Andrew Joseph White hits it out of the ballpark again, this time with an Appalachian suspense thriller that pulls no punches and absolutely doesn’t care what you think about that. 

 

I’m here for it. I’m biased, of course, because when it comes to AJW I’ve always been here for it. I rejoiced when I heard he was writing yet another sure-to-be-banger, and then I read the magical buzz words: “queer Appalachian thriller”, “trans autistic teen”, and “generational struggle between the rural poor and those who exploit them”. Why, it’s like you have seen directly into my brain and provided one of the types of books I’m absolutely going to want to read anytime I come across them. 

 

Miles Abernathy has a lot of problems and not a lot of clues on how to solve them. He’s a closeted sixteen year-old trans boy in rural West Virginia with no friends. His parents are a mess, they’re always behind on the bills, and anyone who could actually do something to change things in their town has been traumatized or run out of town by their corrupt sheriff. Miles isn’t immune to the fear, but he doesn’t just want to sit by and do nothing. It’s too bad what happens to him when he tries to do something, though. 

 

The sheriff wants Miles to keep quiet, just like everyone else in town. At first, that’s what Miles intends to do. Then Miles gains a partner of sorts, and all the circumstances start to change. 

 

There’s something that needs to be said about books: Books are art. All art is political, therefore all books are political. This is especially true for Compound Fracture, and it was purposefully written that way. AJW acknowledges this and pushes for this book to be put in the hands of teens pushing for radical change. I’ll go further: I’d put this in the hands of anyone who is pushing for radical change. I’d put this in the hands of anyone who’s struggling to understand the insult-aggressions cycles surrounding the southern culture of honor. I’d put this in the hands of anyone who doesn’t understand the dangerous state of rural health care in America. I’d put this in the hands of anyone who doesn’t understand why people in states ravaged by conservative policies continue to vote conservative or live in those states. I’d put this in the hands of parents who are struggling to understand their transgender or autistic kids. Heck, I’d put it in the hands of an adult who’s struggling to understand what it means to self-diagnose yourself with autism as an adult. I’d love to put it in the hands of someone who gets socialism and communism confused all the time. 

 

There is so much to be learned from books like this, where the author puts it all out there. Where their guts are out there for us to see. 

 

I don’t think I need to point out that AJW’s writing is beyond fantastic. Even though his voice has been preserved throughout his three books, each one has a distinctive narrative and prose style. This book’s no different. Being trans and autistic himself, AJW’s narrative here comes across as so authentic, with that certain amount of removal that anyone who has a loved one with autism (or has autism and/or is neurodivergent) is probably familiar with. I can’t comment on what it’s like to be trans or come out as trans, but I have a nonbinary kid and a trans ex-husband and anything I felt as a bisexual myself was a sense of community and understanding. If that checks out for everyone else, then I’m happy. 

 

This book is big vibes, big mood, huge atmosphere, large emotions, a whole lot of visceral reactions, a heap of fear, and a town’s worth of unabashed screaming in rage. I’ll read that any time. 

 

I was provided a copy of this title by Netgalley, the publishers, and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you. 

 

File Under: 5 Star Review/Body Horror/Coming of Age/Disability Rep/Ghost Fiction/LGBTQ Fiction/Psychological Thriller/Standalone Novel/Suspense Mystery/Suspense Thriller/Vigilantes/YA Fiction/YA Mystery/YA Suspense/YA Thriller