Compound Fracture

By: Andrew Joseph White

Narrated by: Dani Martineck

From bestselling and award-winning author Andrew Joseph White, 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.

On the night Miles Abernathy—sixteen-year-old socialist and proud West Virginian—comes out as trans to his parents, he sneaks off to a party, carrying evidence that may finally turn the tide of the blood feud plaguing Twist Creek: Photos that prove the county’s Sheriff Davies was responsible for the so-called “accident” that injured his dad, killed others, and crushed their grassroots efforts to unseat him.

The feud began a hundred years ago when Miles’s great-great-grandfather, Saint Abernathy, incited a miners’ rebellion that ended with a public execution at the hands of law enforcement. Now, Miles becomes the feud’s latest victim as the sheriff’s son and his friends sniff out the evidence, follow him through the woods, and beat him nearly to death.

In the hospital, the ghost of a soot-covered man hovers over Miles’s bedside while Sheriff Davies threatens Miles into silence. But when Miles accidently kills one of the boys who hurt him, he learns of other folks in Twist Creek who want out from under the sheriff’s heel. To free their families from this cycle of cruelty, they’re willing to put everything on the line—is Miles?

A visceral, unabashedly political audiobook that won’t let you go until you’ve reached the end, Compound Fracture is not for the faint of heart, but it is for every listener who's ready to fight for a better world.

©2024 Andrew Joseph White (P)2024 Listening Library

impeccable

Possibly the best and most difficult coming of age novel I've read in a long time, it seamlessly blends localized history and current events, self-discovery, class struggles, small town life, family relationships, and... violence. The author's deft weaving of both details and sparse language match perfectly with the actor's telling. Or is the actor's voice and inflection the perfect match for the author's storytelling? Either way... Wow. This book will stay with me for a long while. Congratulations and thanks to both of you for jobs perfectly executed.

Phenomenal.

Oof, this book hits where it hurts. The story grabbed me from the very beginning! Trans rage is one of my favorite things to read and this book delivers in abundance! The added notes of a society crushed under the weight of capitalism added with the push for anarchy really resonated with how I feel about today’s political climate. Adding to it spectacular trans Rep, and this book is one you don’t want to miss! It’s not cute and cuddly. Instead it’s full of rage and gore, and it’s perfection.

disturbingly well-done

This book made me uncomfortable in the good way of stuff that makes you take a step back and look at the preconceived notions and beliefs around you, while also being just a really well-written story. It was gross, thought-provoking and the characters were engaging!

Better and better

WOW!!!
I just finished this one and WOW! I just can't say enough about this book. Having listen to the first two books (Hell Followed With Us & When the Spirit Bares Its Teeth), I was ready for the graphicness and blunt honesty of this book. What I was not ready for is the plethora of "Holy sh**" moments that drew me further into the world these characters live in. Yes, this one had some graphic violence but my takeaway from this book is one of unconditional love, community, and being brave enough to stand up to bullsh** ideas that tell us who were supposed to be.
Thank you AJ for another fabulous book. They just keep getting better and better, as do you. Thank you for being you 😊

hard hitting

out of all of AJW's books, this is by far the most brutal and bleak. I say this in the most positive way as reading this book was incredibly fun but it will test your heart. one of those books that I love and would recommend a thousand times over, but I don't think I can bring myself to read it again.

Amazing

I’m not very good at putting my thoughts or feelings into words, much like Miles, but this book was saddening, angering, exciting, and beautiful. I’ve never found an author who better writes autistic characters so authentically, and as someone who is autistic I can relate to so much to so many of the thought patterns and habits Miles has throughout the story and it’s nice to feel not so alone. I loved this book the whole way though, tears and all, and I can’t wait for the next one.