Holy... I have no words. Andrew Joseph White has done it again. This was a fucking banger. My midwest-loving heart was so ready for this and I got exactly what I wanted. This is about a boy named Miles who family loves and supports him through family feuds and identity explorations. As an autistic, transmasc reader, I felt a lot of myself in this character. Being able to watch Miles go through a similar experience as I did concerning his autism diagnosis was heartbreaking and amazing. Being able to suddenly explain why you are the way you are is a crucial moment for a lot of autistic teens and it was a joy to watch it unfold on-page. Another thing I love about AJW's books is the amount of violence and gore he is able to cram onto his pages. He knows his teen readers well enough to know that they should not be underestimated. Teens are fully capable of learning of and hearing about gruesome, horrific acts, and as an 18 year old, I should know. One thing I hate about a lot of YA novels this days is their want to skirt around the worst stuff. Like the authors think we couldn't handle it. But there are children who have been through a lot more than most adults in America. The worst thing we could do to them is underestimate their intelligence and strength and resilience.
This book reminded me a lot of his first, Hell Followed With Us, an all-time favorite of mine, even if they aren't similar in a lot of ways. But angry trans men and boys sick of the world they've been forced to live through is a concept I'll never turn down. I'm hella excited for this authors next. I urge you to pick up this authors works, as they are some of the best I have ever read.

Let's burn it down.

It's always hard to attempt to find words to describe a book that is so perfectly executed. Because how am I supposed to describe the brilliance behind the discussion of a capitalist system held in place by cruelly that gets to prey on those it pleases told paired with a vibrant story of coming into your own amongst the gore and pain. Not to mention that I can't seem to come out of Andrew Joseph White book without feeling so goddamn seen, both as an autistic person and a trans person.

There is no holding back, because yes we're killing fascists that have inflicted so much horror onto others, but we're also examining the systems that have molded them to be those types of people - because they don't become like that in a vacuum. It's not about scrapping off the mold, it's about digging out the rot, about going back as far as possible, and realizing that the system is what molds these traumas. Violence follows violence, yet who provided the knives in both our hands? This book is a masterpiece, plain and simple, and I know it's obvious but I'll still say it: I adored it to pieces.

AJW has done it again, unsurprisingly his third book is just as heart-wrenchingly beautiful as his other two. White brings us into the world of Miles, a teenage trans boy living in the heart of Appalachia, and born into the middle of a blood feud between his family and the sheriff. White always amazes me with his strong and ever-present voice within his novels. The characters grabbed my heart and never gave it back. The queer and autistic experiences and representation in this book are things I never realized I had never read before and desperately needed. A breath of fresh air amid our political world right now. Once again, this book feels like the relief that comes after a hard cry. No notes. Five stars!

Holy shit, where do I start? This book is amazing, disgusting, and absolutely beautiful. Andrew Joseph White is masterful with gore, welding body parts like weapons, smearing blood across the pages. COMPOUND FRACTURE is politically complicated, wonderfully gross, and a truly excellent read.

I am not sure if I will bring this into my classroom as a part of the curriculum, but I do plan to have it in my classroom library and to recommend it to students. This book is truly excellent. White is a class of his own with this genre. I am consistently blown away by his writing style. It hits like a punch. Many of my students will benefit from reading COMPOUND FRACTURE, and I'm incredibly thankful for the opportunity to have read this early.

AJW does it again, three for three 5 star books. Compound Fracture was a thrilling and raw story of a trans boy’s fight to survive. Highly recommend that everyone pick this up when it releases.

Andrew Joseph White truly never lets me down. Never. I ripped through this book in 2 hours and loved every bit of it. It was indeed not for the faint of heart, and there was so much to love, loathe, and mourn about this. I truly felt the heart and soul of Miles, who coincidentally shares my name, so I already felt a sort of kinship with him. Dallas was the sweet, accepting, loving little anarchist we all needed but didn't know we needed, and I truly hurt for them knowing what they survived. Cooper was complicated and made my heart ache, and to see his fate was.. shattering. How he developed throughout the course of the story, it was clear he was hurting, and he was under so much pressure, such a burden, still grieving. He can hardly be blamed for his anger, but he would never be justified in hurting Miles like he did. I appreciated the sort of due diligence that Noah received at the hands of Miles, the way he was able to take back years and years of feuding and put an end to it in an eerily similar fashion to which his great great grandfather met his demise. It was bittersweet, really. I loved the subtle tribute to his great great grandfather, who was likely trans, and gay, and finally got to rest after all those years. Not a single bad thing to say about this book, really.

Let me tell you, I SCREAMED when I got approved to read this. Then I ran, just RAN, to download the book and start reading.

First of all: YEAH. OKAY. Andrew Joseph White has DONE IT AGAIN. My brain is a microwave and Compound Fracture is rotating inside it, while I’ve got my nose pressed to the glass. It’s visceral, it’s vivid, it’s fast-paced. I loved it. If I’d read when I was sixteen — the same age as Miles, the protagonist — I would have annoyed all my friends by constantly badgering them to read it, too.

The Spirit Bares Its Teeth is one of my favourite books. Compound Fracture is definitely joining it on the shelf of faves.

Some assorted notes:

-The end of Chapter Fifteen made me shout ‘Ooooh!’ in shock. I almost NEVER have external reactions to books. Then, the end of Chapter Twenty-One… yeah. I smiled at that.

-The setting and characters feel so real.

-The ghost!!!! The ghost!!! I can’t say too much about him because, you know, spoilers, but yeah!!!!

This was a fascinating read that I could not put down.
If you’re someone who feels angry at the state of the world than this read will feed your soul a bit.
Andrew Joseph White has a way of writing characters with a wide range of diversity that feels real. The conversations around autism, queerness, identity, and generational trauma are truly unmatched.
I also didn’t expect to get so emotional over the ghost of an ancestor.
The way that the book tackled trauma responses from the various characters was brilliant too.

I will be thinking about this book for a long time.

Andrew Joseph White does it again. Another book of his that I have completely devoured. I will read everything written by this man.

We start with Miles uncovering proof of just how far the sheriff will go to keep his position of power over the small town. Miles is almost beaten to death for the evidence, which sets in motion so many events of the book. In the process, Miles reconnects with old friends, learns more about his ancestors and himself, commits a couple (necessary) murders, and realizes just how tight his family is bonded.

This book is gory, but I mean it's AJW, and he has a list of CWs in his own review so I don't have to list them, but it also has a cozy feeling towards the end.

I love AJWs writing style, not one of his books drag at any moment, especially this one, it's fast-paced from start to finish.

Thank you, NetGalley and PeachTree for the eARC!

with all of white's ya novels so far, my one issue has been i just want his ideas to be explored in more depth. here, with miles' anarchism and socialism and how systems like the police and capitalism is a strong determinator of the poor's life outcomes, there could've been more nuance in terms of how free will plays into his characterization of those extreme cases. however, despite that, visibility is important. i loved reading about miles coming to terms with his autism (without an official diagnosis might i add, pointing out the inequity in mental health access) and his aromantic identity as well as his experience being trans. there is an underlying optimism here despite how gory the contents can get that people are capable of change that will surely make a lot of teens feel welcome in. i wish i had this when i was growing up and can't wait to read whatever white writes next.

this is so incredibly different to AJW’s last 2 books, a lot more thriller-y than horror but still disgusting and gruesome all the same. miles is a bit of a trainwreck of a character but so easy to love especially for autistic queer ppl who can see themselves in him… but he is a total badass. watching him develop a relationship with his ancestors & feeling so seen when he finds out just how similar they are is so comforting, & watching miles follow in his footsteps is !!! i don’t want to spoil too much but the rep in this book is just perfect & the vengeance is executed perfectly <3

*minor spoilers*

Thank you ever so much to Netgalley and the publishers of Compound Fracture for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I completely and utterly devoured this book as I do with every single one of Andrew Joseph White’s books and this one was no exception. Before I continue I will preface this review with the major trigger warnings, which include graphic violence, queer and transphobia, opioid dependency, emotional manipulation, animal harm, discussions of ableism, and emetophobia warning. this book like all of white’s books, really engages with me on a personal, emotional and psychological level. the found family, the trans and autistic rep, the justified vengeance at a system that is fucked against you all really hits in today’s society. miles is a little rough around the edges, not the most reliable narrator at times, a bit morally grey at times, and just a clusterfuck of a character in general. but you really learn to love him, scars and all. the storyline of his trans ancestor really fucking hit me right in heart. generational queerness is so beautiful and we really love to see it. I was sad to see cooper lose his way and turn on miles a bit, but also knew that the system in Twist Creek had fucked him and his family over for a very long time. the socialism and anarchism against the unjust system was really beautiful as well and is definitely needed given what the current future in america for any minority group is looking right now. the generational feud finally coming to an end was very symbolic and gave me a lot of hope that maybe, just maybe there’s a chance for change in the future. also the queer platonic relationship representation was *chefs kiss* so fucking cute and beautiful as well. i have no more to share other than read this goddamn book, and let it give you hope for the future too.