This book was once again amazing! Andrew Joseph White always manages to write a book that is so heartwrenching and yet somehow hopeful. I love all of his books dearly and this one was certainly no exception!

AROMANTIC TRANS AUTISTIC MC!!!!!!!!!

I get asked ALL the time by folks offline what kind of books I read and my response is always "as long as it's queer, I'll read it" and I feel like this book really embodies that. I'm not a thriller or horror fan necessarily but this book, and the authors previous, are so unabashedly queer that I was obviously gonna read them and I'm so glad I did because wow, wow wow wow are they fantastic.

I loved Hell Followed With Us and The Spirit Bares Its Teeth but because I'm not a horror person, I often was a little grossed out by the gore and Compound Fracture has it's fair share of blood and gore but it is more of a thriller than a horror. I also really want to throw this book at people who claim that reading isn't political and that our very existence isn't political. Our entire lives are political and the choices we make and the media we consume is a political choice. Andrew Joseph White does a fabulous job explaining that and really pushing that fact home in this book.

I about lost my mind when I realized this book has an aromantic trans autistic main character because we genuinely do not have enough quality books with aromantic representation. This book is about Miles and his family and this generations long feud in his hometown. Started years and years ago, his family and another powerful one in town have this blood feud where members from each family are constantly harming the other. It began with Saint Abernathy and his role in the strikes and workers rights and his murder by law enforcement. Now Miles is the target of the current sheriff and his son.

This book is still very heavy and not for the faint of heart but it also has so much humor and love at the core behind the violence and the tragedy. There's a dog named Lady, who is safe and sound at the end of the book, and some wonderful friendships discovered and explored. There's a powerful display of family dynamics and what it can truly be like to come out in a small town.

I do recommend checking out the content warnings of which there are many before diving into this book, but I genuinely think this is a book that everyone should read and that everyone could find enjoyment in.

I really love the books by Andrew Joseph White because they have the right amount of horror for my taste. AJW showed my that YA horror is able to transport the kind of horror I love: psychological, emotional and diverse.

However I had some problems getting into Compound Fracture. I totally realize that is has something to do with my mental health at the moment of reading and how this book is in some way separate from the other two. It's more real, more grounded in reality and that wasn't what I needed at the time.

Nonetheless I enjoyed the complex relationships that AJW is able to create and how his main characters have always something from him inside them. That and the setting of the time with the not so subtle critique on certain American politics walked me through the novel.
I had to remind myself from time to time that it's set in the US because some things Miles fought for are totally normal for me as a German person. And I really liked how it got me focused again on the critical time our world is inside right now. So much will depend on the next elections and AJWs book came at the right time to remember the people in America.

Unfortunately "Compound Fracture" is the least great books by AJW just for my personal taste. On another note it is the most important.

AJW is a master at creating dread. Just like in The Spirit Bares its Teeth, I found myself reading through squinted eyes, afraid of what horrors come next. Compound Fracture is a love letter to Appalachia in a way I’ve never seen done before. Very timely, it tackles political issues in the Trump era of US politics. While a bit on the nose at times, Compound Fracture is a book that will resonate with many.

Let me start this off by saying the dog doesn’t die.

Ok… what a crazy ride this was. I was sick to my stomach in the first twenty pages and it just kept up until the very end. That might sound awful, but that was exactly what I was looking for when I started this. My compliments to the chef because I am not a horror girly, but I want to be, and I think Andrew Joseph White does a fantastic job writing horror that is still palatable for people like me. There were some scenes that made me put my phone down, run my hand down my face, and dramatically make retching noises.

Aside from the horror aspects, the writing was beautiful. The story itself digs into themes of identity, resilience, and the complexities of human relationships. It was so interesting to see Miles coming out as trans to the people in his life and watching them try to adjust and react through the entire book, all while the rest of the plot is unfolding. Also, as someone who is autistic, I related a lot to Miles. There aren’t a lot of protagonists with the same kind of inner dialogue as him, so I felt very seen. Overall, this was an excellent book and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for providing me with an eARC of Compound Fracture in exchange for my honest review!

This is the first time I've read a book by Andrew Joseph White, and now I understand why his work has been so highly regarded. Compound Fracture stands out as a politically and emotionally resonant tale that draws me deep into the brutality that its characters are willing to commit. Rather than portraying such violence in a glossy and idealistic fashion, it's able to dig into the bloody and messy truth of it all. I find it to be evocative of the neo-noir revenge film Blue Ruin, which handles its own violence in a ruthless manner (definitely worth giving that movie a try).

Miles makes for an enthralling protagonist whose journey of realizing his autism is something that personally hits me as somebody who's most likely autistic, but hasn't been officially diagnosed yet. It's a major element of Miles's arc that I'm glad is able to be smoothly woven in with the rest of his tale rather than come across as something that adds too much unwieldy bulk to the book—a book that's additionally capable of nimbly displaying its socialist politics and its fury with our two-party system. We have the Republicans who are blatantly bigoted, and then we have the Democrats who try to appear like they're humanitarians, but actually don't give a shit about us, either. This disillusionment is an experience that I've had to confront for some time, and it helps this book connect with me that much more strongly. Kudos to the writing for the supporting characters around Miles, too, like his parents, because they add more nuance to his local community and make it feel lived-in.

Overall, I'm officially rating Compound Fracture 4.25 out of 5 stars, which I'm rounding down to 4 stars. I can't wait to check out more of White's work.

Another rage-inducing masterpiece by Andrew Joseph White. I love Miles and hate everything he's forced to go through. Compound Fracture is gritty, violent, and haunting, everything I've come to expect from one of my favorite authors, and I highly recommend it.

i received this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and, like Miles, i am going to be blunt.
Compound Fracture is incredible. it gripped me from quite literally the first page and every page after. Miles , i feel, is the epitome of morally gray. i think the whole thing might be, actually.
the discussions about class politics and generational blood feuds and community and police brutality were so raw and honestly addressed. we cannot control the environment we are brought up in, and when it’s do or die, what else is there to do but fight back?
Miles is so incredibly strong and brave and real, even if he didn’t ask for it, even he didn’t want to be. he saw the bigger picture, in that nobody chooses the life, the family they are born into, good or bad. pests don’t choose to be , but they are, they must be dealt with regardless. i just saw so much of myself in him. in his views. his thoughts and discussions with dallas about him being autistic were a sort of deja vu. i just loved every second even if i was squirming at some of the body horror. stunning novel, everyone should read it. also lady is the baddest bitch dog on the block. anyway, here some quotes i liked from the last 30 pages, bc that’s when i started writing them down lol.

“one last gasping sob as i force my body to work with me. no time to have a breakdown. no time to think too hard.”

“i think he deserved it. in the grand scheme of things, i think he didn’t.”

“there’s a funeral for noah, because he was a child, and if you want my opinion, he was a victim of this as much as i was.”

“what’s law enforcement except a group of people legally allowed to hurt you without cause? i don’t trust no one with that kind of power.”

I have thus far loved EVERYTHING Andrew Joseph White has written, and this is no exception to that rule. I loved the creepy Appalachian vibe, the slow descent into even wilder events. I started with his debut Hell Followed With Us, named The Spirit Bares Its Teeth my number 1 book of 2023, and this is for sure in my top 10 of this year!

4 stars? This is my least favorite AJW book so far, but that’s not because it’s bad by any means. I think I’ve enjoyed his more fictionalized worlds, but this one was a lot more real. I also prefer supernatural aspects and it to be horror (didn’t realize it was a thriller). I will always love AJW’s writing style though, and I still really liked the story!

This is a love letter to the working class. This author writes so lovingly and so loudly for queer autistic teens; it’s really something to behold. This is a tale as old as time - systemic oppression, generational trauma, and the abuse of power enacted upon the working class. If you’re looking for a book that’s incredibly raw, and will have you physically recoiling - pick this one up. I am HERE for the cycle breakers.

This was fab! I loved the historical context and the development of the relationships. The main character was just super fun to inhabit too. I found the random attempts to put the text in dialect odd because it wasn’t consistent and was only like two contractions, and I think his previous two books were better, but still tore through this.

Yet another book that is beautifully written and completely heartbreaking. This is such an important book to read but it is very, very heavy. Before you read this you need to check out the trigger warnings because it is not for everyone.

As always, Andrew Jospeh White has given the world something incredible. Their writing always feels so raw and real and visceral. I love the settings in which he has placed all of his novels. All of them are so unique and always feel so lived in by all the characters. I especially love how they always center around a trans teen and have some type of gory element to them. I will always pick up a book by Andrew Jospeh White.

Resiliency, classism, corruption, activism, queer representation, a ghost, and an autistic lead character... This book was an intriguing read.
I am a huge fan of Andrew Joseph White's works. His previous novels were both 5 star reads for me. This one didn't resonate with me in quite the same way, but it still packed a punch. The latter half of the book especially caught me off guard multiple times. Vivid and dark with an underlying hope and anger.

Thank you to Peachtree Teen and Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc of Compound Fracture.

4.25 ⭐️

Andrew Joseph White just doesn’t miss. I’ve now read everything he’s published, and im so excited to read all of his future books.
While Hell Followed With Us is set in a post-apocalyptic future USA and The Spirit Bares its Teeth in the past, Compound Fracture focuses on the present and how the horrors of the past shapes us.
Andrew Joseph White is able to brilliantly tackle difficult topics in nuanced ways, creating black and white characters who evolve and grow throughout the novel.
Compound Fracture is no different.

Miles' journey in this book is really incredible. This book is truly a love letter to the south. I also live in the south and there are is a lot to criticize of course, but changes are happening. And isn't it so special to be a part of that change? Don't count the south out yet!! Miles is such a great character and I am so excited for the world to read his story.

I LOVE andrew joseph white and this is, while definitely not my favorite book by him, a boldly dramatic and interesting book

Another brilliant book by Andrew Joseph White. I loved Miles as the main character and the trans and autism representation within the book. The body horror in this book was great! I don't think I'll be getting the image of Saint with the spike in his mouth out of my head anytime soon. I also loved reading about the political and social climate of the town both in the past and present, and the people fighting to make it better in both times. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed the author's previous books as well as anyone who likes YA thriller/horror.

Compound Fracture, and Andrew Joseph White in general, really takes you to where the story takes place. I felt everything Miles felt, all the anger and frustration and the hope and fight for something better. It is unapologetically political and gives amazing value and representation to Appalachia. I 100% recommend if you like AJW’s other works and if you like political thrillers set in Appalachia.