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.

CW: violence, police brutality, queerphobia, transphobia, deadnaming, substance abuse (recounted), toxic relationship, animal death (recounted), animal cruelty (recounted), ableism, vomit, fire, car accident (recounted), death of a parent (recounted), gore, blood, gun violence, murder, outing, classism

I would like to thank NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Powerful and raw, Compound Fracture will not let you go once you start reading. White shines an important light on police brutality, corrupt politicians, and class disparities in rural West Virginia. I don't agree with everything that Miles does in the book, but you understand the inherent motivations behind Miles' actions in the book in order to ensure his family's survival and that does lead to wanting to root for Miles to get the justice he deserves.

If you want a YA thriller/horror combos that address classism and corrupt politics with a side of speculative elements, you will definitely enjoy reading this book.

I really enjoyed Compound Fractures. The story was gripping, the characters well-developed, and the suspense kept me turning the pages. Definitely one I’d recommend to thriller fans

Andrew is now an auto-buy author for me. I love his characters, the representation, the horror, the vibes. I would love to see him tackle adult fantasy/horror one day. Anyway, a very fun and easy to read (even if it is some of the goriest YA has to offer lol) as usual.

I had high expectations for this one because AJW never disappoints and this book exceeded those expectations! There were so many different identities featured in this book and it was done so incredibly well! I especially appreciated the aro/ace rep! I really loved the overall story of the working class breaking free from those that profit and exploit them. It was heart wrenching from beginning to end.

I love AJW and this book only makes me love him more. This is one of those books that redefines YA as a genre, particularly in the horror elements. The horror was gory and gripping and the story was soooo good! Counting down the days til his adult debut

“Of course I'm mad. I'm mad that this is the shape the world takes, I'm mad that we've both been put here, I'm mad because it don't got to be this way. But it is.”

Miles Abernathy’s family has a long, bloody history with the leaders of Twist Creek County, West Virginia. Stemming from a coal miners’ rebellion led by his great-great-grandfather, the generations-long feud has resulted in several gruesome deaths and an intense fear of Sheriff Davies, whose constant looming presence means Miles can never feel truly safe. On top of uncovering proof that the sheriff was behind a fatal car crash, Miles is also navigating a few crises of identity—coming out as trans to his parents, accepting the autism he’s masked his whole life, and discovering his true sexual identity after reconnecting with an old friend.

COMPOUND FRACTURE is a horror novel, but it’s not about ghosts and things that go bump in the night (although there are both in the story!). Instead, it’s about the horrors of oppression, of generational trauma, of living under a federal administration and capitalist system that wants to keep you down. It’s about murder and revenge and the power of community. It’s gory, and way more people got murdered than I expected. And it was so, so good.

I thought that the book had some very powerful things to say about collective action, anarchy and oppressive systems. It was also DEEPLY southern, rooted in Appalachian culture and history, and I appreciated the way the author struck a balance between demonstrating how conservative these regions can be, but also how accepting and open-minded its communities are. There were several openly liberal people in the town as well as several LGBTQ members aside from Miles, and the community held space for them. AJW did not paint Twist Creek County with a broad, solely conservative brush and showed that the trans kids in the South are proud of where they come from and deserve protection in their homes, too.

Interwoven through the main plot were Miles’ explorations of his identity, including his journey coming out as trans and discovering he’s autistic. Both felt realistic and added a ton of depth to the story and characters. I loved the inclusion of Miles’ ancestor being trans, demonstrating how trans people have always existed and left lasting legacies, but there’s also the pain of losing queer elders and not being able to pass knowledge down through generations. The autism rep resonated with my personal experiences. Miles would be considered late-diagnosed and highly masking, which is an identity I share, and he wasn’t just “quirky” or reduced to weird traits. AJW showed the unsavory parts of the disability—from autistic meltdowns, to struggling with personal hygiene—and alleviated some of the shame associated with them.

From a prose perspective, the writing was clear and accessible but didn’t feel dumbed down for a younger audience. I think this type of book will really resonate with YA readers, but it still captured my attention as an adult. I will be picking up the author’s other books ASAP.

I absolutely loved this book! It’s dark in all the best ways, full of surprising twists and gruesome turns, and with characters that jump off the page.

The representation in it is realistic and genuine, cutting to how each of the characters feels about who they are and how that doesn’t always match what society wants them to be.

It’s a love letter to West Virginia and its people, while also being a pretty brutal take on rural Appalachia politics, the opioid crisis, and corruption.

I know I’ll continue to buy anything this author writes, because I’ve yet to be let down.

This broke my heart and mended it. If you know small towns and are queer and any type of neurodivergent this an absolute must read

Thanks to NetGalley and Peachtree for the ARC.

Can't have a blood feud without spilling a little (a lot) of blood. This was gnarly, Andrew Joseph White is so good at instilling a bunch of emotion and passion into some really dark scenarios. I was so invested in the well-being of the Abernathys. Mile's family is so loving despite their flaws (except Lady the dog, she has no flaws). While I was expecting the blood feud would have to end in some way, I had no idea who would live to see the end the whole time. I've read two of White's books now, and he's definitely on my list of authors to watch for.

"Compound Fracture" is a very good, but very graphic and disturbing book, like all of Andrew Joseph White’s books are. This book has really good characters, and it’s nice to see trans, agender, aro, and autistic rep all wrapped up together. The story is intense and will hold readers' attention throughout. While it's not quite as exceptional as "The Spirit Bares Its Teeth", it is still another solidly great book from this author, and I look forward to future works.