still recommend this book if you wanna read a YA horror book with a trans protagonist. Apparently he is also aromantic but I haven't reached that point in the book where he realizes it so I only found out about it from other reviews. I think the writing was good. Also it's set in West Virginia, as I mentioned, so if that's sth that interests you, I'd recommend checking this book out.

Andrew Joseph White's writing is stronger than ever in his third novel, Compound Fracture.

I've loved his massive, out-there concepts, but he does small-town speculative just as brilliantly!

One of the most resonant elements of this story was White's portrayal of living in poverty. It felt authentic and relatable, not overdone or ridiculously dramatised like you see a lot of people do when trying to write a poor family. It was awesome, too, that this was so intrinsic to the plot. Marginalisation doesn't have to be, but it's awesome when it is! I loved how this poorness was directly related to where they lived and their familial connection to the town's historical activism.

Compound Fracture didn't hesitate to confront issues from transness and undiagnosed autism to assault and murder with various nuances and realistic exploration of all avenues.

Stunning. Can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy!

This book had my blood boiling, I was so angry with the injustices and how awful people were. Unlike White's previous books, this barely had any paranormal aspects and mostly focused on the all-too-real mistreatment that anyone labeled as "different" can endure.

There were some pretty violent scenes, but they helped show the severity of the feud and the story will definitely stick with me. There's also a lot of queer and neurodivergent representation and I enjoyed having a more diverse cast.

There's an author note at the end about Miles' parents and how they resemble White's real life experiences and I appreciated that bit of lived experience.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Peachtree Teen and NetGalley for the copy

Brutal. This story gripped me by the collar and never let go. I feel weird saying I loved this, solely because how much trauma Miles went though. Definitely look at the trigger warnings.
The violence is what some face every day so if you can read this, I recommend it.

I was fortunate enough to receive and read an ARC. I also pre-ordered this title, securing a signed first edition copy and borrowed the audiobook from my local library via the Libby app.

Incredible read, I fell in love with the setting, as it hit close to home, being from a town similar politically to Twist Creek. Miles is exceptional, for standing what up for what he believes in, given everything that happens to him, and his loved ones. When it would’ve been easier to submit and placate.

The audiobook was perfection. Immersive storytelling, and the accent the narrator used was excellent, as well as their tone used to convey plot points/conversations.

I can’t wait to see what AJW writes nexts

Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White is a gripping, visceral novel that touches on the complexities of identity, survival, and trauma. Our main character Miles navigates a hostile, oppressive environment while confronting his past. He lives in a town that's silent and docile as a result of not only physical but emotional tragedy. Something that's not unheard of in many places around the world.

The writing is gritty and at times unsettling...but this is quite appropriate given the issues being discussed. The real-world struggles faced by marginalized groups, particularly the LGBTQ+ community are front and center as well.

This thriller gets 3.5 stars. However do read the trigger warnings as some of the subjects may be disturbing for some. Thank you to Netgalley and Andrew Joseph White for this review copy!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this early in exchange for a review.

as an avid reader of anything andrew joseph white makes, he cooked with this one. if theres anything i didnt like it was how the middle kinda felt a little slow, but the last 100 pages of the book makes up for that. the trans rep is solid as it usually is, and I really related to the autism rep too. the setting is quite nice, and overall this is a really solid read. solid 5/5, another great book. cant wait to read AJW's adult book next year.

(NOTE: I forgot to copy and paste my Goodreads review and got too anxious so I waited till now. My bad 😭)