'The Roach King' of Raleigh by Shannon Stocker

'The Roach King of Raleigh' by Shannon Stocker Following the fracture of his family, 16-year-old Quill Jenkins has learned it's best to keep his head down and his walls up. Stuck in a run-down rental house with a neglectful landlord (who just so happens to be the father of Quill's daily tormentor) Quill is desperate to get him and his mom out. Forbidden by his mother to get a job, Quill strikes up a partnership with two of his classmates, Harley and Zuri, who begin secretly breeding and selling cockroaches to their local pet store. There's just one problem: the more time Quill spends with his new associates, the more he starts to question his belief that he's better off alone. When Quill's family troubles worsen, along with the stress of school, money, and the declining health of his only friend, the elderly Mr. Dave, he must decide if he should bury his grief and anger for good, or if it's time to take a new approach. Written with crisp and simplistic prose, "The Roach King of Raleigh" is a heartfelt and sincere story of a young man who is trying to navigate heavy life challenges such as poverty, addiction, and disability while having typical adolescent experiences like learning to drive, trying to pass geometry, and competing in chess tournaments. The novel's tone is honest, but never brutal and would be best suited for readers aged 13-16. Quill and the characters that populate this novel are easy to love and root for, albeit the secondary characters can feel a tad one-note. Author Shannon Stocker is quoted as being "passionate about advocating for children with disabilities" which is demonstrated through the empathetic depiction of the character Harley who has Tourette and dyscalculia. An ideal book for readers who enjoy realistic fiction books that focus on friendship and community.