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queermumreads 's review for:
Compound Fracture
by Andrew Joseph White
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was my queer book club's choice for March, and it did not disappoint.
Having never been one for audiobooks because I can find it hard to focus, this book showed me that if the audiobook is good enough you will be hooked just the same!
I loved how clever this book was, so much heart and soul went into the writing of this clearly. This was also my first experience with an autistic MC (rather than just being coded or autistic imo) and the exploration of that was excellent. Add in the gender identity journey that Miles had with coming out as trans, how these two can weave together and it then bore some resemblance to conversations I've shared with others. Having representation for certain people I care for who are trans and AuDHD fulfilled me in some way emotionally that I can't quite articulate just now, especially with Miles' family being so supportive despite them being from a community that is mostly Republican. I can see how that would be healing and hopeful to do many people similar to Miles irl. I hope that for others it could be used to model conversations around gender identity and autism, or be a suggested read to help someone understand someone better.
From early on in this book, I posted on my stories a currently reading update saying "down with the sheriff and his horrible son", so to have a murder story that the reader can quickly get on board with murder was such an interesting experience for me! But the way that the sheriff's son's friends were explored, the dynamic they had and their role in the abuse they freely gave out too was excellent. It highlighted so well for me how even the abused can be complicit in further abuse, but then how should they be treated? Seeing how this debate played out and spiralled things for Miles, it just added so much grit and a level of realism to the book that it makes you reflect on things around your own life (whether through your own personal experience or things in the media).
Compound Fracture is absolutely gutting wrenching, but still incredibly satisfying. This book lives rent free in my head tbh and may do for a long while yet. The way it represented its community, one that is forgotten and struggled for change, I found so powerful. I don't have much knowledge/reading experience of southern USA, but this humanised a community that seems to regularly be at the end of harmful stereotypes that this book did not shy away from addressing. It highlighted that even in these red states, queer people have always existed and will continue to exist. And with everything that has been going on right now in the real world, that message is more important to shout out than ever.
Please be mindful to check out the trigger warnings with this book beforehand; it is extremely upfront about the physical violence that can be experienced by those oppressed when challenging their oppressors for example. But honestly, I would urge anyone who can handle the topics in this book to read it.
Having never been one for audiobooks because I can find it hard to focus, this book showed me that if the audiobook is good enough you will be hooked just the same!
I loved how clever this book was, so much heart and soul went into the writing of this clearly. This was also my first experience with an autistic MC (rather than just being coded or autistic imo) and the exploration of that was excellent. Add in the gender identity journey that Miles had with coming out as trans, how these two can weave together and it then bore some resemblance to conversations I've shared with others. Having representation for certain people I care for who are trans and AuDHD fulfilled me in some way emotionally that I can't quite articulate just now, especially with Miles' family being so supportive despite them being from a community that is mostly Republican. I can see how that would be healing and hopeful to do many people similar to Miles irl. I hope that for others it could be used to model conversations around gender identity and autism, or be a suggested read to help someone understand someone better.
From early on in this book, I posted on my stories a currently reading update saying "down with the sheriff and his horrible son", so to have a murder story that the reader can quickly get on board with murder was such an interesting experience for me! But the way that the sheriff's son's friends were explored, the dynamic they had and their role in the abuse they freely gave out too was excellent. It highlighted so well for me how even the abused can be complicit in further abuse, but then how should they be treated? Seeing how this debate played out and spiralled things for Miles, it just added so much grit and a level of realism to the book that it makes you reflect on things around your own life (whether through your own personal experience or things in the media).
Compound Fracture is absolutely gutting wrenching, but still incredibly satisfying. This book lives rent free in my head tbh and may do for a long while yet. The way it represented its community, one that is forgotten and struggled for change, I found so powerful. I don't have much knowledge/reading experience of southern USA, but this humanised a community that seems to regularly be at the end of harmful stereotypes that this book did not shy away from addressing. It highlighted that even in these red states, queer people have always existed and will continue to exist. And with everything that has been going on right now in the real world, that message is more important to shout out than ever.
Please be mindful to check out the trigger warnings with this book beforehand; it is extremely upfront about the physical violence that can be experienced by those oppressed when challenging their oppressors for example. But honestly, I would urge anyone who can handle the topics in this book to read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Death, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Violence, Murder
Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Racial slurs, Racism