White is easily one of my favorite authors, so picking this up was a no-brainer, and I was not disappointed.

Miles Abernathy grows up in the middle of a feud between his family and those like him, the folks that worked the mines and now work where they can, and those with power, specifically their town sheriff and his family, dating back years to a labor riot when an avoidable disaster killed a ton of miners in their town. Trying to get an edge back at the sheriff that ruined his family and the families of his friends, Miles finds himself nearly killed and, suddenly, haunted, or in reality guided, by his ancestor, Saint Abernathy, the original leader and martyr of the labor riots. As the body count of this feud grows, Miles finds himself in more and more danger, all the while navigating coming out as trans, realizing he's autistic, and a few other things about himself.

This book was an adventure that had me hooked until the last page. Community coming together to help each other and take their lives and freedom back. Miles finds more support as his world crumbles and builds itself back up, culminating in a dramatic final showdown reminiscent of the past. I loved every second of it, even as the events horrified me at times. White is very skilled at writing horror. If you've enjoyed White's other novels this is a fantastic addition to the lot. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read a tale about cruel men of power getting what they deserve, and those they abuse taking what's owed them.

In additional to the trans and autistic rep, we also have ADHD, nonbinary, various disabilities, and to my pleasant surprise, aromantic and queer-platonic, and as someone whose queer-platonic relationships mean the world to them, I was so excited to see that representation.

Also, there is the best dog ever. <spoiler>She does survive.</spoiler>

4 stars

Years ago, one of my siblings and I saw a film that we knew was excellent but also that we both agreed repeatedly - even while watching - that there was no way we'd ever watch again. There was something too traumatizing, disturbing, difficult, etc. to manage more than just the once. That sentiment is one I also have for this book. In many ways, it is excellent. It is also extremely challenging to encounter most of the motifs that appear.

Miles is an excellent main character. He's queer, trans, autistic, Appalachian, and from a family with a rich history of rebellion and trouble. This combo also puts his family at odds with local law enforcement, who are just about as bad as one might expect. Or, maybe, worse.

This book is relentless. The violence seems endless. Readers' bodies may hurt vicariously just from the descriptions of what these characters are up to. The list of content warnings...it's also quite involved. I highly recommend looking into this before cracking this book. Expect extreme violence (including death), transphobia, animal harm, trauma across the generations, and addiction/withdrawal...and this is a partial list.

It took me a relatively long time to get through this one. Again, in many ways, this is an excellent book with a near iconic protagonist, but readers will also need to employee legendary emotional vigor to persist.

I'm interested in more of this author's writing, but I'll be prepared to mix it in with strategic self-care next time.

Thanks to Peachtree Teen for providing the e-ARC via Netgalley for an honest review.

Compound Fracture is a book I've been excited about all year.

It follows Miles Abernathy, who comes out to his parents as trans in the early pages of the book. But he is more worried about what he’s about to do: give evidence to an old friend that will finally prove the local Sheriff Davies is responsible for his father’s “accident” and the death of his friend’s mother. A generational feud between the Davies and the Abernathy goes back a hundred years. After a severe assault, Miles starts seeing his ancestor, Saint Abernathy, a miner who rose up against union busters, and was killed for his actions.

There is something about AJW’s writing that allows me to read about difficult things. There is a LOT of violence in this book, and Miles goes through some horrific things because he is an Abernathy. But he’s also part of the cycle of violence whether he wants to be or not, and is just trying to survive.

One thing I loved about this book was that it examines family and community and owning who you are completely. Belonging to a place, and learning how to fight for your space within it. I also loved how it looked at second-chance friendships, and whether it is possible to be friends after trauma and life-altering events. There is also an exploration of being Autistic and whether you can call yourself that if you know you can never afford the testing (I loved that scene).

There is a sort of lawlessness in this story that felt believable, and has you rooting for justice, even if it’s messy and morally grey.

Definitely one of my favourite books of the year!

trans autistic guy growing up in a small Appalachia town. The problem is the Sheriff of this town has it out for Miles family after a long standing feud between the two families, going all the way back to when Miles great-great grandfather incited a miners’ rebellion and was publicly executed for it. After Miles is almost killed by the Sheriffs son he decides it’s time to end the cycle of abuse and violence at the hands of this family.
In AJW fashion this is a queer rage book that can at times be hard to stomach, but is such a powerful read! It’s also incredibly obvious how much telling this particular story about small Appalachian town meant to AJW. You can tell in every single page that he put his whole heart in this book, and it truly makes for a special read!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I have to say that AJW became an instant buy/read author for me with his debut book “Hell Followed With Us”. I was fortunate to get an ARC of “Spirit Bares its Teeth” and loved it as well. I own both in multiple formats now.

So when I got the arc of this book as well, I was beyond excited. This is a little different from his first two. It isn’t horror in the same way those two were, but it’s definitely got horrific elements to it.

I love that not only do we have trans rep in this, but also autistic, ADHD and aromantic. All of it is handled well, but I wouldn’t expect any less from AJW.

As with his other two books, there are definitely things that can be triggering to some. So be careful in your reading. This was probably one of the harder books to read, not because it was badly written or anything, but because of the subject matter and how very real it all is. That being said, if you can handle it it’s worth the read.

Compound Fracture will definitely be hit or miss for some people. It was definitely more of a miss for me. I really enjoyed the writing but the pacing seemed to be either too slow and at other times, too fast. The villains also seemed underdeveloped to the point of being over the top and campy.

Compound Fracture follows Miles, a trans, autistic teen, who lives in a small town where his family and the town's Sheriff have a century-long blood feud. Back during the coal mine strikes, Miles's ancestor, Saint Abernathy, was the leader of the coal mine strike who was then later publicly executed by the Sheriff's ancestor. This event labeled the two families as enemies and has resulted in many violent events that have shadowed each generation down to Miles. Back in the present, Miles has found evidence that could prove the Sheriff to be guilty of causing the car accident that his father was in, however, just as Miles initiates his plan to share this information, the Sheriff's son finds out and attacks Miles, landing him in the hospital. Blackmailed into keeping silent, Miles is released from the hospital and soon triggers a chain of events when he accidentally kills one of the people involved in his attack. Now, Miles has to learn how to survive and remain as safe as he can while uncovering that his family is not the only one who no longer wants to live in fear of the consequences of crossing the Sheriff.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as the author's other books, but that is mostly my fault because I did not do my research to know that this was a thriller and not a horror book. I didn't realize this until I was a good portion into the book, so I kept on expecting the ghost of Saint Abernathy to do more, but he was just kind of there to be there, and then there was also the question of whether or not he was actually real or just a side effect of Miles's TBI (traumatic brain injury). That kind of threw me off at first, but otherwise, I still enjoyed this book. I loved all the representation in this book. There was trans, autistic, demi-sexuality, and non-binary representation sprinkled in so that it all felt very natural. I also really liked how family was a strong theme in this book. In the author's other books, the found family troupe is very prominent, and while there is a little bit of found family in this book, the main focus is the family that Miles was born into. Due to the feud that has affected every generation of Miles's family, they are a strong support system when he tells them what he has been doing, but they are also supportive when he comes out. It takes time, but his family is a strong support system for Miles. As for the pacing, there are a couple of points in the book where the pacing seems slow. There will be parts where there is a lot going on, and then others where it seems as though it is just to stretch the story out with not a lot of substance. This also played a part in me not enjoying this book as much as I thought it would, because in my mind, I associate thriller with mystery, so I was expecting the plot to be more fast-paced and to have that "who done it" aspect, but it was more just dealing with the aftereffects of Miles's actions. So in summary, my main issues with this book are just personal issues due to having different expectations, but otherwise, it is a good book that other Andrew Joseph White fans will enjoy.

Arc provided by NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for an honest review.

Absolutely love this book. It was so gory, and I loved the plotting in the story. The way that history can be shared is very interesting and I love that the story talks about the erasure of aspects of the history. I also enjoy that this book has some ghosts. I definitely will be recommending this book to everyone

I should start by saying that I've enjoyed every one of Andrew Joseph White's novels. That said Compound Fracture is a brilliant change of pace for an author who's made a name for himself by writing mostly paranormal body-horror. Although there are elements of that history here, Compound Fracture is more grounded in reality and all the more visceral for it. I couldn't put this book down.

Miles Abernathy is a victim, but that's not saying anything new. The Abernathy clan has always been a weed that many would rather see stamped out, and yet they keep rising back up. Miles is still trying to come to terms with who they are as a trans boy in rural Appalachia, when a confrontation in the woods nearly ends his life. Many people would take that as a sign to lay low or get out of town entirely, but that's not how it works when you're an Abernathy.

Compound Fracture is about queer joy and acceptance, and finding your community. It's also about pain and loss and living under oppression. All in all it's a great read and one I'll be recommending for a long time to come.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the eARC and also Penguin Random House for the audio ARC!

I’ve read AJW’s other two books and very much loved them and this one is just…different than those. In ways that aren’t to my tastes, but I think others will enjoy this.

This book felt less gory than his other books and lacked the strong paranormal/supernatural element his other two books had. And having it set in the current time period also was not really for me. It made it feel a bit more preachy than the previous two books.

Again, I think these issues are a matter of taste and others will still enjoy this!

My favorite Andrew Joseph White book yet.

This certainly had less in the way of gruesome body horror than Hell Followed With Us, but I found the suspense elements to be greater. Aside from a minor ghost popping in here and there, this entire plotline could easily actually occur in a rural town like what was described here. To me, that makes this the more emotionally impactful and brutal book.

I really liked Miles and I felt like even when I didn’t agree with his decisions, they really made sense within the character as it was written. Cooper made such an interesting foil, as did Dallas—three young teenagers suffering at the hands of a corrupt police force, a rural town in the throes of an opioid crisis, recovering from the trauma of an event a few years prior to the start of the book. It was interesting to see how the three processed things differently and went in different directions.

It’s weird to call this a feel-good book but I did feel like it had a thread of hope throughout which made the ending satisfying to me.

This is exactly what YA needs - messy, queer, trans, bloody stories like only White can seem to do. I think this is his best work yet and I’m so thankful it’ll be in the hands of the kids who need it most.

This is the first book I've read by Andrew Joseph White and I was not disappointed. I loved that this story is set in a small Appalachian town. The setting really gives the story that claustrophobic feeling where everyone know everything and there's no escaping. It also made the Sheriff being the antagonist even more terrifying. What really drove the story for me was the characters. Miles is a great main character; he's real and raw and you definitely feel what he's going through. I loved Miles family and friends, and of course Lady, but I really loved watching Miles learn about Saint and his history. There are some very dark and graphic scenes in this book so please check content and trigger warnings before reading. Overall I really enjoyed this story and can't wait to read my next book by Andrew Joseph White.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book and I really appreciated seeing an autistic character that was similar to my own autistic experiences. I liked the pacing of the book for the most part and enjoyed a lot of the characters. I think a few could’ve been fleshed out a little more, to feel like real people, but it didn’t deter me from my reading experience. It personally didn’t feel like a thriller much to me and I kind of wished it was more tense than it was. I wanted to feel more worry for the characters, be scared for them, but it didn’t come across as strongly as I had hoped for. I also thought that the ghost of a great-great-relative would also play a bigger role, or have a little more explanation as to why Miles could see him.

Overall this is a solid book and I will continue to love and read all of Andrew Joseph White’s books.

3.25 stars

I am all for rage, retaliation and cold-blooded justice.
However, I know I would react similar to Miles & Cooper when it comes to acting out said revenge.
Given just how poisonous a town like their is, with a generation blood feud between two families and anyone caught in between, it isn't surprising to watch both Miles spiral & Cooper become what he hates most.
We see them go down two paths; Miles found a group and his family did have a (rocky) safe structure for him, while Cooper did not (being forced to be an adult so young is incredible hard) and this caused him to act out his dark emotions. The confliction of wanting to get revenge vs keeping to morals, was a strong point in this book.

I thought that Mile's ghost ancestor was going to play a much bigger part in this story than they did and I think that threw me off a little. While I enjoyed seeing Mile's come to terms with being autistic and his family getting it together after he came out, I definitely saw a lot of the story and plot going a different way and it didn't. The ending also felt a tad lackluster.
Definitely at the bottom of my Andrew J. White favorites list.

Andrew Joseph White hits it out of the ballpark again, this time with an Appalachian suspense thriller that pulls no punches and absolutely doesn’t care what you think about that.

I’m here for it. I’m biased, of course, because when it comes to AJW I’ve always been here for it. I rejoiced when I heard he was writing yet another sure-to-be-banger, and then I read the magical buzz words: “queer Appalachian thriller”, “trans autistic teen”, and “generational struggle between the rural poor and those who exploit them”. Why, it’s like you have seen directly into my brain and provided one of the types of books I’m absolutely going to want to read anytime I come across them.

Miles Abernathy has a lot of problems and not a lot of clues on how to solve them. He’s a closeted sixteen year-old trans boy in rural West Virginia with no friends. His parents are a mess, they’re always behind on the bills, and anyone who could actually do something to change things in their town has been traumatized or run out of town by their corrupt sheriff. Miles isn’t immune to the fear, but he doesn’t just want to sit by and do nothing. It’s too bad what happens to him when he tries to do something, though.

The sheriff wants Miles to keep quiet, just like everyone else in town. At first, that’s what Miles intends to do. Then Miles gains a partner of sorts, and all the circumstances start to change.

There’s something that needs to be said about books: Books are art. All art is political, therefore all books are political. This is especially true for Compound Fracture, and it was purposefully written that way. AJW acknowledges this and pushes for this book to be put in the hands of teens pushing for radical change. I’ll go further: I’d put this in the hands of anyone who is pushing for radical change. I’d put this in the hands of anyone who’s struggling to understand the insult-aggressions cycles surrounding the southern culture of honor. I’d put this in the hands of anyone who doesn’t understand the dangerous state of rural health care in America. I’d put this in the hands of anyone who doesn’t understand why people in states ravaged by conservative policies continue to vote conservative or live in those states. I’d put this in the hands of parents who are struggling to understand their transgender or autistic kids. Heck, I’d put it in the hands of an adult who’s struggling to understand what it means to self-diagnose yourself with autism as an adult. I’d love to put it in the hands of someone who gets socialism and communism confused all the time.

There is so much to be learned from books like this, where the author puts it all out there. Where their guts are out there for us to see.

I don’t think I need to point out that AJW’s writing is beyond fantastic. Even though his voice has been preserved throughout his three books, each one has a distinctive narrative and prose style. This book’s no different. Being trans and autistic himself, AJW’s narrative here comes across as so authentic, with that certain amount of removal that anyone who has a loved one with autism (or has autism and/or is neurodivergent) is probably familiar with. I can’t comment on what it’s like to be trans or come out as trans, but I have a nonbinary kid and a trans ex-husband and anything I felt as a bisexual myself was a sense of community and understanding. If that checks out for everyone else, then I’m happy.

This book is big vibes, big mood, huge atmosphere, large emotions, a whole lot of visceral reactions, a heap of fear, and a town’s worth of unabashed screaming in rage. I’ll read that any time.

I was provided a copy of this title by Netgalley, the publishers, and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: 5 Star Review/Body Horror/Coming of Age/Disability Rep/Ghost Fiction/LGBTQ Fiction/Psychological Thriller/Standalone Novel/Suspense Mystery/Suspense Thriller/Vigilantes/YA Fiction/YA Mystery/YA Suspense/YA Thriller

thank you to netgalley for the arc! (and happy pub day to this book! sorry it took me so long to get to it!)

this was a good book!! i read hell followed with us and enjoyed it so i requested this one to see what else the author was getting up to. this book is much less supernatural than hfwu, although there is a whole thing with miles's grandfather 'haunting' him -- i kind of liked that that was left up to interpretation.

going along with that, i think the gore, although theoretically tamer than hell followed with us, was that much more horrifying because of the lack of the supernatural--it is all human violence. terrifying! but makes for a very good book

I was pretty excited to read this book because I really enjoyed Hell followed with us and Andrew Joseph White's writing, but I am having some mixed feelings about this one. I found moments where I related heavily to miles, being an autistic trans person too, and then confused about other decisions he would make. Which of course make sense, since not all autistic people are the same, but it got frustrating at times. The story made me uncomfortable through most of it, but not in a bad way which I think is pretty good writing since it makes the readers think. I'm not gonna lie I have no idea what to say about this one. It's like something you just have to read and experience on your own. I will say I half love and sort of dislike parts of the ending. Like I love miles dog coming in to the rescue because man's best friend literally my favorite thing, but I dont know how i feel about miles getting out of a short lived toxic relationship just to jump into a platonic situationship with a friend he just met up with again. I don't quite understand it. It wasn't my favorite book from ASJ, but I did enjoy reading it.

I can’t fully explain how much this one means to me. This one’s for the rural queers. The ones who grew up in the mountains, who know just how far a dollar can stretch. The ones who know what redneck really means. The ones with DIY protest shirts, clinging to the hidden knowledge that we’re not the only ones. The ones who know that Appalachian values aren’t the ones those people on TV, being paid by billionaires to lie, tell you they are. Those values are really strength to get done whatever needs doing; togetherness and lifting up wherever anyone else falls down; unionization; seizing the means of production; live and let live; a raised fist; and they sure as h*ll aren’t a governing force that wears a blue uniform.
This is a book that follows a trans teen on the short end of a decades long feud. Miles has lived his whole life in fear, and when the worst thing finally happens, he begins to finally fight back. This is a story about what might be in your genes, about generational trauma and about generational strength. About finding out you’re not alone because your ancestors, complicated people, were here to do it first. And you’re not alone because when we finally rely on each other we’ll have our family there, blood or not.

As one can expect from AJW’s writing, the voices are clear, the writing raw and visceral, some elements that are supernatural yet chillingly real are woven through the narration. The characters are multifaceted and complicated, with moral lines being smudgy gray, like they are in real life where theory doesn’t necessarily fit the way humanity behaves. The plot is fascinating and quite the ride, an almost thriller like narrative that is driven through periods of intensity yet balanced perfectly with the softer moments to allow characters to grow. There isn’t a dull moment, and it’s impossible not to rocket towards the conclusion.

This book is a way of saying we are here. We’re not alone. Because that’s what they want us to think, and that’s what Miles has to overcome in this story: we don’t have to be quiet out of fear. It’s that fear that keeps us away from one another, and it’s only when we’re together that we can begin to defeat the forces that are keeping us down. Appalachia is queer. The mountains are queer. These are our towns too, for better or for worse. Sometimes you love something that sucks, because life is complicated like that. Sometimes you can make that thing better, for everyone. There’s so much here I can envision perfectly because it looks just like where I came from. I hope this story helps us to see there’s something to save here, that our communities in the mountains still belong to us. That our values, when push comes to shove, might not be as far apart as we think. I hope this book finds the rural queer kids who need it, because I think it could be a life line where we need it. This one’s for good dogs and every true redneck.

And don’t forget: Miles Abernathy said if you need a ride, call a cab.

"Compound Fracture" by Andrew Joseph White is a gripping journey into the heart of Appalachia, where Miles Abernathy, a trans autistic teen, becomes embroiled in a harrowing struggle against entrenched corruption and historical injustice. On the night Miles comes out to his parents, he unwittingly becomes a catalyst for change in Twist Creek, armed with damning evidence against the corrupt Sheriff Davies. White's writing is nothing short of captivating; it pulls you into the visceral violence and palpable tension that permeate every page. The suspense is haunting, keeping you on edge as Miles navigates the treacherous terrain of generational trauma and hidden agendas.

What struck me most about "Compound Fracture" is its unflinching exploration of identity and justice in a community rife with secrets. The representation of Miles as a trans and asexual/aromantic protagonist is both refreshing and deeply resonant. White deftly weaves these aspects into the narrative without overshadowing the urgent plotline. At times, I braced myself for darker turns, but the story surprised me with its resilience and hope. Compared to White's previous work, this novel balances its intense themes with a slightly gentler approach, making it accessible yet no less impactful.

With its blend of spooky horror vibes and unapologetic political commentary, "Compound Fracture" is a must-read, especially for those ready to confront tough issues and root for characters pushing back against systemic injustice. It's a testament to resilience and the power of community in the face of adversity, making it a compelling recommendation for readers seeking both thrills and depth.