I literally blacked out and requested this ARC the second I saw it was AJW and didn't even read the synopsis lol. Is it any shock for me to say the cliche, he has indeed done it again.

What I love about it is that it really digs into the complex trauma of threatened violence, what it really means for you (and your family) to constantly live in this state of fear, constantly having to consider possible retribution. It's got this like constant simmering anger that AJW is so good at writing- turning helplessness into action. As much as I tend to struggle with YA, AJW really hits on the head this perfect teetering between being scared, feeling young, not wanting to deal with harsh realities- and the responsibilities of growing up too fast and wanting to be treated as mature, that terrible adolescent conundrum.

I think some people are disappointed because there's not the supernatural horror type element that was present in his previous books- but imo it was equally horrifying. There's danger and gore and gnashing anger. I definitely got like edge of my seat, heart racing fear, in a way that was imo somehow scarier because it's so real. Just real people enacting gut wrenching violence upon each other and then having to sit back and figure out if it was worth it.

My heart aches so much for these characters. I love Miles so much. Dallas is an icon. Cooper makes me clutch my chest every time I think about him. I really can't stop thinking about this book since I finished and don't think I will any time soon. I probably barely have to beg you to read it but if you're on the fence I'm telling you it's good.

4.5/5☆

Something I love about AJW and his work is just how different each vibe is, but yet the message is still fairly similar. This was different from his usual novels in that it wasn't a ton of body horror, more psychological horror and a bit more thriller.

I felt like I was in this tiny Appalachian town the entire time I was reading this story, really living with these characters, dealing with corrupt police officers and their century long feud, and grappling with the main character's identity.

I did not expect the relationship "violence" that happened but I think that it was handled in a sensible way that moved the plot forward, not sidetracked it. Absolutely loved Dallas and what they added to the story, especially in terms of Miles figuring himself out and finding another person who understood.

This book is for the rural kids, for the queer and trans kids, for the disabled kids growing up in inhospitable lands, and still surviving. This book did so many amazing things: this discussions of class, of law enforcement, of labor unions, of vigilante justice, all of these themes worked so well together. White continues to improve his craft when it comes to body horror, and I especially loved this book's scenes of bodily horror; particularly in the climactic scene.

While this has a great plot, the characters are really what makes this book interesting. I loved Miles's relationship with his family and how these relationships develop throughout the novel, as well as the friendships Miles forms and strengthens along the way. I really enjoyed reading about a character who is learning he is autistic and seeing how his world opens up for him with that knowledge. Most of all, I love the way Miles refuses to leave his home and knows that despite the treat of violence, he deserves a life in the town he grew up in and loves.

After not loving AJW's first book and loving his sophomore novel, I'm so pleased that this exceeded my expectations and I ate it up within a couple of days. This is a perfect pick for summerween or that transition season from summer to fall: the atmosphere of Appalachian summer was perfect and made for an amazing setting: this book feels so lived-in and grounded in a way we haven't seen from AJW's other, more fantasy/dystopian leaning stories. I'm very interested to see what this author writes next.

AJ White cannot write a bad book, I'm convinced at this point. Each successive book just gets better and better.

Compound Fracture feels like the book that we need right now. Set in Appalachian West Virginia, Miles Abernathy finds himself the latest victim of a century-old blood feud between his family and the sheriff of Twist Creek (and the overarching county leaders that Sheriff Davies represents). Beaten nearly to death the same night he comes out as trans by the sheriff's son and his friends, Miles is in the middle of the feud no matter what he, or his family, want for him. So, when he accidentally kills one of the boys who attacked him (a horrible person in his own right), he finds himself teaming up with another victim of Davies... and finding a hidden community just as eager as them to be free of the sheriff.

This book is the call for change that young queer people have been hoping for. Unapologetically queer, neurodiverse, and socialist, it is the antithesis to the modern politics we have been suffering through and heard preached at us for the past decade. There is something so beautifully freeing about a group of young people getting their just revenge on the ones who have kept them down for decades.

Summary: A queer Appalachian thriller that pulls no punches—following a trans autistic teen who's drawn into the generational struggle between the rural poor and those who exploit them.

On the night Miles Abernathy comes out as trans to his parents, he sneaks off to a party, carrying evidence that may finally turn the tide of the blood feud plaguing Twist Creek: Photos that prove the county’s Sheriff Davies was responsible for the so-called “accident” that injured his dad, killed others, and crushed their grassroots efforts to unseat him.

The feud began a hundred years ago when Miles’s great-great-grandfather, Saint Abernathy, incited a miners’ rebellion that ended with a public execution at the hands of law enforcement. Now, Miles becomes the feud’s latest victim as the sheriff’s son and his friends sniff out the evidence, follow him through the woods, and beat him nearly to death.

In the hospital, the ghost of a soot-covered man hovers over Miles’s bedside while Sheriff Davies threatens Miles into silence. But when Miles accidently kills one of the boys who hurt him, he learns of other folks in Twist Creek who want out from under the sheriff’s heel. To free their families from this cycle of cruelty, they’re willing to put everything on the line—is Miles?

A visceral, unabashedly political page-turner that won’t let you go until you’ve reached the end, Compound Fracture is not for the faint of heart, but it is for every reader who's ready to fight for a better world. Hand this story to teens pushing for radical change.

Review: One of my favorites, auto-buy author. Andrew has done it again! Compound Fracture is a raw novel about history, self discovery and social commentary. I think it was very successful with its message. Remember to read the TW/CW. This books is a delight!

“Compound Fracture” is a book with some great qualities for a YA audience that is searching for an introduction to complex discussions. However, trying to bring depth to a book — especially when said book deals with a lot of complicated topics — is something that always brings with it the risk of ending up with a narrative that is not as deep as it is presented. In my opinion, “Compound Fracture”, despite being a book that deals with many heavy topics and has passages of extreme violence, “simplified” some discussions by presenting what felt like very definitive answers for them. I believe there is a glaring contradiction in “Compound Fracture”: on one hand, there is a context that is presented as something extremely complex, with circumstances that constantly put people in difficult positions; but, on the other hand, a simple answer is presented by creating one single “cartoony” villain that didn’t receive any depth.

Andrew Joseph White has truly outdone himself with Compound Fracture. While I admired Hell Followed With Us, this latest work has secured its place as my favorite. White’s ability to craft deeply meaningful stories with characters who feel incredibly authentic is remarkable. The atmospheric setting draws you in, making you feel as though you are experiencing the journey alongside the characters. This novel is haunting and an ideal read for the fall season.

What stands out most is White’s skillful balance between delivering important societal commentary and maintaining a narrative that is both engaging and accessible. The novel doesn’t shy away from exploring complex topics like the deconstruction of political parties and the lingering effects of generational trauma. The history of coal miners, a subject I knew little about before, was not only refreshing but also an important lesson in labor rights and union history.

The own voices representation of trans and autistic experiences was profoundly impactful for me. It was an honor to accompany Miles on his journey of self-discovery, watching him grow into the person he was always meant to be. His reflections and moments of self-realization are something I will carry with me for a long time.

I am incredibly grateful to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book, which has quickly become one of my all-time favorites. I preordered it from my local bookstore as soon as I finished it, and I can hardly wait for its release on September 3rd.

Honestly words cannot describe how much I love this book. I was nonstop thinking about it while I was going throughout the day because it enwrapped me so much.

Miles is a really compelling main character, I felt his fears right along side him throughout the book. He grows so much as a character when he takes the first step on coming out of the closet. He's not perfect, he makes mistakes and seeing everything through his eyes really pushes the story along in the best possible way. This is a book where a trans teen can be messy and god does it get messy (and gorey). I was gasping and screaming towards the end of the book with all the gripping plot.

Compound Fracture explores what it means to fight against a hundred year old system that has messed with those who don't have authority for too long. The exploration of what it meant to be a union man in the coal mining days made me think about the political climate now. And Compound Fracture brings this in as well with what it means to be a trans Appalachian teen where the system is against you.


I am going to be thinking about this book for a long time and if it at all sounds interesting to you I highly recommend it. It is my favorite read of 2024 so far.

It was raw, it was gritty, it was definitely a page-turner.
It was great to read about Miles, trans, autistic, aromantic main character, one that fights for a change in a place that is actively hurting his family and now against him, too.
Very important part for me was the relationship between Miles and his parents after his coming out, the kind of middle ground where there's no gushing acceptance nor rejection, but an often weird feeling that lingers around the characters for a while. It made the story feel extremely real, and the growth of both of the parents as they learned more about Miles' identity was great to see on page. Then, his relationship with Cooper among the deaths and how it progressed, and the reunion with Dallas and their connection, were both also interesting to read about.
Of course, the acceptance and the community, the way other people leaned on each other to combat the oppression from the cops really shown the strength these things have.
Speaking of community, West Virginia (and rural areas in general, and not only in the US) were so nicely portrayed in this book, especially how queer people from these places are often forgotten and brushed away by mass media to only show the stereotypes that then shape how the general population from large cities and such view it.

I am so grateful to have gotten the chance to read Compound Fracture as an ARC! After my first introduction to Andrew Joseph White's writing with The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, I knew he would become one of those authors I just couldn't pass up. Compound Fracture was no exception to the equally moving and haunting storytelling I've come to expect from AJW.

First and foremost, I urge you to check TW/CW before diving in: some examples being graphic violence, police violence, transphobia, animal violence, and opioid use/withdrawal (everyone say THANK YOU ANDREW for being transparent with TW/CW and for not hurting the dog). With that being said, Andrew Joseph White has such a knack for his characters making a home in your skin- the way this book is written had me feeling and tasting and burning right alongside with it. AJW said it best: "this book is kind of like moonshine. It's gonna burn like hell going down".

This book is heavyyy with themes of class and political warfare, identity as we know it, Appalachian roots, generational trauma, and the family/community we build despite it. I'm giving this a solid 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for Goodreads purposes- and I hope that if this book finds its way into your hands, you feel as much hope as I did by the last page. Compound Fracture is out 9/3/24, and I can't wait to see what kind of conversations this book starts!

Andrew Joseph White’s books just keep getting better. The writing and characters are absolutely fantastic. This book is incredibly engaging and really well-paced. The darker and horror aspects are really well-written and really add to the story. The ending is incredible and really ties the book together. I highly, highly recommend this book.

Compound Fracture had me hooked from the first page. It is a little different from his other books with its historical thriller aspects. I am so honored to have the opportunity to see his writing style evolve, and I think this is his best written book. I don’t normally read horror, but Andrew Joseph White is an exception every time. 

Things I loved while reading:
-How the characters felt like actual teenagers
-There was a great balance between seriousness and humor. Even though this book dealt with very heavy themes, it still had moments where I was laughing out loud. 
-Dallas
-The parents' character development 
-The family dynamics throughout the book
-It had a satisfying ending

Things I had a problem with: 
-the ghost/ hallucinations? Confused me 
-I expected more from Saint 
-The situation between the adults in the book, especially everyone and the sheriff, needed more of an explanation. 

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the writing, and its characters.

♚ big huge thank you to netgalley and holiday house/peachtree/pixel+ink and peachtree teen for allowing me to read an electronic advanced readers copy of this in exchange for an honest review. ♚

andrew joseph white is now 3 for 3 on books that have made me feel seen and hurt and angry and hopeful and every other emotion under the sun.

i'll be very honest -- in the first 50 pages i had to question whether this book was made for me. i'm sadly one of the types of people who is such a coward when it comes to politics that when i see people being confident in their beliefs it scares me. but this was so much more than just a politically driven thriller about class wars. this was amazing.

miles' journey through finding himself and building a community that sees him for him and nothing else makes me yearn for that as well. the family dynamics were amazing showstopping incredible and i absolutely love ajw's portrayal of realistically accepting families that take time to understand but will love you regardless when times get tough.

and times did get tough. a whole lotta tough.

i sobbed at the end and sobbed even harder at the acknowledgements. not for any clear reason, just the fact that ajw can put enough cr*ck in his books to make me feel like i'm a new, finalized version of myself after reading it. i am better because i read this book. not better than you. but better than i was before.

i can't sing enough praises about this book, about this author, about literally everything.

Review: Compound Fracture
- Andrew Joseph White
Rating: 4.5
Thank you Netgalley and Peach Tree Teen for gifting me a digital ARC of this book! All opinions expressed are my own.

Hello?? I’m not okay.
This book is so well done, and I love seeing authors grow. I’ve also read Hell Followed With Us, and I think you can definitely see how Andrew improved as an author.
Okay, first of all, I think it’s important to mention that this is definitely a thriller, and not a horror. I’ve seen some reviewers be surprised by that, which I don’t fully get since it was always marketed as a thriller. But that doesn’t mean it’s any less scary. Oh no, this book still packs a punch in all its violence. It’s very gory, and I definitely recommend you check out the content warnings beforehand. The main dog, Lady, will be fine btw (I had to remind myself of Andrew promising that multiple times during the book because I was stressed let me tell you).
I loved seeing Miles grow in his identity, learning about himself during the book. And I loved seeing his parents, his whole family, grow besides him and learn. It’s rare to see good parents in YA books, which the author specifically mentions in his acknowledgements, and I think he has done great.
I also tought the focus on community was great, how there’s not one person to blame but that we need to stick together and protect each other. This book feels very compassionate throughout all the horrors.
Furthermore, the book was able to give Miles such a unique voice, which really shows how talented AJW is. I personally also loved the imagery used sometimes, when Miles describes himself as a rabid animal. I’m just a big fan of that, because I, too, will cry about the “I’m not a violent dog. I don’t know why I bite” quote. The only critique I can express, which I’ve also seen in other reviews, is that the pacing is a bit off. The beginning progresses very fast, then the middle stretch doesn’t have a lot happening, and the ending the becomes very fast again. However, I devoured this in like a day, so I feel like the possibility to read the whole thing quite quickly made up for that regarding my enjoyment.

Anyway, I guess I’m gonna pick up The Spirit Bares It’s Teeth now??

This is a fantastic thriller with some horror elements. Set in West Virginia, the book starts with Miles having maybe the most eventful night of his life. He sends his parents an email in which he comes out as trans, he goes to a party (yuck) to give his former friend evidence regarding the car crash that killed his friend's mother and changed the lives of four families, and then is violently attacked and nearly killed. Most of this (not the trans part) is related to a century old blood-feud. A hundred years ago, Miles's great-great grandfather, Saint, organized a union among the local coal miners and one thing led to another and he was publicly executed by the sheriff at the time, the ancestor of the current sheriff, Davies. The Davies family wants to stay in power; the rest of the town, especially Miles's family, wishes for democracy and the freedom to step out of the carefully defined lines. It's been a century of acts of revenge fueling acts of revenge, a cycle of violence that Miles might have a chance to break. Despite telling the sheriff he doesn't know who attacked him (it was the sheriff's son and his cronies) and that he'll lose the incriminating photos, Miles in fact has no intention of doing that. And when he accidentally kills one of his attackers and his friend Cooper suggests that they finish the job? Well, this could be the way to end the feud and the oppression of the Davies family once and for all.
I loved it. It's so tense and suspenseful and brutal. It explored the big questions of cycles of violence and the importance of community, and fighting for that community even if it's not always easy. There's also a ghost. I did forget to mention him. Other than that, it's not supernatural at all. The horrors are purely human. Miles is a delight. He's messy and angry and complex, while also being just a kid who probably needs a hug. He deals with complicated issues gracefully. The side characters were also good. I especially liked Dallas and Cooper as foils to each other, both pieces of Miles's past and sort of alternative paths for his future. Miles's parents were also good; they weren't the perfect parents, in regards to Miles being trans, but they grew and were able to change, and that was nice representation. There's also a great dog. Loved her.
As a whole, this is a book that hooked me from a few chapters in. It was such a compelling story. I cannot wait to seek out AJW's other novels. This is finally the reason I need to read those. This is probably one of the best books I've read this year.

A riveting, explosive tale geared towards young adults, namely LGBTQIA YA readers. Compound Fracture tackles heavy issues such as coming out, law enforcement corruption, and experiences in rural West Virginia as it follows a Trans, Autistic teen with left leaning political aspirations on a journey to unmask a sheriff coverup that left his dad injured and others dead.

another book from andrew joseph white that is simply a masterpiece in book form. i never expected to be able to truly see myself as an autistic trans man in any book ever, white makes characters like me the mains of his story repeatedly. it's so important to me. amazing book.

I’m shaking like a feral, rabid dog stuck in the rain. Andrew has done it again. So many thoughts but none cohesive enough to string together?

Five stars, of course, I mean it’s Andrew Joseph White. Of course it’s going to be a five star read. The characters are extremely relatable (especially as a queer, autistic, teenager living in the south with corrupt local politics). Despite this book being visceral, gorey, and packed with every shape of content warnings, this book was so honest. Honest in a way that I feel most books and stories aren’t. Honest in a way that it was so hard to read at times I stepped away. However, also so honest that it makes me love this book even more. Miles and Saint will stay with me for quite some time after reading this. I probably won’t pick up a bandana or a shoelace without thinking about them ever again. AJW has a way of doing that. Of making every line haunt you even years after you have turned the last page.

Compound Fracture is out September 3rd. Thank you so much NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for my eARC copy!

This is the closest I've come to crying over a book in a while. I grew so close to Miles throughout this story that even the idea of something happening to him brought me close to tears. That is definitely a testament to Andrew Joseph White's writing. His stories are so brilliant. Compound Fracture's premise was so intriguing and White definitely saw it though.

I loved how White included different family reactions to coming out as Trans, with Miles' parents reacting negatively at first and then taking time to come around to his gender identity. As well as Dallas being non-binary and their adoptive parents accepting them immediately and wholeheartedly.

The thoughts Miles had towards his behaviour and the way he described things he had to hide to be "normal" was heartbreaking, as was his reaction to figuring out these behaviours would also fall under Autism, the idea that he couldn't be Autistic as he was just an "unsocialised-dog" was another reason I almost cried.

I am neither Trans nor Autistic so I can't speak on the representation from a personal standpoint but just seeing Miles and other characters being validated filled me with joy.

Another element of this story that I enjoyed was how Miles and the other characters acknowledge that while circumstances were the reason many of the antagonists turned out the way they did, it didn't mean they had any right to do the things they did. The element of the story where White acknowledges that even your closest friends can turn out to be the people that hurt you the most and on purpose too was very heartbreaking and realistic.

I loved how the accents in this book were written as well as the love Miles held for his home even while he acknowledged all the worst parts of it.

The history of the Abernathy's was also interesting and I think that theme was carried throughout the book well.

Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree Teen for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

**I received an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.**

Andrew Joseph White returns with his third YA novel, Compound Fracture. This novel brings us to West Virginia where the Appalachains hold secrets and a generations old family feud between the Davies and the Abernathy families. Miles is an Abernathy. And a socialist. And trans. And autistic. None of which is particularly healthy when you live in small town West Virginia and the patriarch of the family that hates yours is the sheriff. When Miles survives a violent attack from the sheriff's son, something has to give to end the feud. Miles has proof of what the Davies have done. But how much collateral damage will there be before the ghosts of his family can rest?

This book involves a lot of physical, emotional, and historical trauma both on page and being recounted. If content warnings are a concern for you, definitely check the list provided on the author's website.

I read the first 15% of this book and bought a special edition copy. This book feels like Appalachia. Not always the good parts, maybe. But it feels honest. It is unflinching, raw, and violent. This Hatfield and McCoys type blood feud creates tons of drama, pain, and fear in a small town, especially for those who are different and poor. Whether I agree with the various points made in the book is beside the fact that this book is atmospheric and quietly haunting. It's well written. Yes, even the speech patterns and accent inclusion.

It's hard not to root for Miles, even when he makes poor choices. For me, some of Miles' choices are off-putting enough to keep me from entering 5 star territory. They remove some sympathy for me and leave me emotionally detached, but I still wanted him to find peace in his family and in his town.

That being said, this will be a book that I am happy to have on my shelf along with White's two other novels. This one is undeniably my favorite and I hope it finds precisely the audience that needs it.