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The Roach King of Raleigh
Win a free print copy of this book!
27 days and 09:29:21
25 copies available
U.S. only
From Schneider Family Award-winning author Shannon Stocker comes
The Roach King of Raleigh,
an unflinching YA novel about a high school sophomore who’s determined to rise above his circumstances—even if it means starting a secret roach breeding business. Even if it means letting people in.
Quill Jenkins used to have a great a picture-perfect family, a big house in a nice neighborhood, and a best friend he could count on. But then his friend moved away, his brother left for college, and his dad’s drinking caused his parents to split. Now Quill and his mom live in a broken-down rental house owned by a neglectful landlord, who also happens to be the father of Quill’s high school nemesis.
More than anything, Quill wants to save enough money for a new house, but his mom refuses to let him get a job. So when he finds a hidden attic space inside his closet, then overhears the pet store owner arguing with a delinquent roach breeder, an idea is born. He strikes a deal and starts breeding roaches in the hidden room, reluctantly working with his classmate Harley and Harley’s twin sister, Zuri, to keep the whole operation a secret.
But as the roach business takes off, new complications his dad’s condition steadily worsens, his beloved neighbor Mr. Dave suddenly goes MIA, and Quill learns that the truth has a way of creeping into the light.
The Roach King of Raleigh:
is a contemporary young adult novel for listeners 13 and up and adult fans of YA comes from Shannon Stocker, the winner of the 2023 Schneider Family Award for How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion is a powerful coming-of-age story that explores poverty, addiction, neurodiversity, friendship, and resilience
Quill Jenkins used to have a great a picture-perfect family, a big house in a nice neighborhood, and a best friend he could count on. But then his friend moved away, his brother left for college, and his dad’s drinking caused his parents to split. Now Quill and his mom live in a broken-down rental house owned by a neglectful landlord, who also happens to be the father of Quill’s high school nemesis.
More than anything, Quill wants to save enough money for a new house, but his mom refuses to let him get a job. So when he finds a hidden attic space inside his closet, then overhears the pet store owner arguing with a delinquent roach breeder, an idea is born. He strikes a deal and starts breeding roaches in the hidden room, reluctantly working with his classmate Harley and Harley’s twin sister, Zuri, to keep the whole operation a secret.
But as the roach business takes off, new complications his dad’s condition steadily worsens, his beloved neighbor Mr. Dave suddenly goes MIA, and Quill learns that the truth has a way of creeping into the light.
The Roach King of Raleigh:
is a contemporary young adult novel for listeners 13 and up and adult fans of YA comes from Shannon Stocker, the winner of the 2023 Schneider Family Award for How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion is a powerful coming-of-age story that explores poverty, addiction, neurodiversity, friendship, and resilience
- GenresYoung AdultFiction
320 pages, Hardcover
Published March 24, 2026
4 people are currently reading
1159 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 6, 2025
✰ 3.75 stars ✰
I admit, I was a bit squeamish during the scenes of their detailed but lucrative roach breeding business sixteen-year-old Quill set up in secret with the help of the Robinson twins, Harley and Zuri, despite the buzz of emotions - excitement, nervousness, hope, trepidation, motivation - that stirred within him for this new venture. 🥴 But after reading the Author's Note, I tip my hat respectfully to her for her temerity and for also introducing me to a relic of history forever frozen in time. ⌚
Quill's beloved neighbor, Mr. Dave and his fondness for riddles, reminded me of the strong, positive role models from 90s sitcoms, Mr. Feeny (Boy Meets World) and Wilson (Home Improvement), for how their impactful words of wisdom resonated with the special relationship they shared with their characters. 🫂 The repetitiveness of some sage advice did get a bit tedious at times, but I understand how it reflected his thought process to see where he was in the wrong, which was important for him to realize.
“Forgiveness is not forgetting. It is choosing not to be held captive by the past.”
And Quill may have been incorrect in much of his way of thinking and acting, but the writing captured the honesty in his frustration and anger over the difficulties and struggles he was facing really well. Control is an illusion. 😢 Scenes that had me ache for the fear and shame he endured. The hurtful longing of the memory of a lost life, his anxiety over his mother's money troubles, his guilt over his dead beat father's drinking addiction, and his conflicted emotions over the absence of his older brother, Cass, a sadness he can't quite forgive.
I teared up at their reunion; so long he treated crying as a pointless weakness, but it was a bittersweet release he so desperately needed. ❤️🩹❤️🩹 It broke the wall he had created around his heart, closing off any meaningful connection with anyone, let alone admitting he needed friends, a support system that was willing to help him. How the power of community and friendship helped him change his lease on life with new truths to guide him forward to bring solid recognition as The Roach King of Raleigh.
“We do not see things as they are. We see things as we are.”
It hurts to continuously see that bullying is so rampant in fiction, even in Raleigh, North Carolina with Connor doling out his aggravations in the worst of ways to his victims - Quill's dilapidated lifestyle and mocking Harley for his Tourette's. The imaginary flip comics that Quill created to dispel the inability to stand up to his tormentor was heartbreaking, and even at the end, I did not really feel that his victory was truly earned on his own terms. 🤔
The ensemble supporting cast was great. I adored the Robinson twins. Zuri was such a queen, loved her loyalty to her brother, her unflinching straightforwardness with Quill. It's no wonder he was helplessly attracted to her. 😆 I loved how patient and accepting Harley was with Quill, how even with how he struggled with Tourette's, he was always willing to lend a helping hand. I'm more than that. We both are. 🥺 Even when they fought, they overcame those stressful times with honesty and communication. Showing Quill in more ways than one on the importance of having someone in his corner, a new truth that some bonds can last forever. 🎀
“The clock stops ticking for no one.”
I admit, I was a bit squeamish during the scenes of their detailed but lucrative roach breeding business sixteen-year-old Quill set up in secret with the help of the Robinson twins, Harley and Zuri, despite the buzz of emotions - excitement, nervousness, hope, trepidation, motivation - that stirred within him for this new venture. 🥴 But after reading the Author's Note, I tip my hat respectfully to her for her temerity and for also introducing me to a relic of history forever frozen in time. ⌚
Quill's beloved neighbor, Mr. Dave and his fondness for riddles, reminded me of the strong, positive role models from 90s sitcoms, Mr. Feeny (Boy Meets World) and Wilson (Home Improvement), for how their impactful words of wisdom resonated with the special relationship they shared with their characters. 🫂 The repetitiveness of some sage advice did get a bit tedious at times, but I understand how it reflected his thought process to see where he was in the wrong, which was important for him to realize.
“Forgiveness is not forgetting. It is choosing not to be held captive by the past.”
And Quill may have been incorrect in much of his way of thinking and acting, but the writing captured the honesty in his frustration and anger over the difficulties and struggles he was facing really well. Control is an illusion. 😢 Scenes that had me ache for the fear and shame he endured. The hurtful longing of the memory of a lost life, his anxiety over his mother's money troubles, his guilt over his dead beat father's drinking addiction, and his conflicted emotions over the absence of his older brother, Cass, a sadness he can't quite forgive.
I teared up at their reunion; so long he treated crying as a pointless weakness, but it was a bittersweet release he so desperately needed. ❤️🩹❤️🩹 It broke the wall he had created around his heart, closing off any meaningful connection with anyone, let alone admitting he needed friends, a support system that was willing to help him. How the power of community and friendship helped him change his lease on life with new truths to guide him forward to bring solid recognition as The Roach King of Raleigh.
“We do not see things as they are. We see things as we are.”
It hurts to continuously see that bullying is so rampant in fiction, even in Raleigh, North Carolina with Connor doling out his aggravations in the worst of ways to his victims - Quill's dilapidated lifestyle and mocking Harley for his Tourette's. The imaginary flip comics that Quill created to dispel the inability to stand up to his tormentor was heartbreaking, and even at the end, I did not really feel that his victory was truly earned on his own terms. 🤔
The ensemble supporting cast was great. I adored the Robinson twins. Zuri was such a queen, loved her loyalty to her brother, her unflinching straightforwardness with Quill. It's no wonder he was helplessly attracted to her. 😆 I loved how patient and accepting Harley was with Quill, how even with how he struggled with Tourette's, he was always willing to lend a helping hand. I'm more than that. We both are. 🥺 Even when they fought, they overcame those stressful times with honesty and communication. Showing Quill in more ways than one on the importance of having someone in his corner, a new truth that some bonds can last forever. 🎀
November 18, 2025
I would like to sincerely thank NetGalley, Shannon Stocker, and the publisher 🙏for providing me with an ARC of The Roach King of Raleigh. I truly appreciate the opportunity to read this thoughtful and engaging novel ahead of publication and share my honest thoughts. Thank you for trusting reviewers and for bringing such a meaningful, heart-filled story to readers.❤️
Shannon Stocker’s The Roach King of Raleigh is a raw, compelling, and unforgettable coming-of-age story that tackles difficult real-world issues with honesty, heart, and hope. The story follows Quill Jenkins, a high school sophomore whose life has been upended by family struggles, financial instability, and the absence of the support system he once relied on.
Once living in a picture-perfect home with a close-knit family and a best friend, Quill’s world has changed dramatically: his parents’ divorce, his dad’s worsening drinking, his brother leaving for college, and a neglectful landlord have left him feeling trapped in a broken-down rental house. As he navigates this challenging environment, he becomes determined to save enough money to secure a better future, but his mom won’t let him take a traditional job.
This is where the novel’s unique premise shines. Quill discovers a hidden attic space and overhears a pet store owner arguing with a local roach breeder. An idea sparks: a secret roach-breeding business. Reluctantly teaming up with classmates Harley and Zuri, Quill embarks on a risky entrepreneurial venture. The premise is quirky and unusual, but Stocker uses it to explore serious themes of resilience, creativity, and moral complexity.
What I Loved❤️
Quill’s Character Development
Quill is multi-layered and deeply relatable. His determination, intelligence, and vulnerability make him a character readers will root for. Watching him wrestle with ethical dilemmas, family struggles, and his own limitations is both heartbreaking and inspiring.
Realistic Depiction of Family and Community
The novel does not shy away from portraying the impact of addiction, financial hardship, and fractured family relationships. At the same time, it highlights the power of community: neighbours, friends, and unexpected allies can make a difference.
Creative, Unusual Premise
A secret roach-breeding business might sound odd at first, but Stocker makes it believable and compelling. It’s a clever lens through which to explore Quill’s resourcefulness and the stakes of growing up in difficult circumstances.
Exploration of Important Themes
The story touches on poverty, addiction, neurodiversity, friendship, trust, and resilience in a way that feels honest but never preachy. Stocker balances humor and levity with real emotional weight.
Engaging, Accessible Writing
The pacing is excellent, with short chapters and vivid scenes that keep readers engaged. The dialogue feels authentic, and the narrative moves naturally between Quill’s internal struggles and the external challenges he faces.
Perfect For Readers Who:👌🏻
1. Enjoy realistic, contemporary YA fiction
2. Want stories about resilience, family, and community
3. Appreciate quirky, original premises with emotional depth
4. Are interested in characters navigating difficult life circumstances
5. Like heartwarming but honest coming-of-age stories
My Perspective:-
The Roach King of Raleigh is a brilliant YA novel that blends humor, heart, and hard truths. Shannon Stocker has written a funny, unique, and emotionally resonant book that will stay with readers long after the last page. Quill’s journey is a testament to perseverance, creativity, and the power of letting people in when life feels overwhelming.
“Forgiveness is not forgetting. It is choosing not to be held captive by the past.”
This line from The Roach King of Raleigh captures the heart of Quill’s story, learning to move forward despite mistakes, challenges, and difficult circumstances. A must-read for fans of emotional, thought-provoking YA fiction.
Ultimately, The Roach King of Raleigh is about courage, creativity, and emotional growth. As the book says, “Forgiveness is not forgetting. It is choosing not to be held captive by the past.” Quill’s journey reminds readers that even in the hardest situations, moving forward is always possible, and sometimes, the greatest strength is choosing hope.
I will definitely buy this book to add to my collection and revisit its themes and lessons.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
this is a book that absolutely blew me away and exceeded any expectations I could have had. I requested this on netgalley because I thought the cover was quirky and the title was funny and I did not expect to love it as much as I did and I also cried not once, but twice.
this book is about Quill who lives with his mom after his dad and brother leave. his dad is an alcoholic and his brother Cam left when Quill was a bit younger. He's 16 now and he and his mom are struggling to get by. they are in this dilapidated rental house with a landlord who is just evil. he doesn't want to fix things and he loves to hold all of his control over their heads.
Quill's mom is working multiple jobs trying to get by and he really wants to get a job to help but his mom wants him to focus on school. when the opportunity arises to start breeding roaches to sell to the pet store, Quill decides to see what he could do.
now there are some things that lead up to that decision but I think it's better if you just read them, I don't want to spoil anything.
So we have Quill who is our main character. he is a great student but this year he's struggling in geometry. he is being bullied by the son of his landlord and is really hesitant to make friends because he fears being left. when twins Harley and Zuri enter quill's life in a more permanent way he really has to figure out if he is willing to open his heart and his life to friendship and help.
I think what makes this book really thrive is the cast of characters. I don't read a lot of books without queer main characters and so I'm always a bit hesitant because I'm not sure if I'm going to see the type of diversity and marginalized identities that I would like to see but this is exactly the way I think white cishet characters should be written. Harley and Zuri are Black, and Harley has tourette's syndrome. there are secondary queer characters. There are characters of all ages and income levels. All of the characters really bring this whole thing together.
I really loved Harley and Zuri and their kindness and strength as a team and as friends to Quill. another character I really loved was Mr Dave who is an elderly man who lives by the pet store that quill sees all the time and they have a great relationship. I loved Mrs P who is Quill's geometry teacher and she really dedicates herself to making sure Quill gets extra time for his tests and a tutor and any help he could need. I loved Quill's mom and how hard-working she was and her dedication to giving her kids the best lives they can have.
this book is so much more than a boy who starts breeding roaches to help pay bills. it is a book about a boy who learns how to let people in again and what living and losing looks like. it's a book about friendships and community and how it's always better to work together than to work alone. it's about listening to others and giving yourself grace.
I should mention that Quill does have anxiety I believe, where he does get extra time on tests and an IEP is mentioned for him. his anxiety doesn't play a super crazy role but it is a factor as well.
then at the end the author's note talks about how she started breeding roaches when her daughter had brain cancer during covid and they were really struggling financially and her family literally breeds roaches in their basement. I love authors who write from experience and knowing all of that makes this book just all the better. All of the information and heart and love that goes into all these characters makes so much sense knowing her story.
A note about the roaches. I am terrified of bugs. like genuinely will freeze and can't focus if I see a spider or a bee or a roach etc and so I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to get through this book. there is a lot of discussion about different types of roaches and the roach breeding system. I can say I was able to get through it without being like too crazily creeped out but if you have like a deathly fear of roaches I'd like to say you would manage this book but I don't want anyone to harm themselves just to read a story.
anyway this review is very long at this point but I cannot recommend it enough. I genuinely think this might be a perfect YA book.
this book is about Quill who lives with his mom after his dad and brother leave. his dad is an alcoholic and his brother Cam left when Quill was a bit younger. He's 16 now and he and his mom are struggling to get by. they are in this dilapidated rental house with a landlord who is just evil. he doesn't want to fix things and he loves to hold all of his control over their heads.
Quill's mom is working multiple jobs trying to get by and he really wants to get a job to help but his mom wants him to focus on school. when the opportunity arises to start breeding roaches to sell to the pet store, Quill decides to see what he could do.
now there are some things that lead up to that decision but I think it's better if you just read them, I don't want to spoil anything.
So we have Quill who is our main character. he is a great student but this year he's struggling in geometry. he is being bullied by the son of his landlord and is really hesitant to make friends because he fears being left. when twins Harley and Zuri enter quill's life in a more permanent way he really has to figure out if he is willing to open his heart and his life to friendship and help.
I think what makes this book really thrive is the cast of characters. I don't read a lot of books without queer main characters and so I'm always a bit hesitant because I'm not sure if I'm going to see the type of diversity and marginalized identities that I would like to see but this is exactly the way I think white cishet characters should be written. Harley and Zuri are Black, and Harley has tourette's syndrome. there are secondary queer characters. There are characters of all ages and income levels. All of the characters really bring this whole thing together.
I really loved Harley and Zuri and their kindness and strength as a team and as friends to Quill. another character I really loved was Mr Dave who is an elderly man who lives by the pet store that quill sees all the time and they have a great relationship. I loved Mrs P who is Quill's geometry teacher and she really dedicates herself to making sure Quill gets extra time for his tests and a tutor and any help he could need. I loved Quill's mom and how hard-working she was and her dedication to giving her kids the best lives they can have.
this book is so much more than a boy who starts breeding roaches to help pay bills. it is a book about a boy who learns how to let people in again and what living and losing looks like. it's a book about friendships and community and how it's always better to work together than to work alone. it's about listening to others and giving yourself grace.
I should mention that Quill does have anxiety I believe, where he does get extra time on tests and an IEP is mentioned for him. his anxiety doesn't play a super crazy role but it is a factor as well.
then at the end the author's note talks about how she started breeding roaches when her daughter had brain cancer during covid and they were really struggling financially and her family literally breeds roaches in their basement. I love authors who write from experience and knowing all of that makes this book just all the better. All of the information and heart and love that goes into all these characters makes so much sense knowing her story.
A note about the roaches. I am terrified of bugs. like genuinely will freeze and can't focus if I see a spider or a bee or a roach etc and so I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to get through this book. there is a lot of discussion about different types of roaches and the roach breeding system. I can say I was able to get through it without being like too crazily creeped out but if you have like a deathly fear of roaches I'd like to say you would manage this book but I don't want anyone to harm themselves just to read a story.
anyway this review is very long at this point but I cannot recommend it enough. I genuinely think this might be a perfect YA book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Loved, loved this book about friendship, abandonment, poverty, anger, and resilience. Quill and his mom had to sell their house, dad is an alcoholic and was kicked out, and now Quill and mom live in a rundown house owned by Connor’s dad. Connor bullies Quill in school, and Quill does his best to ignore him. Slowly, Quill becomes friends with Harley and his twin sister Zuri. Harley wants Quill to join the chess time and in time he does. Quill wants to earn money so he can help mom and buy a new house even though she doesn’t want him to get a job. Quill has a chance to breed roaches and sell them to the local pet store, and Harley and Zuri join him as partner. Quill’s mom does not know he’s doing this, and later when the roaches get out she is quite mad. Then their landlord finds out and evicts them. What happens to Quill’s business? Where will he and his mom go? Quill finds out honesty is the best and that “everyone deserves friends.”
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
The Roach King of Raleigh is a powerful, heart-tugging book that had me rooting for sixteen year old Quill and at times gasping as he navigates the all-too-real situation of a family destroyed by alcohol, financial hardship and the loss of some of the people he counted on most. Author Shannon Stocker was able to weave in caring adults and opportunities for Quill to find friends and improve his situation in ways that felt authentic and made the story feel like I was walking alongside Quill as he went through his day-to-day life.
I'll be thinking about Quill, his mom, Mr. Dave, and Harley for a long time to come. These are characters that stay with you. I found myself talking about this book several times already in the past few days. Highly Recommend.
I'll be thinking about Quill, his mom, Mr. Dave, and Harley for a long time to come. These are characters that stay with you. I found myself talking about this book several times already in the past few days. Highly Recommend.
Review of advance copy
Don't let the title scare you away- this is a fabulous story!
Quill is a kind boy who has lost so much- including his trust that anything good can last. Desperate to help his mother save enough money for them to move out of their run-down rental, he begins raising cockroaches for the local pets store- in a secret closet in his bedroom. You know this isn't going to end well! And yet it does, eventually. With the wisdom and a bit of nudging from an old friend, Quill slowly begins to trust that the "classmate" who has been helping him with geometry is truly a friend. This is a story of friendship, resilience & love. I loved this one!
Quill is a kind boy who has lost so much- including his trust that anything good can last. Desperate to help his mother save enough money for them to move out of their run-down rental, he begins raising cockroaches for the local pets store- in a secret closet in his bedroom. You know this isn't going to end well! And yet it does, eventually. With the wisdom and a bit of nudging from an old friend, Quill slowly begins to trust that the "classmate" who has been helping him with geometry is truly a friend. This is a story of friendship, resilience & love. I loved this one!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an audio ARC.
This book managed to capture that nostalgic feeling of reading in high school for me. Stocker has a great and compelling writing style. I really enjoyed following Quill's story. He faces a lot of challenges between family and school. There are a lot of great themes and difficult topics covered in this book. All the characters are well fleshed out as well. I really loved listening to this book. The narrator does a great job with this book and its cast of characters.
This book managed to capture that nostalgic feeling of reading in high school for me. Stocker has a great and compelling writing style. I really enjoyed following Quill's story. He faces a lot of challenges between family and school. There are a lot of great themes and difficult topics covered in this book. All the characters are well fleshed out as well. I really loved listening to this book. The narrator does a great job with this book and its cast of characters.
November 12, 2025
Words hardly do justice to this beautiful, heartfelt, emotional, hopeful book. Shannon Stocker's writing drew me in and wouldn't let go.
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