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A review by theliteraryteapot
Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Compound Fracture is a young adult queer thriller that I really enjoyed as someone who doesn't usually read books in this genre. I've been meaning to read from this author for a while and I'm so glad I finally got the chance. I love the covers of his books and I knew White was the one for me to get out of my comfort zone so I can start diving a bit more in the horror and thriller genres. While this is young adult, the author does not shy away from gruesome elements and, as an adult who studied children's literature, I believe it's great and needed in a literature for young people (as my thesis director would say, kids deserve a “complete literature” meaning every genre and every topic). This is a book that also shows the trans experience (+ autism spectrum and aromanticism) and I am so glad young adults have representation, even when the characters are rather morally grey.
I found myself particularly interested in the Appalachian culture represented in the book. To be quite honest, I didn't know a single thing about it, which is a shame because I studied American literature; we covered a lot but I don't recall any professor ever mentioning it. And not only you can tell the author wrote a love letter to the Appalachian region, but it's also what drew me into picking up the book every day: portraying West Virginia, discussions about politics (it's interesting to see Americans’ relationship to leftist politics and how the Cold War and specifically McCarthyism influenced it), about class, poverty, characters that don't come from a culturally bourgeois background (you don't have to be amongst the rich to grow up in a culturally bourgeois environment, meaning you were privileged if you had access to culture, to literature such as libraries, if you had family encouraging cultural activities, learning an instrument, taking dance classes, if you lived in a city…). These are the type of characters I want to read about now, another example is Concerning My Daughter by Kim Hye-jin.
As I believe any good thriller should, this one was quite fast paced but still had moments to catch your breath. Definitely check the trigger warnings! (Lady the dog is fine). I recommend Compound Fracture, especially if this is a new genre to you as the young adult aspect may help you dive into thrillers.
Compound Fracture is a young adult queer thriller that I really enjoyed as someone who doesn't usually read books in this genre. I've been meaning to read from this author for a while and I'm so glad I finally got the chance. I love the covers of his books and I knew White was the one for me to get out of my comfort zone so I can start diving a bit more in the horror and thriller genres. While this is young adult, the author does not shy away from gruesome elements and, as an adult who studied children's literature, I believe it's great and needed in a literature for young people (as my thesis director would say, kids deserve a “complete literature” meaning every genre and every topic). This is a book that also shows the trans experience (+ autism spectrum and aromanticism) and I am so glad young adults have representation, even when the characters are rather morally grey.
I found myself particularly interested in the Appalachian culture represented in the book. To be quite honest, I didn't know a single thing about it, which is a shame because I studied American literature; we covered a lot but I don't recall any professor ever mentioning it. And not only you can tell the author wrote a love letter to the Appalachian region, but it's also what drew me into picking up the book every day: portraying West Virginia, discussions about politics (it's interesting to see Americans’ relationship to leftist politics and how the Cold War and specifically McCarthyism influenced it), about class, poverty, characters that don't come from a culturally bourgeois background (you don't have to be amongst the rich to grow up in a culturally bourgeois environment, meaning you were privileged if you had access to culture, to literature such as libraries, if you had family encouraging cultural activities, learning an instrument, taking dance classes, if you lived in a city…). These are the type of characters I want to read about now, another example is Concerning My Daughter by Kim Hye-jin.
As I believe any good thriller should, this one was quite fast paced but still had moments to catch your breath. Definitely check the trigger warnings! (Lady the dog is fine). I recommend Compound Fracture, especially if this is a new genre to you as the young adult aspect may help you dive into thrillers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Deadnaming, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism