I only learned about the miners’ rebellion in 1920 earlier this year when I read Mine Wars by Steve Watkins. It was hard to imagine the bloodiness and violence of those events, but having read a historical account, I couldn’t help thinking about how the violence in this book echoed the horror of those real-life experiences.

Every time I pick up a book by Andrew Joseph White, I worry that it will be too much for me. I tend to be more sensitive to violence in media, so it’s hard for me to read certain things. Yet, every time I pick up one of his books, I’m swept away by the writing and the unapologetic storytelling that centers characters who survive some of humanity’s darkest treatment.

Compound Fracture drops its readers into the middle of a generations-old feud in a small West Virginia town. Early in the story, the main character, Miles, is beaten severely. We know what happens largely because we see him surrounded by people with ill intent, and then we get an account of his severe injuries when he wakes up in the hospital later. I appreciated that this scene, in particular, wasn’t shown in detail.

I couldn’t stop reading this book. The story feels urgent and intense in the kind of way that makes you want to squeeze in one more chapter. And one more. And…

Which is how I read this whole book in less than 24 hours. If you love dark Appalachian stories or stories with a strong tie to historical events, check this one out. It reminded me a little bit of The Ballad of Dinah Caldwell by Kate Brauning.

Also, shout-out to Lady, Miles’ dog and one of my favorite characters in the whole book. I love that she’s pictured on the cover!

4.5 stars. Even though the material is dark and quite graphic at times, Andrew Joseph White’s COMPOUND FRACTURE is a pleasant surprise and with the election coming up, important and timely. The Appalachian backwoods setting of West Virginia provides an eerie atmosphere, complete with bloody family feuds, ghost miners and strong trans and neuro-spicy representation. Of course I’m a flaming liberal, so I loved the not so subtle messaging, but I’m not sure the MAGA crowd will love it as much as I did.

What I loved about White’s writing and characterization is that he deconstructs the redneck stereotypes thru an open-minded and queer angle. I like that despite Miles being beaten by those heinous boys, he still has hometown pride, love for West Virginia and hopes for a better future for the folks of Twist Creak. I was also pleasantly surprised by the reactions of Miles’ family members when he first came out as trans. It was heartwarming to see. And don’t get me started on that scene between Miles and Dallas - getting to share their true identities with one another in a safe and non-judgmental space. Beautiful.

The characters are unapologetically queer, compelling, and I felt for all of them at one point or another, even the ones I hated. The moment Miles said, “People are too much work, and I don’t like most of them” - he immediately won me over. Although, the real scene stealer is obviously Lady (the dog), but boy did Andrew make me hate the ever living daylights out of Sheriff Davies and his son. And re: the political conversations…I think most of it can be summarized in this quote: “Workers are exploited, rent is astronomical, the cost of healthcare is life-destroying not because they are the path a river carves through a canyon, but because some capitalist fuckers decide they wanted it this way.”Periodt. Union strong, because as White writes, human history created an economic system that loves profit and power more than people. Special thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House/PeachTree/Pixel+Ink for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!
I truly have not read a book like Compound Fracture. Almost every character ranges from morally grey to straight-up evil. I really appreciated the representation of rural Appalachia from the small-town politics, lack of medical and mental health care, the opioid epidemic, and marginalized communities. This story is brutal and doesn't hold any punches. I loved that it had a clear message on who the real enemy is. The audiobook was great as well.

So. I struggled with this. This is my first time reading this author, though I usually love books with trans main characters. But this book is definitely too gruesome for me, and it felt really hopeless for the first 70%. The actual writing style is pretty engaging though, which was why I didn't want to DNF it even when I was struggling with it.

That said,the reason I'm giving 3 stars is just because I don't actually feel like Miles DID anything in this book. Everything happens TO him, he doesn't really get to make any choices himself. <spoiler>The first character Miles kills dies by accident, then the next character Miles almost decides not to kill, but then Cooper kills him. The 3rd character Miles just, again, ACCIDENTALLY kills, and the 4th character gets killed by Miles's dog and grandfather. Like I dunno, narratively it'd have been better if they'd actually decided to kill one of those characters. </spoiler> It also just kind of brushes past any decisions Noah and Cooper make - just a "oh they only did those horrible things because they were also victims of circumstance. Like, I just don't think I agree with that.

The first 50% of this book is also just very slow and there's a lot packed into the last 40% that could have used some breathing space between each scene.

Compound Fracture is a moving and forceful Queer YA horror by Andrew Joseph White. Our trans male autistic mc, Miles, will capture you're heart and you'll root for him every step of the way. For him to get justice and for him to find some sort of peace. His story, set in Appalachia, is filled with violence, death, corrupt politics, family, poverty, trauma, and a satisfying ending.


p.s. I also adored Dallas and they should be protected at all costs.

I love everything Andrew White writes. I've ARC read all of his novels, and I will continue to do so as long as I'm able. He writes so honestly, matter-of-factly, so uniquely from other YA authors of the time. I feel so seen every time I pick up one of his books, this author has changed my life, so thank you.

Thanks to PeachTree Teen for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!!

This is my third AJW and definitely my new favorite! Just as raw and brutal as his previous works, but thematically stronger than previously as well. Social change doesn't come from an individual or a few individuals; it comes from community. It is not easy trying to enact change to an unjust system, and I will continue to feel grateful that AJW has books for teens (especially queer and/or autistic) to relate to and help guide them through this complicated feelings. If you haven't checked out any of AJW's works yet, I implore you to start sooner than later. AJW continues to be a powerhouse in the YA horror/thriller space.

Andrew Joseph White can do no wrong! One of the best new YA authors out there, and this one stands up to that title.

DNF at page 95 (Chapter 15). I don't wanna rate the book but since feedback here requires star rating I'm giving it average 3 stars.
Unfortunately, this book didn't work for me as much as I thought it would. I was really looking forward to it bc the main character is a transboy who is on the autism spectrum. So when I got the ARC I was over the moon. But, unfortunately, after reading more than 90 pages of it, I don't wanna continue bc I realise I had completely different expectations from it.

First of all, I didn't know this is a YA horror not adult. I don't usually read YA books so this already put me off. Secondly, I didn't like the main character. Not bc of his personality but rather lack of it. We don't really see much of his personality other than the traumatic stuff. He is also on the spectrum but ngl I didn't like the depiction of it sometimes bc there was inconsistencies. Like sometimes he would 100% understand what people were implying but other times he couldn't even read sb's expression or understand what they meant. I was confused. But even though this put me off a bit, I can understand that people aren't exactly consistent in real life either. So this isn't exactly a criticism. Finally, the plot was very slow. The prologue was great but after that I was mostly bored. I read almost 100 pages but I still didn't feel any horror vibes from the book. And when I realized I still had 270 more pages to read I just gave up. It felt more like a contemporary fiction with some dark moments. But maybe this typical for YA horror idk bc I haven't read any, as far as I'm aware.

It's also set in West Virginia so it's also kind of about the life of people living in the rural parts. I would've liked the setting more if it discussed conservatism in these rural areas among the working class better but instead it came across to me as more patriotic and more of an excuse than a nuanced look at living on the edge of poverty. But since I'm not from US and know nothing about these regions, I have no idea whether this was a good and accurate depiction or not.

All in all, I would still recommend this book if you wanna read a YA horror book with a trans protagonist. Apparently he is also aromantic but I haven't reached that point in the book where he realizes it so I only found out about it from other reviews. I think the writing was good. Also it's set in West Virginia, as I mentioned, so if that's sth that interests you, I'd recommend checking this book out.

Andrew Joseph White's writing is stronger than ever in his third novel, Compound Fracture.

I've loved his massive, out-there concepts, but he does small-town speculative just as brilliantly!

One of the most resonant elements of this story was White's portrayal of living in poverty. It felt authentic and relatable, not overdone or ridiculously dramatised like you see a lot of people do when trying to write a poor family. It was awesome, too, that this was so intrinsic to the plot. Marginalisation doesn't have to be, but it's awesome when it is! I loved how this poorness was directly related to where they lived and their familial connection to the town's historical activism.

Compound Fracture didn't hesitate to confront issues from transness and undiagnosed autism to assault and murder with various nuances and realistic exploration of all avenues.

Stunning. Can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy!

This book had my blood boiling, I was so angry with the injustices and how awful people were. Unlike White's previous books, this barely had any paranormal aspects and mostly focused on the all-too-real mistreatment that anyone labeled as "different" can endure.

There were some pretty violent scenes, but they helped show the severity of the feud and the story will definitely stick with me. There's also a lot of queer and neurodivergent representation and I enjoyed having a more diverse cast.

There's an author note at the end about Miles' parents and how they resemble White's real life experiences and I appreciated that bit of lived experience.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Peachtree Teen and NetGalley for the copy

Brutal. This story gripped me by the collar and never let go. I feel weird saying I loved this, solely because how much trauma Miles went though. Definitely look at the trigger warnings.
The violence is what some face every day so if you can read this, I recommend it.

I was fortunate enough to receive and read an ARC. I also pre-ordered this title, securing a signed first edition copy and borrowed the audiobook from my local library via the Libby app.

Incredible read, I fell in love with the setting, as it hit close to home, being from a town similar politically to Twist Creek. Miles is exceptional, for standing what up for what he believes in, given everything that happens to him, and his loved ones. When it would’ve been easier to submit and placate.

The audiobook was perfection. Immersive storytelling, and the accent the narrator used was excellent, as well as their tone used to convey plot points/conversations.

I can’t wait to see what AJW writes nexts

Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White is a gripping, visceral novel that touches on the complexities of identity, survival, and trauma. Our main character Miles navigates a hostile, oppressive environment while confronting his past. He lives in a town that's silent and docile as a result of not only physical but emotional tragedy. Something that's not unheard of in many places around the world.

The writing is gritty and at times unsettling...but this is quite appropriate given the issues being discussed. The real-world struggles faced by marginalized groups, particularly the LGBTQ+ community are front and center as well.

This thriller gets 3.5 stars. However do read the trigger warnings as some of the subjects may be disturbing for some. Thank you to Netgalley and Andrew Joseph White for this review copy!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this early in exchange for a review.

as an avid reader of anything andrew joseph white makes, he cooked with this one. if theres anything i didnt like it was how the middle kinda felt a little slow, but the last 100 pages of the book makes up for that. the trans rep is solid as it usually is, and I really related to the autism rep too. the setting is quite nice, and overall this is a really solid read. solid 5/5, another great book. cant wait to read AJW's adult book next year.

(NOTE: I forgot to copy and paste my Goodreads review and got too anxious so I waited till now. My bad 😭)

This book was INCREDIBLE, but so hard to read because it was so real and so raw. It’s horror, where the horror is the system and also real people and not supernatural beings. It’s also a much better glimpse into the people of Appalachia than some other trending books (massive side eye and middle finger to some other author).

Miles is a trans boy living in a former coal mine town in West Virginia which has been ravaged by the closing of the mine and also by the *insane* corruption of the sheriff. Anytime anyone tries to make change - from Miles’ great grandfather leading a strike to his father running for office - the sheriff either kills or maims them. But when Miles is attacked within an inch of his life, he and a few others finally band together to end it once and for all. Helping guide him is the ghost of Miles’ great-great-grandfather Saint, who was murdered for unionizing the mines.

Miles is targeted for so much of who he is - a trans man, autistic, a socialist-leftist, the descendant of his particular family - in a way that reads so true in modern America. But so does the fact that even in a corrupt town, Miles isn’t actually alone in any of these. This is such a beautiful example of what community can be and the lengths to which people are forced into the worst of situations. There is murder and torture and animal torture in this, but frankly that’s true in life. I’m a huge Andrew Joseph White fan, and this newest is *so* SO good. An absolute must read!

ANDREWWWWWWW. Why is AJW so good at these stories? It's gross and I want to adopt Miles and so very relevant to today and Andrew is one of my favorite writers. I can't wait for his adult debut.

Compound Fracture follows a trans autistic teen named Miles Abernathy. After Miles discovers that the accident that injured his parents is part of the decades old family feud that has haunted his family for generations, he goes to a party and becomes the next victim of the feud. While in the hospital, Miles is threatened by the sheriff to not tell the truth of his "accident," and after the stress, he starts seeing a specter straight from the mining town of old. What will happen when the town decides they are done with the crooked sheriff and Miles has to find a way to end the bloody feud that has plagued his family and community for generations.

This book was wonderful, nail biting, and politically charged all in one. I loved following Miles and reading about Appalachia. You can tell that White truly loves his home and as he has stated, this does read as a “Love Letter to Appalachia” and all the hope for the future shines through. As always the LGBTQ representationwas amazing to read. Every Book by Andrew Joseph White has blown me away and this is his best work yet! If you're looking for a gore filled, fast paced, and revolutionary novel this is for you!

Compound Fracture, much like White's previous works, is jampacked with LGBTQIA+ representation, political activism, violence and gore. Never have I not been wildly impressed by the risks White takes in their novels, especially this one. Being set in modern times, I did find that some of the content throughout felt a little on the nose to the point of risking being cliché and preachy. This is not inherently a bad thing, I just find that my general preference in reading is to not have everything so blatantly spelled out to me. If you are a fan of White's prior books, Compound Fracture will not disappoint. I would not say that this is my favorite work to date by White, but a fantastic achievement nonetheless!

Compound Fracture just launched itself into my personal top ten favorite books I've read this year and maybe my lifetime. As a neurodivergent myself, I do prefer to read books about autistic characters who are written by autistic authors. They just feel more real than characters that are written as a socially awkward stereotype. The average person might not be able to tell the difference, but we definitely can.
Andrew Joseph White is known for the gore in his books and this is no different. It's not too terribly gross, but it's there. It does kind of sneak up on you in a few scenes which adds to the shock factor. It's definitely appropriate for a YA audience.