The Roach King of Raleigh — A Young Adult Novel about Friendship, Survival, and Finding Hope When Life Falls Apart book cover by Shannon Stocker
Amazon customers: 4.8 out of 5 · 33 ratings

The Roach King of Raleigh

Teen & Young Adult • Bullying
A Young Adult Novel about Friendship, Survival, and Finding Hope When Life Falls Apart
Quill breeds roaches to fund a new home Family struggles due to father's drinking A hidden attic holds lucrative secrets High school nemesis is the landlord's son Quill keeps his business hidden from friends

Quill Jenkins used to have a picture-perfect family, a big house, and a best friend he could count on. After his friend moved away, his brother left for college, and his parents split because of his dad’s drinking, Quill and his mom now live in a broken-down rental whose landlord neglects the property and happens to be the father of Quill’s high school nemesis.

Determined to save for a new house despite his mom’s refusal to let him get a job, Quill finds a hidden attic inside his closet and, after overhearing a dispute at a pet store, strikes a deal to breed roaches. He reluctantly enlists classmate Harley and Harley’s twin sister Zuri to keep the business secret, while his dad’s condition worsens and neighbor Mr. Dave goes missing as the truth threatens to surface.

Sophomore Quill Jenkins breeds roaches in a hidden attic to raise money for a house while hiding the operation from his mother and classmates.
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Edition information

Book details

Publisher
Blink
Publication date
March 24, 2026
Print length
319 pages
Language
English
ISBN
978-0310178514

Bullying

Reader guide

What to Know Before Reading The Roach King of Raleigh

Book focuses on Quill’s practical decision to start a secret roach-breeding business to address housing insecurity and family strain. Much of the setup centers on household disruption, a neglectful landlord who is linked to school conflict, and the uneasy alliances Quill forms with classmates Harley and Zuri. The novel emphasizes social and family issues such as poverty, addiction, and the challenges of caring for an ailing parent. This may appeal more to readers interested in realistic YA about survival, secrecy, and strained relationships.

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About the author

Shannon Stocker

Shannon Stocker

Shannon Stocker is an award-winning author and proud word nerd who loves all letters equally. She lives with her husband, Greg, and her children, Cassidy and Tye, in Louisville, KY, where she molds the alphabet into picture books and songs all day. Shannon currently serves as SCBWI social co-director for Louisville, a judge for Rate Your Story, and created the blog series, Pivotal Moments: inHERview, highlighting transitional life stories of female picture book authors. To subscribe to her blog, visit her website, http://www.shannonstocker.com/blog/. She can also be found tweeting positive quotes, mantras, and adorable animal pics @iwriteforkidz. Shannon is represented by Allison Remcheck of Stimola Literary Studio.

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