The Roach King of Raleigh

Gr 8 Up–A teen living in poverty learns the hard way that before things get better, they sometimes get a whole lot worse. Sophomore Quill is used to everyone leaving, most notably his brother, Cam, who got a basketball scholarship to Duke, and his estranged dad, an addict, whom Quill occasionally sees around town begging for money. Tired of living in a crummy rental with his overworked mother, Quill thinks maybe things could turn around if they could buy a house, so he starts a (secret from his mom) business breeding roaches to sell to the pet store. But money is just one of Quill’s many worries. There’s a bully, an ailing elderly friend, and tension and miscommunication with business partners and classmates Harley (who musturette’s ­syndrome) and his sister Zuri. Self-protective Quill cannot allow himself to think of them as friends, plus he has a belief that he is the reason everyone leaves. The mistakes, half-truths, and problems pile up, but when Quill finally begins to let down his defenses and share his secrets, people in his life offer hope and help in ways Quill couldn’t have imagined. The thoughtful and descriptive first-person narration is raw and unguarded, showing readers the sides of Quill he works hard to hide from everyone else. His anger, disappointment, and hopelessness are palpable, making for an emotionally rich, intense story. Quill has dirty blond-brown hair; Harley and Zuri are Black.