Compound Fracture is a gripping, tough-as-nails thriller woven into the Appalachian landscape, featuring a trans, autistic teen at the heart of a decades-long blood feud that spirals into violence and supernatural reckoning. Andrew Joseph White knows how to land emotional punches—this isn't fluffy horror, and the brutality is unfiltered. But it’s matched by a fierce sense of purpose and humanity that keeps the narrative from tipping into nihilism .

From the get-go, Miles Abernathy is established as both deeply vulnerable and fiercely resilient. He’s beaten nearly to death by the sheriff’s son, and yet he refuses to collapse under cruelty. The intrusion of Saint Abernathy’s ghost adds a spectral layer to the tension—metaphorical and literal—and ties past injustice to present reckoning . That blend of the supernatural with gritty political reality gives the story a haunting edge.

Levy’s sense of place deserves mention: the beaten-down West Virginia setting echoes the oppressive legacy of coal, corruption, and systemic violence. White’s descriptions of poverty, community pride, and distrust feel lived-in and textured . It’s a world that sees too few YA books, and this authenticity pays off.

That said, the violence here is relentless—and not always easy to digest. The plot sometimes leans toward revenge tropes: vigilante justice feels partly cathartic, partly troubling . Miles’s actions teeter between self-defense and moral ambiguity, and while White walks that line boldly, it occasionally leaves tonal imbalance in its wake.

Still, Compound Fracture lands as both urgent and unforgettable. The pacing is relentless, the prose vivid, and the thematic core—justice, rage, identity—resonates hard. It's a harrowing ride that doesn’t let up but also refuses to forget the people behind the rage: survivors, families, and those fighting for a place in a broken system.

Final Take: If you're up for a visceral, socially attentive thriller that stakes its heart on a trans teen's journey through violence, grief, and resistance, this novel delivers. It’s not easy, but sometimes the hardest reads are also the most necessary.

4.5 rounded up.
Loved it, as I come to expect from AJ White. This was the case even before this book, but he's absolutely an auto-buy author for me.

Compared to his previous two books Compound Fracture is much more rooted in reality and it is a very timely read.

It didn't evoke quite the same "I can't put this down" energy from me that I had with Hell Followed with Us and The Spirit Bares Its Teeth, but I still found myself thinking about this in the back of my mind between reading sessions.

I don't have much more to say other than please read this but mind the content warnings (easily found on the author's website).

3.75.
This was the second book by this author that I have read. The first one being Hell Followed With Us. Hell Followed With Us was like a 10/5. Compound Fracture was not a bad book, but it wasn't my favorite one.

I really enjoyed the subject and the vibes of a small conservative town in rural America. I loved the story about family feud, socialism, power imbalance, union, history of workers, and mystery. The characters were interesting, especially the teenagers. I appreciate how Andrew Joseph White writes complex characters who act because of how they have to live, and the tragedies in their life.

I think the main issue of the book is the pacing. There are parts where nothing happens, and I was kind of bored.

Beautifully written. A great example of life in a small rural community while living on the spectrum and being LGBTQIA.

Thank you Netgalley and Peachtree Teen for an ARC of this book.

We follow Miles, who has come out to his parents that he is Trans. One night he goes out to a party in rural West Virginia and is the victim of a hate crime. He also see's the ghost of his ancestor who died in the coal mines.

While he is trying to get justice for his have crime when one of the culprits is the son of Sheriff, there is just so much that happens.

I really enjoyed this book and I am happy that I had to opportunity to read it.

Gahhhh this is such a good book. So many books about rural small towns in the south and Midwest forget that they are not just stereotypes. Queer people and POC live there. Labor laws that protect you were born there. These are complicated beautiful communities that I beg people to see as real places. This book captures that so well.

Ahh, I can't believe it's taken me so long to write this! I had the privilege of reading this book a while ago, and honestly, it blew me away. I've been interested in Appalachia, and the people who inhabit the region, for quite some time now. These are people who have lived through intense hardship and pain, and have fought every step of the way. If everything Andrew Joseph White has released (that I've read) to this point, this is the one most grounded in our present reality.

I really love reading this author's depictions of autistic characters, as well as those from the LGBTQIA+ community, like myself. He is especially talented at putting us into the heads of these characters, so that we can feel everything they do, and understand their motivations and fears every step of the way.

I also really love the history of the true "rednecks," and how these brave men stood up to the greedy mine owners back in the day, and I love that the fighting spirit has never left their families, both in the book, and in the real world. Parts of this almost felt like The Legend of Billie Jean, one of my favorite 80's films. The main character is smart, and likeable, and I really liked the way that he grew through the book, going from wanting to avenge what had been done to him, to wanting justice, not just for himself, but for the community as a whole.

This book is really a timely read, and I suggest anyone that is looking for ways to push back against current systems that are keeping us down, and trying to make us victims, go read this book and find hope that when people band together and push back, we can win.

Lastly, I just want to add that I loved this book so much that in addition to reading my digital advance copy (thank you to the publisher!) my partner actually bought me a signed, hardcover first edition for our anniversary in April.

Do yourself a favor and go read this book!

This was my first AJW book & he has become an auto read/buy author!! This was so gritty & dark, it sucked me in from page one. This was something like I’ve never read before, especially in the YA genre. It was so brutal but was so unapologetically queer.

I truly am so excited to read more from AJW!! Especially his new one in the Adult Horror genre.

Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White is a gritty, unapologetic thriller that dives deep into themes of economic injustice, generational trauma, and identity. Set in rural West Virginia, the novel follows Miles Abernathy, a trans autistic teen caught in a century-old feud that has plagued his family. When Miles uncovers damning evidence against the corrupt sheriff responsible for past tragedies, he becomes the target of brutal violence—only to find himself entangled in a fight for justice that threatens to consume him.

White’s storytelling is visceral and relentless, capturing the raw intensity of survival and rebellion. The novel doesn’t shy away from violence, oppression, and the weight of history, making it a powerful and emotionally charged read. With its queer representation, gripping suspense, and deeply personal stakes, Compound Fracture is a must-read for fans of dark, thought-provoking thrillers.

Forgot to put my feedback here. Andrew Joseph White has become a must read author for me and this book confirmed it, despite not being a genre I usually read. I devoured it, thanks to the flowing and gripping narration. Like in all his other books, the trans experience was masterfully explored. I really appreciated how the author also portrays the aro identity of the mc, as this kind of representation is really rare to find and even more to find it well done.

From the first page of Compound Fracture, it takes you off your feet and into the world of the book. With each and every page my prior conceptions of Appalachia and West Virginia are challenged and transformed. I left my bias at the door and truly learned something about revolution and the fight against the higher class. The fight against the police and much more! This book will bring you to tears and make you smile at points, from yelling at the pages, to just wanting more. It is a journey that will change the reader and make them want to read more of Andrew Joseph White's books. Absolutely wonderful!

I forgot to put my feedback sooner as I did not fully know how this app worked before.

This book is still one of my all time favorites. I loved every second of it and I am a huge fan of the author..

I will say I had a tiny issue with the book being about police corruption and the protagonist was white, but it was still an amazing book and that wouldn't stop me from reccomending it!

Andrew Joseph White es, sin duda alguna, mi autor de terror favorito. Vale, sí, he leído solo dos libros suyos, pero con este puedo confirmar que me hace sentir muchas cosas por dentro, no solo terror y miedo, sino también compasión, ternura e incluso algo de esperanza.
Aunque el tema principal de la novela a mí no me tocaba de cerca, White traza tan bien el carácter de sus personajes que es imposible no sentirse cercane a elles. Esa cercanía es lo que más valoro de sus obras, además de toda la representación, tanto queer como neurodivergente. Muy, muy recomendable.

A book that doesn't hold its punches. The main character's voice comes through strongly, and I appreciate that White does not shy away from writing morally grey characters. It is refreshing to see trans and neurodivergent characters written as complex living people. An intense read, but a necessary one, especially in today's political climate.

This was so good! I already had very high expectations because of Andrew Joseph White's other books, which I absolutely devoured, but this book still exceeded my expectations. The storytelling, and the way White is able to bring the characters and the universe to life is truly extraordinary. One of my all time favorite athours. Will buy any book he writes<3

When writing a review for this book, there is nothing I can say that I haven't already said for AJW's other books. I believe that his books are truly revolutionary to the YA genre, and SO refreshing when it comes to finding good representation- seriously I cant name a single book other than this one with an arospec character.
I will definitely be rereading this book MULTIPLE times
Also I really love when the dog said ACAB, shoutout to Lady

Andrew Joseph White is a master at creating stories that are both deeply unsettling and startlingly important, and Compound Fracture is no exception. This haunting novel delves into themes of identity, bodily autonomy, and the trauma of forced conformity through a visceral, trans-centered horror narrative. White’s prose is raw and unflinching, capturing the rage and resilience of a protagonist who refuses to be broken by a world that demands erasure. The atmosphere is tense, the body horror unrelenting, yet it’s grounded by a fierce emotional core. Compound Fracture is a searing, unforgettable work that demands to be read—and felt.

AJW going 3 for 3 on graphic horror books with trans main characters and I love it every single time.

While this book was probably my least favorite of the three, Miles has to be one of my favorite characters ever. his development from being sure of who he is to discovering parts of himself he wasn't aware of, all of this while navigating through family trauma and the worst horror you could find made it so good to me.

I feel like even though Compound Fracture doesn't dive into fantasy the way the author's other books do, the violence in this was the most graphic so far and was nauseous to listen to.

I definitely trust AJW and everything he writes and I cannot wait for the next book.

4.75/5 stars! I love the cover of this book. The rep in this book was amazing. It follows Miles Abernathy, a trans Autistic teen trying to solve/get justice after a murder takes place. This book is laden with the harsh realities that many transgender individuals face, despite its fictional genre, so please check the trigger warnings and protect your peace as needed.

This is my first AJ White book, but it will definitely not be my last. It is hard to explain this complicated, dark, thought-provoking, anger-inducing, and twisty novel which tackles Appalachia, gender identity, neurodivergency, revenge, history, and much more, but I can tell you that this was a book that I had trouble putting down and that has kept me thinking nonstop.