Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for giving me an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review!

It is rare for a book review that I am left speechless— but frankly I can’t truly think of any amount of praise or commendation that would do justice to the way this book made me feel. I’ve honestly been struggling to find any words at all to do it justice. I had this same issue with “The Spirit Bares Its Teeth,” how do you review a masterpiece? This book strikes to the core of anyone who’s ever felt like they don’t fit where they were placed— who does everything they can to belong, and it still doesn’t feel like enough, because everyone else is in on some joke you just don’t get. This book is about the dangers of rural towns and some folks you may find therein, but also about how most people are fundamentally good, and how we can’t forget where many of the great revolutions of our past began. This book is about power, and the difference working collectively can make when you need to oust a corrupt ruling body. This book is about being trans, and autistic, and in the middle of a blood feud that goes back generations and that feels like nothing can stop it— and doing what you feel like you *have* to to stop it. This book… This BOOK y’all…

I don’t have an eloquent wrap up or a cool ending note— just please go pre-order this book. I have an ebook and I’m still gonna get a physical copy as soon as it comes out. You will not regret it.

Andrew Joseph White’s book always have monsters. But in this one, the monsters are ONLY human. And that makes them MORE sinister because they have no excuses. They CHOOSE to act monstrous, to kill and terrorize in the name of power. It’s a game to them, but one they will ALWAYS win. Because fear is self-defeating, is it not?

But what happens when you have a spark? One person who is definitely no hero - who is flawed and imperfect and confused but also strong in ways yet to be discovered? Is one queer, disabled kid enough to burn down a card house of hate built over literal generations?

This book encompasses so much that I had to sit with it for a few days before I could read anything except nonfiction. The disdain so many have for certain classes of folks, the harm done to small communities by government and each other. The choices we all must make every day to NOT become that monster, to lift up each other and to be who and what we are meant to be. The darkness that sits within us all. But with the darkness, there is ALWAYS redemption. It just might not always take the path one expects.

This is not a book where any one review can cover it all. Every single reader will walk away with something different imprinted on their soul. To me though? That is the mark of a good book. One that reaches in and twists, ever so slightly, to remind us of our shared humanity.

Thank you Peachtree Teen for the opportunity to read and review this upcoming book!
It is hard to find the words to describe something written as well as this book is. This book captures the rage and despair of a young queer kid so well and it is incredible every second of the ride. The tension that I felt in this book was incredible. This book is Young Adult, yes, but it treats the intended audience with more respect than a good number of adult books I have read. The topics tackled in this are incredibly deep and serve as a great way to introduce someone to these themes, while also giving them an incredible and tense story that will have them glued to the page. A particular highlight was how the author played with the expectations of a novel, but I will leave that for the future reader to discover and enjoy for themselves.

Toughly loved this book and look forward to buying copies for all my friends.

I don’t have words for how amazing this book was. Andrew never disappoints in bringing a poetic ness to the gore that his characters endure, and Compound Fracture was no exception. This book somehow perfectly captures the feelings of someone in Miles’ situation, and all the characters, even when they’re making completely human mistakes, are amazingly well written and lovable (okay, not all the characters are lovable but you get what I mean). Also, as an autistic person, Miles was scarily relatable and it’s so amazing to see yourself reflected in something you read. A town coming together to do what was needed to free themself from the oppressive forces that terrorized them was what I was promised, and the book more than delivered. Amazing as always

This is by far my favorite book by Andrew Joseph White and if you’ve read my other reviews or have listened to me gush about them, you know that is saying a lot.

For me Compound Fracture is the darkest and hardest of White’s novels. It is violent and unabashedly brutal, you feel the defeat so deeply in your bones. Is it because so much of what is inside this book is what we see every day but stripped bare and laid out so we can’t delude ourselves into thinking otherwise? I think so.

This a book about legacy and finding your own future in a world that has paths carved out for you based on how it perceived you to be due to its rigid structures and labels.

This is a book about community and the strength we have in each other, the I mportance of remembering that we have to protect the vulnerable members of our community regardless of the politics of where they’re from. Whether from the most southern parts of the United States to the most “liberal” parts, communities deserve to be fought for and cared for. That the people that make up those communities are stronger together than apart. We cannot leave each other behind in our fight for freedom.

About power of resistance This is a book about taking action and admitting that bravery is terrifying and can be deadly. But bravery is necessary to make change.

And as I read Compound Fracture I could not stop thinking about the activists and heroes standing up for a free Palestine. All of us causing damage, making demands and screaming “We will not be silent”. We will not be silent until we see a Free Palestine, a free Congo and Sudan.

I could not stop thinking about the policies and politicians harming transgender people and their rights to exist. I could not stop thinking about the policies and politicians targeting free healthcare, homeless people and the disabled community. And I think of all the people who continue to fight tooth and nail to defend our communities from this evil.

Resistance is not peaceful and can never succeed if it is. Because resistance is tearing the rot and evil out, making the wounds bleed and the burning of the disinfectant and stitching of the wounds as they heal. Yes, resistance is bloody, scary, dangerous, full of hurt and discomfort. But resistance is full of community, collective strength, hope and future.

I have so many things to say about this book and I do not have the ability to say all of them, but my overall review is just that you should read this book and it was amazing and I am going to be autistic about it for a while. This is a more grounded book than the author has written before, even though there is a ghost in it. Less gory and less horror and more thriller, although I would definitely say to check the trigger warnings– this book is certainly very intense for a YA novel. The portrayals of autism and transness are also very well-done in my opinion (as both of them) , and I also enjoyed how the aromantic spectrum was talked about in the book.
What I am going to talk about is the characterization that is in this book (and in the author’s two previous books as well but not to the same extent) Effectively, there is this one trick done where the secondary antagonists will not be the ones blamed for their actions entirely, but society will be blamed for it in place, because it is acknowledged that not everyone has complete and total agency over all of their actions. It’s balanced very well, especially in this novel, and there’s always something that is both a betrayal and a continuation of the characters' morals in the first place. Very painful, masterfully written. I have so much more else to say but I would have to dive into spoilers so I am not going to, I will probably add that after the book releases.

4.5⭐️ Rounded up to 5⭐️

I’m not sure I can even articulate just how much I enjoyed this book, and just how quickly I devoured it. Andrew Joseph White has rapidly become an auto buy author for me and I absolutely adore everything that he writes; his writing style is so captivating and flows so fluidly, keeping me so hooked and drawn in.

The autism rep is my absolute favourite and genuinely had me absolutely bawling my eyes out when Miles realises that he is autistic and that he doesn’t have to get a professional diagnosis to be autistic, and that there’s nothing actually wrong with him. I felt so seen by him and the way that he views the world, and the way that he struggles with stuff like showering and brushing his teeth. It’s always been a thing I’ve struggled with, and been insanely embarrassed about, but the whole thing is just a sensory nightmare.

The story was so captivating and genuinely passed in the blink of an eye, I felt like I’d just started and was suddenly at the end. Eddie, Noah and the other one got what was coming to them, and they honestly deserved it after the sickening things they did. I was sad that Cooper died tho as was quite fond of him despite the fact he’d become so consumed by his anger and so torn up by his trauma that he was a complete dickhead at times. I’m so glad that nothing happened to Lady as I spent the whole story as anxious about something happening to her as Miles was.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I will happily read anything and everything AJW writes.

another amazing book by andrew joseph white! much like his previous two books, it's very dark in some (a lot of) places, so it's a good idea to check content warnings before reading. however, at the same time it tells a hopeful story, by presenting a very dark situation but having a happy ending regardless. (this is not to say the book's all sunshine and rainbows because of the happy ending; there are still lots of bad things that happen).

the story tells of a century-long feud between the sheriff's family and the main character (miles)'s family. there is a great cast of morally grey characters in this book. some of the people on miles' side of the feud are transphobic, and some people trying to murder miles & his family seem to wish they weren't caught in the feud. it's also difficult to class someone as exclusively "good" or "bad" when they've just been murdered.

i loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed either or both of andrew's previous books, or who is looking for a dark book with a happy ending featuring an autistic, queer trans protagonist. on one of the mornings i was reading it, i read for 4 hours without looking at a clock, which isn't very common an occurrence for me :)

thank you to peachtree teen & netgalley for providing me an arc of the book in exchange for an honest review.

a big thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing this arc!

4.25⭐

andrew joseph white has quickly become one of my favorite authors and one whose books i’ll add to my “to read” list without even thinking twice. he always manages to create such complex stories with characters that are multidimensional and convey many different emotions to the reader.
this book was beautiful – tragic, painful and unsettling, but nonetheless beautiful. it made me tear up and it made me angry. it made me hold my breath as i kept reading and it made me anxious as one thing kept happening after another.
i can’t wait to keep following the author’s journey and read everything else he comes up with!! it's incredible how he published his debut a short time ago but has already established himself as one of my favorite authors; but there's just something special about his writing and how he manages to invoke feelings by playing with the horror genre by exploring the trans/lgbtqia+ experience, in addition to his autistic characters that always manage to move me :') anyway. i can’t recommend him and this book enough. if you haven't tried any of his books yet, give him a chance! i'm sure you'll enjoy it <3

i received this arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

We're not grown, we're some kids that did some terrible shit. That lived through some terrible shit

Andrew Joseph White did it again- i honestly do not know how he does it or what kind of magic he puts in his books, but i desperately need him to do it again and again forever-
Compound fracture is an amazing story, about miles Abernathy, a queer trans autistic socialist who is stuck in a blood feud that has been going on for a hundred years. the problem is that the family on the other side of the blood feud is the Davies family, who have been the sheriffs of the town for as long as the feud has been going on.
this is a story of not always getting to choose where you end up, and sometimes being forced in to horrible circumstances.
this is a story of family, and of queerness and of miles great great grandfather, saint Abernathy, coming back from the death as a ghost to help miles finish this blood feud.

"If it makes you feel better, we're giving you a head start. Ain't no fun if its just slaughter"

this blood feud gets messy. it has gotten people killed, and with miles its not an exception. this story is, as per usual of AJW's books, graphic as hell. People say it a lot that his books made them gag, but honestly its not until now that this happened to me- lets just say that deer hunting methods now will give me nightmares.


But i stop. Too many memories of being told i was talking too much. I suddenly cant figure out if cooper's responses sounded bored or not

I've raved many times about how amazing the autism and trans rep is in the spirit bares its teeth and hell followed with us, but AJW did it again, but this time he managed to make the autism rep nearly better? there's some scenes in there that genuinely made me wonder if AJW had taken a look inside my brain to write this- as an autistic person i honestly just felt so damn seen-
i cried a lot during this book- not because it was sad but because every single part of it was so me in a way that i had seen no one describe before- i am a trans queer autistic punk person and seeing miles and Dallas? well it was nearly like looking in a mirror tbh- it was everything i needed

I have emotions, obviously, but sometimes its a bit of work to show them, and right now its best if i don't

okay okay okay i know this review is very long at this point and if you don't want to hear about some identities that miles doesn't figure out until the end of the book you can jump past this section

i don't think i have ever seen allosexual aromantic representation ever- and although this is not me(I'm ace though so siblings ish?) it was so amazing to see in a book- the way it was described was absolutely wonderful-
and miles ending up in a queerplatonic relationship? I'm not going to lie, i straight up started bawling- i have never seen anyone, aside from online, talk about qpr's- I'm in a qpr and seeing that representation really meant the world to me

and of course as always AJW's trans representation was on point- and god did i appreciate that we didn't get one of the two stereotypical portrayals(although those are important too)- seeing the parents not be happy but also not throwing miles out doesn't happen often but it meant the world to me- sometimes it takes time for parents to come around to, i know mine did, and seeing representation for this too was amazing-

There's no time to argue. No time to plead or beg. A deer can't negotiate with a bullet once its fired. I run

this book was filled with everything i needed and more and damn i could not put it down. the worst part about reading this book now is the fact that i have no one to scream with about this absolute masterpiece of a book- like i don't know how I'm going to recover its not even funny
this book was absolutely amazing, and its a new favourite of mine hands down- i cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy and hear the audiobook-
this was such a long review but fuck i had so much to say about this book, and i could continue to talk about it for hours-

also would this be a review of an AJW's book, by me, if i did not include a special shoutout to the author letter? which of course once again made me tear up?

If i promise you that this book has a happy ending, does that make it better? Does that make it any easier to swallow?

Andrew Joseph White became an insta-buy author for me after his first book. Compound Fracture is his third, and he continues to knock it out of the park.

This book brought so many emotions out of me. I've read both of AJW's books and own copies so when I got early access to this one I read it all today (during Trans visibility day. Ironic isn't it?). I have thoroughly enjoyed his two previous books beforehand but this one hits incredibly close. I've never had my heart race so much while reading a book before. I cried, I laughed a few times, I made noises at my boyfriend to express my emotions, and I even told my mom about how I felt about the whole book! On top of everything, it was strangely comforting to read this book. I still can't process why but it warms my heart. It's a truly beautiful book and I will be getting my hands on the physical copy as soon as it comes out. I look forward to any future books written by AJ!!

Being from Maryland, I wouldn't say I have a history with West Virginia outside of the fact that my grandma, like a lot of western MDers, was born there. But I *can* say that I held a lot of deep seated distaste for WV between the ages of 12 and 24, also known as My Liberal Years- when I thought that any backwoods hick town was unfixable and everyone in them was unlovable. Then... I grew up to be queerer and more socialist than I ever thought I would be at age 12 and came to terms with not having to make excuses for having WV roots to people, or not making jokes about "haha you never know, my grandma WAS born in WV!"

All that to say, this book made me even more radical than I was about it. The incredible strength Miles and his family showed in not leaving when things got hard because THAT'S HOME was awe inspiring. I'm not trans, but my younger brother is, and god this made me remember how often he came to me with queer and mental health revelations when he was a kid and I was a Slightly Older Kid. We're also both autistic, and the shoelace was so very relatable.

This book was so autistically funny (if that's a word ?) and I'm so happy it exists. I will forever devour everything AJW writes and I cannot wait for the day that I am graced with reading another deeply unsettling (and a little gross) autistic queer horror story about being queer and socialist in a world that doesn't want you but will be forced to reckon with you.

With Andrew Joseph Whites third published book he proves he can not seem to miss. Compound Fracture is a blunt and bloody novel surrounding a trans man coming into his inheritance of a century old blood feud with his county sheriff and the family behind it and boy was it such an experience. Andrews books are the kind I wished I’d have had as young teen discovering themselves. Compound Fracture manages to organically weave so many ideas and experiences and handles all of them with time, grace and a consideration, so that truly nothing can be said in the way of faults. The most striking feature of this book though is in the familial dynamics and the care Miles and his family have for one another despite maybe not understanding each other 100% of the time. The love these parents have for their child regardless of sexuality and gender is genuinely such a touching and heartwarming addition and the love Miles has for his county and home regardless of the wrong that’s been done to him and his family can be felt so viscerally. Compound Fracture overall was a delight to read and although many tears were shed over it at times it once agains stand to prove what a fantastic storyteller the author is.

Big thanks to Peachtree Teen and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

A century ago, Saint Abernathy incited a miner’s rebellion after the local mine collapsed that ended in a brutal public execution. Since then, the Abernathys have been at odds with the Davies family, the local lawn enforcement dynasty.

Now, on the same day he’s come out to his parents, Miles Abernathy sneaks out to a party with important evidence that ties Sheriff Davies to the accident that injured Miles’ dad and killed his friend’s mom. Miles is caught by the sheriff’s son and his friends and is beaten nearly to death. In the hospital, the sheriff visits Miles to ensure his silence, and Miles begins seeing the specter of a coal miner. After an accident kills one of the boys who hurt him, Miles finds support in his community and becomes embroiled in a series of events that will either save Twist Creek or damn the Abernathys.

First and foremost, if you’re a fan of White’s other works (Hell Followed With Us, The Spirit Bares Its Teeth) you’ll find that this book is more thriller than straightforward horror. He’s added a list of content warnings on the Goodreads entry for the book, which is really thoughtful considering this book is bloody and full of trauma. Compound Fracture is, at its heart, a love letter to Appalachia, the working class, family, and making the world a better place. The plot is fast paced, everything rushing toward conclusion or calamity. The people of Twist Creek have been through so much and have been ground down by corrupt leaders like the Davies family, and White does a great job painting that. It’s an excellent portrayal of a family that’s been through hell and back and how they continue to persevere.

There are some really hard part to read, tough things to get through, but none of it feels gratuitous or unnecessary. Miles is a socialist like his great-great-grandfather before him and this book delves into politics and labor rights. Miles is also an autistic trans man, and his journey of self realization is beautiful. As a trans person myself, I felt the pain and frustration every time Miles was misgendered or deadnamed, and the joy he felt when things clicked and people treated him with respect. White writes what he knows and writing with his heart, and that is abundantly clear in Compound Fracture, which may well be his best work to date.

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.