Another absolute banger from AJW. I want to read about autistic, trans, queer, disabled, BIPOC, bad ass kids forever. I love my community but I am also scared and angry. This gets me.

Quick Take
Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White is an extremely hard read that should be required reading. I simply cannot sum it up for you more than to just say – read it.

Tell Me More
Ooof, you guys. I had said a while back that this book played a huge part in saving my life, and that has only intensified since I have officially changed my pronouns to They/He and have opened up about being trans masculine during a very scary time in our world.

Compound Fracture is bloody, gritty, and horrific in every sense of the word. But the scares here aren’t classic. While there is a paranormal aspect, it is about how the worst monsters are human, and those who SHOULD protect us are so often violent beyond measure. The book is set in White’s native West Virginia, and sheds light on Appalachian and mining culture, oxycontin addiction, lack of proper healthcare, police brutality, generational trauma, and the dangers of being queer and/or having a disability, or in any way being “othered,” in these rural areas.


The book follows Miles, a trans, autistic teen from a bloodline that has long been targeted by the sheriff and his family. Miles is attacked by the sheriff’s son and his friends, to the point of near death and permanent disfigurement, and after the assault, sets off on a mission to get bloody revenge on his attackers with his best friend, Cooper – following an accident that occurs with one of the boys. However, things unravel drastically, and the events lead to an atrocious climax that left me sobbing.

If you have followed me for any length of time, you are probably aware of my dislike for animal cruelty in horror. But in this case, it was necessary to portray the extent of evil of some of the characters. White did not include any unnecessary violence, he just shed light on these very real atrocities in such a brilliant and delicate (while still gruesome) way.

However, one character – my absolute favorite – is named Dallas and they are nonbinary, have permanent burn scars, and present masculine. I LOVED how White highlighted how nonbinary folx DO NOT owe anyone androgyny, and we are all valid however we present, which is something I often struggle with. He also highlighted aromanticism apart from asexuality, and how both orientations are entirely separate from each other despite being seen as one and the same most times.

White’s writing is a beacon of hope for trans/queer and neurodivergent readers such as myself, and while his books are young adult, they go SO HARD. If I had had his books as a teen it might not have taken me until I was 30 years old to come out as trans/queer and acknowledge my autistic traits to get help and understand myself. Instead, I always felt like something was wrong with me and internalized it (this book was an essential tool in helping me see myself in Miles’ experience with autism). Even so, it appears that this book came into my life exactly when it was supposed to do so.


White stated in his author letter that this story burns like moonshine going down, but to me, it felt more like a railroad spike shoved down the throat. While the ending is hopeful, the excruciating pain of that spike remains.

If you read nothing else this year, or any year, read this book. And that is something I have never said about any book. It is that important.

I absolutely LOVED Compound Fracture! Dare I say it’s AJW’s best so far👀
The way family, relationships, autism, mental health, and small towns were represented and explored, chefs kiss.
I felt for every single character (except for Davies). The fear I had for Miles, his family and friends, was so true and to make it even more terrifying, it’s so close to reality it hurts.
I cannot recommend this book enough!

This was absolutely stunning. I think it's the best book Andrew Joseph White has written so far. This is a gripping (and violent) story of a trans autistic tean in rural appalachia who comes from an incredibly complicated history.

Absolutely loved it, as always! Andrew Joseph White is definitely an auto-read author for me!

Had some issues reading with the formatting, but of course that's not the fault of the book/author.

DNF, 47%.

I love Andrew Joseph White and how refreshing his literature is. He is an author with his own style, something that is not easy to achieve with a career that, for the moment, is not that long, and that is why I was encouraged to order this ARC.

However, when I started it, I found that the novel didn't quite hook me. He always creates very unique universes and characters, but in this case they reminded me too much of his first novel, which is a story I hold close to my heart. It's not that the subject matter is similar, that's not a problem, but there are many elements that take me back to the first book.

Still, my biggest problems with the novel are two:

The first is Miles, a character I don't quite understand. I understand that a protagonist doesn't always have to be nice, but this time I didn't manage to understand his actions, why does he treat his parents like that, what makes him behave like that? I'm not able to follow his train of thought.

In the other hand, it often feels more like a blog post than a book. I agree with most of the ideas that AWJ shows in his book, but I don't like having them thrown in my face like that, because that's not what I want from a fiction book. I think there are many ways to talk about these issues without it seeming like a lecture, and it would have been nice to develop that part better.

I think it has a good basic idea but it lacks a little more work, some more revision that would allow it to be a the amazing book that promises to be. I'm sorry to have left his book unfinished, but I just couldn't connect with the book. I'd rather read his first novel again.

no notes! powerful and poignant and deals with modern politics and representation in the best way i’ve ever read. this was gripping and thoughtful and scary and so very real. can’t wait to read more from this author!

Easy to say one of the best book I've ever read. Appalachian horror with an autistic, transgender main character caught in a class war that spans generations. Like??? Need I say more?? 10/10, 5 stars, Andrew Joseph White is an instant-buy author for me.

Truly an exceptional novel. AJW is one of my favourite authors of all time, and Compound Fracture is his best book yet. I will be shouting from the rooftops to get everyone I know to read!

Andrew Joseph White does it again with a magnificent horror centered in Appalachia.

This book was everything that I wanted it to be which lead to an immediate order for the physical copy.

He is slowly making his way to my top favorite authors, and I greatly look forward to more books by him.


Thank you for the chance to read and review this book!

A queer Appalachian thriller with supernatural elements that will take you on a rollercoaster of a read!

This was incredible! Even more than the author's first two books, this one is so rich in atmosphere and setting. AJW mentions in the foreward and acknowledgments that this one is borne out of his own upbringing and hometown and you can absolutely feel that in every line. This is an angry, messy love letter to the imperfect places and people imprinted on our hearts and I adore it.

The prose is stunningly brutal, uncompromising in a way that lends itself beautifully to the shape of the story. The pace is breakneck - whenever I read a book by this author I have to set specific time aside because I know I won't be able to focus on anything else till I've seen it through! There's also fantastic queer and neurodivergent representation across multiple characters throughout the story.

I can't recommend this one enough, it was simply phenomenal!

AJW never misses and this one wasnt any different. Unlike his other novels which have a more horror theme, this one is more of a dark thriller. This book has some CONTENT Warnings so please read them before starting. However, this book touched my heart. As a queer, neurodivergent person myself, I feel seen everytime I read AJW's books.

I couldn’t end up finishing this title due to my own personal sensitivities. (The political climate in Appalachian areas can really be that cruel and cold.) But I will say it felt like an authentic portrayal with a main character I was truly rooting for.

Excellent book, love it! Looking forward to more from this author! Apologies for the lateness of my review

Andrew Joseph White is back again to give me the anarchist trans book of my dreams. He never disappoints. This is my third book from him, officially making him an auto-buy author. Compound Fracture also doesn't miss the body horror that is quickly becoming AJW's signature, and full of palpable rage. I loved every second of it.

Andrew Joseph White should be an autobuy author for anyone who loves the queer horror genre at all. But also to autistic folks who want to see themselves reflected in authentic ways, for those that love grubby (affectionate) trans characters and for all those that go into books with no expectations.

Compound Fracture matches any expectations you have and excels them. The storyline was a little predictable but even knowing the possible ending from the beginning didn't make this journey less thrilling. I won't say I had a great time or that I enjoyed this because this story was Messed Up, however, AJW will make a horror/thriller fan of me yet.

Awesome! I love the rep, I love the language, I love Appalachia.I was worried about the dog more than the humans for sure. It was so dark but not unenjoyable.

This book in particular is violent and brutal in every way imaginable but weaved in hope on every page. also it's incredibly beautifully queer.

I've always considered myself a fast reader. I have been able to breeze through countless books ever since I was a kid, it's just who I am. But I swear AJW's books are my kryptonite (case in point thank you netgalley and peachtree teen for the arc I'm so sorry it took me this long). In my head, I keep thinking that because they're technically YA they are going to be easier reads and I mentally plan for that but these are not just any YA books because they are very heavy and emotionally taxing but once I get through them they are always so worth it.

I was excited about this one and thrilled to get an advanced copy. The history and culture of Appalachia interest me a lot, in part because of my proximity to it. There’s been a history of socialist movements and worker solidarity in many areas that still permeates the culture, but also a strongly conservative lean in the impoverished rural communities that could (and have in patches of history) benefit most from these movements. The book description seemed to promise a nuanced exploration of these elements without glorification or erasure of the bigotry just because the people perpetuating it are victims in their own right. The cycle of violence, and the lofty ideals struggling to manifest in a dirty reality, all weaved through a thriller/horror plot line literally haunted by the bloody, cyclic history (not to mention the bonus of exploring trans and queer culture and identity in this environment through a gay, aromantic trans protagonist), what a pitch.
It just didn’t fully stick the landing in my opinion. While Miles has a strong sense of his principles, politically, and awareness of the large-scale issues in his community, the morality and motivations for the violence done in the story proper by him and his generation were shallower. A lot of complexity was left to the past and to infodumps about history, culture, and ideologies, rather than deeply integrated into the narrative.
It came to a head with the ending where I felt the underlying problems of Miles’ community that went beyond the sheriff and his abuse of power were somewhat brushed off. All the handful of bad people who were really seduced by violence (unlike Miles who only liked it a little) were gone and so the conservative populace would rally behind the socialists and queers? I know that’s not exactly what the ending wants to say. It’s trying to be a hard-won, but hopeful look at the cycle of violence finally ending and a marginalized person being able to carve out space for himself in a home he cares for. But (despite the literal gore and death) it was maybe too clean for a story that paid lip service to many complexities. There are acknowledgments of the racism, misogyny, queerphobia, and all the hatred, trauma, and pain that go far beyond and far deeper than the feud that gets the main focus and the resolution in the end. With all that put out in the open earlier in the story, but not worked on, I’m wondering where it all went.
Sometimes I think I’m asking the wrong thing from a story when I’m unsatisfied with the direction or the ending, but in this case, I do believe I wanted mostly the same thing the story was trying to give, I just wanted it to go deeper and to give more.
There was a lot to like — the portrayal of the setting, the political awareness, Miles’ journey to understanding himself as autistic, his pride in his home and insistence on making it better, the realistic writing of his family’s imperfect yet unconditional love — but also potential left untouched.

A brilliant look at the queer, revolutionary Appilacia that has always existed. The power structure may be conservative and cruel, but the people are as strong, smart, and rebellious as anywhere else in the world.