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A review by simonlorden
Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I received an ARC through NetGalley, and this is my honest and voluntary review.
It's difficult to write about this book in full sentences as opposed to incoherent screaming. Andrew Joseph White is the master of trans, queer, autistic rage at the world and at systems of oppression. This book isn't set in an obvious dystopia like Hell Follows With Us, and that makes it all the more jarring. This is supposed to be our reality, but I'd like to believe it doesn't quite get THIS dark, at least in the present time. (Then again, I know it does.)
Compound Fracture takes place in the post-Trump American South, in a small community that is kept in control and fear by the Sheriff, who can literally get away with murder. The main character, Miles is a sixteen-year-old, autistic trans boy, who is a self-described socialist, and based on how he talks, probably spends 80% of his time reading radical leftist theory. Miles's family, the Abernathys, are sort of social outcasts and also at war with the Sheriff's family for the last hundred years, with a bloody history that involves murders on both sides. Despite all the horrors his family experienced, Miles loves his home and doesn't want to leave it, even as he knows that people like him are either ignored or pitied and thought stupid by Democrats in blue states.
Everyone in this book does horrible things, including the good guys, although to be fair they are desperate and traumatized for the most part. Still, some bad decisions are made, and sometimes this book is like watching a trainwreck play out in real time. There's also lots of body horror and gore, as is expected from this author.
My favorite character was Miles's anarchist nonbinary friend, who is fat and disfigured and just radically and loudly queer. But also, honestly, it sounded really exhausting. These people are all in major survival mode and basically fighting a war for their homes, and it's awful. There is some joy to be found in this book, but it really isn't much.
Miles coming out to his family and it being treated supportively but sort of awkwardly hit a bit close to home, especially since I came out to my parents while reading this, so yeah. But it was great to see a supportive family, and adults who backed up the teens, which is rare in YA.
It's difficult to write about this book in full sentences as opposed to incoherent screaming. Andrew Joseph White is the master of trans, queer, autistic rage at the world and at systems of oppression. This book isn't set in an obvious dystopia like Hell Follows With Us, and that makes it all the more jarring. This is supposed to be our reality, but I'd like to believe it doesn't quite get THIS dark, at least in the present time. (Then again, I know it does.)
Compound Fracture takes place in the post-Trump American South, in a small community that is kept in control and fear by the Sheriff, who can literally get away with murder. The main character, Miles is a sixteen-year-old, autistic trans boy, who is a self-described socialist, and based on how he talks, probably spends 80% of his time reading radical leftist theory. Miles's family, the Abernathys, are sort of social outcasts and also at war with the Sheriff's family for the last hundred years, with a bloody history that involves murders on both sides. Despite all the horrors his family experienced, Miles loves his home and doesn't want to leave it, even as he knows that people like him are either ignored or pitied and thought stupid by Democrats in blue states.
Everyone in this book does horrible things, including the good guys, although to be fair they are desperate and traumatized for the most part. Still, some bad decisions are made, and sometimes this book is like watching a trainwreck play out in real time. There's also lots of body horror and gore, as is expected from this author.
My favorite character was Miles's anarchist nonbinary friend, who is fat and disfigured and just radically and loudly queer. But also, honestly, it sounded really exhausting. These people are all in major survival mode and basically fighting a war for their homes, and it's awful. There is some joy to be found in this book, but it really isn't much.
Miles coming out to his family and it being treated supportively but sort of awkwardly hit a bit close to home, especially since I came out to my parents while reading this, so yeah. But it was great to see a supportive family, and adults who backed up the teens, which is rare in YA.