'Compound Fracture' is not my first introduction to the work of Andrew Joseph White, and it has been lovely to see his writing develop and mature since 'Hell Followed with Us'. This book truly has it all, starting with complex characters with well-developed backgrounds, a sense of mysticism woven throughout the atmosphere, and gory, unexpected twists that WILL make you gasp out loud on a packed tube at rush hour.

The story follows trans autistic protagonist Miles as he survives an attempted murder and is pulled into the tangled world of generational trauma and class struggle in a small Appalachian town. It also explores his gender identity and the process of unmasking his autism. It's a gripping and compelling tale of community and resilience in rural America, delivered with the tasteful horror-esque writing style White is known for. Although this book features fewer fantasy elements than the author’s previous novels, it is no less fantastical. It was a great read from beginning to end!

Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I loved Andrew Joseph White’s The Spirit Bares Its Teeth and Hell Followed with Us. As a warm-up for the spooky season, I was very excited to read his new novel, Compound Fracture. Let me tell you, I was not disappointed: this queer Appalachian thriller pulls no punches, from its first chapter full of horror and gore to its final pages, it all come beautifully full circle.

Compound Fracture is set in West Virginia and follows a trans autistic teen drawn into the generational struggle between the rural poor and those who exploit them. While it wasn't flawless, I found it unputdownable and read it in one sitting. It took me a week to digest and articulate my thoughts about it.

There is a lot packed into this novel, but the themes of individualism versus the importance of community shine throughout Miles story, Miles, our main character is slowly coming out as trans to his family and his group of queer and disabled friends, they are all connected by an eventful past. They live in Twist Creek County, where violence and generational trauma impact everyone’s lives, with many choosing to leave. The representation of a trans autistic character experiencing an aromantic awakening was particularly good. Miles emerged as one of the most fascinating characters I encountered, navigating his challenges with nuance and depth. Sheriff Davies and his son presented as truly creepy villains, while Cooper and Dallas were drawn with remarkable dexterity. White has a great talent for crafting compelling stories with deeply nuanced characters and unexpected plot twists. Combining elements of gore, horror, and violence, this novel really stood out for me.

Andrew Joseph White has crafted a gripping tale that beautifully balances its violent core with the rich stories of its characters. Several plot twists caught me off guard, leaving me flabbergasted.

This is a hard-hitting, gut-wrenching, and soul-touching novel. Definitely not for the squeamish or easily unsettled - make sure you check the trigger warnings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Daphne Press for the eARC!

When I tell you I will literally read anything Andrew Joseph White writes, I am not exaggerating. Compound Fracture is such a ride, and I never knew where it was going.
If you have read any of his previous books, I would say this leans more Thriller than Horror, and I am constantly in awe of how his mind works!
Miles lives in a rundown town, born into a family feud with the Sheriff, he has grown up knowing how to stay off his family's radar. Dealing with coming out as Trans, and existing as an Autistic person, Miles has a lot on his plate, when he is almost beaten to death. Little does the Sheriff’s son know, but his decision to attack Miles starts a route no one can stop.
I went through so many emotions reading this book, especially reading what Miles experiences as an Autistic teen. Every one of Andrew Joseph White’s books has made me question things about myself, and this was no exception.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and the publisher (Daphne Press) for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. #CompoundFracture #NetGalley

I really liked Miles, who was a very well written and complex character. It felt to me that the other characters were more like set pieces for his story arc, not real characters, plus they were a bit too black and white (especially the antagonists), compared to previous AJW books. What it absolutely delivers on is queer rage, living with autism, trans issues and other themes of actual political topics.

Overall, I liked it, and although this one was not for me, I'll definitely read his next book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the eARC of this books.

I flew through Compound Fracture - the writing is fluid and the themes are addictive. I love a story of a dirty cop and political revenge….add in the mix a super cool trans kid and an adorable dog.

Set in West Virginia, Miles Abernathy comes out as trans to his parents and sneaks off to a party… but that night turns into a nightmare for him…he’s left on the verge of death. An event that has everything to do with a long standing feud from 100 years previous; Miles’ great-great grandfather incited a miners’ rebellion, which ultimately ended with his public execution.

These events spiral into murder and revenge - a town that wants out from under the sheriff’s cruel reign - they are willing to put everything on the line.

I loved the character of Miles and his dog, lady - his trans journey felt very authentic to read and I was rooting for this kid.

Themes of the book:
🍃 Trans kid
🍂 Autistic reps
🍃Dirty Cop
🍂Historical events (west Virgina coal wars)
🍃Politics
🍂Revenge

Overall a very enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to checking out the author’s other work, which currently sits on my TBR.

Having read both of White’s previous books, I went into this book with somewhat high expectations even though the synopsis didn’t sound as though something I would necessarily have picked otherwise. This book is quite different from his other works but I would probably say that it is his most brutal and honest work to date. This is a book about a transmasc, neurodivergent character and they are going through some truly horrifying things.


Whilst there is gore in this book and multiple very dark deaths, for me the violence came in the form of the prejudices that these characters faced. Topics of transphobia, homophobia, and classism are all tackled within this story, as well as there being a strong through-line of generational trauma. There is one supernatural element to this story but I would place this story more into a category of mystery / thriller similar to Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby.


I found this book really challenging to read because it was written so well and I could recognise a lot of reality in what these characters were facing. There is also repeated mention of a rather brutal mention to the death of an animal and references to hunting. I think this is a truly incredible book and I think a lot of trans and/or neurodivergent teens and adults will find a kind of comfort in the truth of what is happening within these pages. There is also a catharsis in seeing a type of justice be served.


Because of the variety of triggers and the violence of this book, I do think this is a book that is a little difficult to recommend but I still would say that anyone who might be interested should give it a try. The story does not get easier as it goes on but, as White says in his author’s note at the start of the book, it does have a happy ending.

I have loved every book they have wrote and this is no exception, I cant wait to try to get the illumicrate collection when it releases. Once again, Andrew writes a brutal, unflinching and poignant story that pulls absolutely no punches.

∞ ↺ this guy continues to write the most unhinged unapologetically queer stories and i eat them up every single time;
∞ ↺ our mc was so compelling, fighting back against bigotry in their small town as well as being in a century old family feud, i'm not trans so i have no first hand experience, but the reactions of family members/ignorance felt so very real;
∞ ↺ trans rep, autism rep, and general queer rep - with fast paced plot

Andrew Joseph White is unmatched in his talent for writing queer and disabled teens. Having read hiss two other books, I can say confidently that there is so, so much love poured into every single main character, making each one so unique and, I'm certain of this, differently capable of comforting, offering hope and understanding to people - of any age - who can relate.

This book did, indeed, feel more intimate, with the story revolving about community, through and through. The message was beautiful and impactful, although I wish it had felt somewhat more realistic - the action was less entertaining than the relationships, most of the villains felt unidimensional and the characters' plans were not very credible.

Even so, the book was special and has more positives than negatives: both Family and Friendship were written beautifully, their complexity was explored very thoroughly and this is what I believe stands out the most in Compound Fracture. The community aspect and the politics were an incredibly bold choice and so fantastic for it. This book is a loud reminder that writing is political, writing can be activism and it's fundamental as a means to give shape to a future that seems inimaginable amid the chaos we live in. Very worth the read!

4.5 stars, rounded up

White's writing is addictive, and he has a knack for crafting characters and worlds that stick with you. His books are consistently excellent, and this one was no exception. It's very much recommended, though you should take a look at the trigger warnings before you pick it up, as it gets very heavy and dark.

Well plotted, tense, and intriguing. I loved the well plotted story and the solid mystery that kept me hooked.
The characters are fleshed and the setting is fascinating
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for a copy to review!

One day I'll find a book bt Andrew Joseph White that will disappoint me, but todays not that day!! His first book set in current times, it still manages to blend horror, fantasy and rage at society that betrays us. I especially enjoyed the setting and historical background: not being from the USA, a lot of my understanding of West Virginia came from media that wasn't wery kind to this state. But Miles love and criticism for his home mafe me also look at it differently.

5 stars!!

Where do I even begin? The amount of representation in this book was crazy and done so incredibly well. AJW does a brilliant job of making the reactions of surrounding characters and main characters believable when it comes to the issues and topics discussed. As someone who has not been able to (or really wants to) get formally diagnosed for autism I found it extremely validating that Miles doesn't have to in order to be believed. His breakdown really spoke to me and I can picture me being in the exact same situation. Something I didn't see a lot of was the amount of generational trauma and issues that were discussed and I would love to see a novella-type sequel as to how Miles is ending the cycle of trauma experienced throughout this town. I love Lady so much. 4.5 stars!!

Let it be known I would GLADLY read AJW’s shopping lists.

Okay, now onto the serious stuff. This was an deliciously intense read. Less than 100 pages in I wanted to protect Miles with my life. This is a gut-punch of a socialist YA book. More thriller than horror, compared to HFWU and TSBIT of White’s, Compound Fracture has hard-hitting prose and engaging characters navigating a post-Trump victory in West Virginia, police brutality, queer identity and a centuries-long feud. White creates stories and characters that are angry, and with good reason. I LOVED it.

While this read much more like a thriller, with far fewer of the horror elements I’ve come to expect from AJW, this gave it a unique flavour compared to his previous works. We still had horror elements which made the narrative unsettling at times. However, this is certainly NOT a book without it’s fair share of gore - it’s gruesome at times, with a few scenes where bodily damage is described viscerally. But in terms of the horror, this is only present really in the appearance of one entity from Miles’s distant past (and who ends up becoming a guiding beacon for Miles).

What was overwhelmingly present - aside from the PUNCH of socialism - was the creeping, pervasive paranoia. The small town setting felt like a hand about Miles’ throat, and around that of his family and friends. Combine that with a centuries long feud where lives have been taken, lost to violence between the Abernathy’s and the Davies’, and you’ve got a novel that reads like a held breath. It was a compulsive read, where I felt like I had to get myself to “lulls” in the tension before I could put the book down to, unfortunately, engage in real life.

Miles was PRECIOUS to me. Another gorgeous creation from White, who’s tone came across so strongly I was immediately sucked into his world. I could read his words for hours (and did). Each of White’s characters lives and breathes (and bleeds) through the pages, and Miles is no different. He’s a love story to anyone coming to terms with themselves.

Miles navigates a feeling of empowerment after discovering something which could finally turn the tide in the endless war between his family and the Davies’ family, who have claimed the seats of power in the town with Sheriff Davies commandeering law enforcement and his son Noah creating an oppressive leadership of fear over the youths. But when Miles is nearly beaten to death for trying to make things better, we follow him, Cooper and Dallas through a screamingly-tense and violent series of events where blows are traded between the two sides of this long, long feud.

I loved Dallas, and felt for Cooper, each character bringing with them a new side of this seemingly endless coin, new perspectives on all the hurt that has been caused.

However, let’s not get this twisted. While this is a searing tale of defiance, of trying to take power back into your hands when you’ve been made to feel helpless and afraid, it is without a doubt an unflinching socialist book. It is a roar of rage towards a Trump victory, it is a message to defund the police, and the inherently oppressive systems that the US is built upon. As someone who doesn’t live in the US, I can never fully comprehend the full scale of everyday violence on communities, and the oppression, the fear and sense of injustice. But as someone who is leftist in my politics, and who lives in the UK (which everyday seems closer to a shadow of the US) I can firmly get behind the punch that this book is lining up to throw.

Another amazing addition to AJW’s works!

A queer Appalachian thriller that pulls no punches - following a trans autistic teen who’s drawn into the generational struggle between the rural poor and those who exploit them”

This was not flawless but wow, I loved it. What I especially loved was the emphasis on the importance of community, no matter how small, which we see a lot with Miles from how his family have his back even though they don’t really understand him, and his group of queer and disabled friends. The emphasis on community might be the most important thing to take away from this, that and anti-individualism.

I also loved that Miles is autistic and aromantic, and I enjoyed his journey to him realising he’s aromantic.

I have no idea if it was meant to be funny but the way Miles unalived someone (accidentally), spent about five seconds panicking about it and then going “well anyway I have a crush on this guy” is probably one of my favourite things about this entire book.

The things I didn’t like are minimal but are still there - the first thing is that I feel like this book should have been longer or maybe a duology as (mild spoilers to follow for the rest of this paragraph!) would have thought that things wouldn’t have been wrapped up so cleanly with next to no consequences? Miles did suffer, as did his friends, but this was because of who they are and not because of anything they did. I am not familiar with American politics or West Virginia, maybe they are isolated and therefore other emergency services don’t interfere? I honestly don’t know, but I did find it strange.

And again, not familiar with West Virginia, but race was not mentioned at all. There was no POC, no mention of POC - It’s especially odd in a book as political as this one?

I’ve only read Hell Followed With Us so far but, out of the two, this is my favourite AJW so far. I love finding so many books for teenagers that teenage me would have loved. Flaws and all!

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for the eARC!

TW: animal death, gore, homophobia, transphobia, violence

I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to its publication date that is forthcoming. I enjoyed the setting, pacing and the characters too. They were well written and seemed to jump off the page.

In Twist Creek, an old mining town in rural West Virginia, Miles sneaks out of the house to attend a party, leaving an important message for his parents: he's trans. In his pocket, he carries the most valuable thing he has: definitive proof that the sheriff was responsible for the accident that shattered the Abernathy family's lives, as well as those of two other families in yet another incident in the endless conflict of Twist Creek. A conflict that has spanned over a hundred years, beginning with the miners' rebellion led by Saint, an ancestor of Miles.

That same night, Miles becomes the latest victim of the sheriff's son and his friends, who is determined to prevent any change. After being brutally beaten, Miles wakes up in the hospital, accompanied by his parents, who now must come to terms with the fact that their child's gender identity is not what they had always believed. And there's someone else in the room: Saint’s ghost.
Thus begins, or rather continues, the struggle between families when Miles accidentally kills one of his attackers, triggering events that rush toward the inevitable war that began so long ago.

None of that made us grown, did it? It made us kids that did awful things.
In the book, we follow teenagers thrust into this war, feeling like they have to play a role and who, from a young age, have developed the need to protect their families. The violence is generational and deeply rooted. Damn, I mean… the ghost of the past is literally present in the story. A ghost that cannot rest because the conflict remains active—a conflict that drags both the innocent and the guilty into it, turning children into killers and preventing them from being what they should be: children. Because blood stains everything, no matter how innocent.

Children, entangled in the endless fight, must navigate their own coming of age. They must start recognizing who they are, understanding what they want in life. Miles, struggling with his identity as a trans person in an area hostile to diversity and realizing his social awkwardness might be more than that and coming to terms with autism. And on top of all that: the war.

The summer before my sophomore year, I learned my great-great-grandfather was a socialist, and suddenly I had the words for why I wanted to burn it all down.
The conflict between the Abernathys and the sheriff cannot be summed up as just a family feud; it goes much deeper. It is an ideological and political issue, and the author makes his stance clear in a work that is unafraid to be overtly anti-fascist. Class war and unionism play a significant role throughout the book, explaining the animosity between the families and why the Abernathys have become almost outcasts, refusing to submit to the boot of capitalism and historically becoming vocal opponents of it.

But the Abernathys are not alone in the fight; they are not a singularity. The book stands out for its portrayal of the Appalachian region, its people, and the idiosyncrasies that govern it. It moves away from clichés to show us that even in rural America, there are dissident characters willing to fight against the far right. In this sense, it is refreshing to witness what the region really is like through the eyes of someone who was raised there.

A young adult novel that does not condescend to its younger audience, that does not shy away from showing the intrinsic violence of a failed system, and that teaches us that we can stop being victims if we unite.

**Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC**

This is my first experience reading a book by Andrew Joseph White and boy oh boy it did not disappoint.

The book is fast paced, raw, real and hits you right where you need it to. I’d recommend checking trigger warnings as this book definitely isn’t for the faint of heart.

I’m still not sure how I feel after it, all I know is that I am thankful it exists. Thank you to NetGalley and Daphne Press for the opportunity to read this banger of a book.

Compound Fracture is raw and sharp and angry. It pulls no punches, tells no lies. An unreliable narrator but we trust him wholeheartedly. A family that's a bit confused but still a safe place to land. A town that for all its dangers is home.
Andrew Joseph White's writing is so amazingly readable. The story flies past at exactly the pace it's intended to, and no words are wasted but there are still some really poetic lines in here. The characters are so real you feel like you're watching them from right next to them, and none of them are flawless but all of them are alive. And the steeping of the book's atmosphere in its richly constructed setting of West Virginia makes this story really come alive.
This book is such a powerful and cathartic read. However, please do check the trigger warnings if you're thinking of reading it - it deals with some heavy stuff, but if you're up for it, don't let me put you off.

Andrew Joseph White never fails to leave me shocked, grossed out and a little uneasy. His books are so uncomfortable yet comforting at the same time and Compound Fracture was no different.

This was brutal, violent, thought-provoking and rage inducing, but it also brought me to tears. All of these characters had it so tough and were a product of their upbringing and the world they lived in. Compound Fracture pulls no punches when it comes to class wars, rebellion and trans rage. It made me hope for a better world and more support for people, and also for the downfall of the way we run things and capitalism.

This is rooted in rebellion and the fight for workers rights and humans rights. It shows that no matter how much things change the dark and ugly truth of the world will always come out. But it's not all doom and gloom, it shows you how much a family, whether a family by blood or bond, matters and how they can make or break it.

This was a hard read, but something that will stick with me for time to come.

CW: transphobia, animal cruelty, gore and police brutality.