Mary-Kate Sableski

The Roach King of Raleigh

Fiction

“A moving story of hope, resilience, and community . . . with an unlikely colony of roaches at its heart. Stocker’s novel follows a young man navigating the typical pressures of adolescence while facing family addiction, disability, and grief. The writing masterfully creates characters so deep and a plot so heart-wrenching, you’ll find yourself cheering for the insects. It is both a mirror and a window, helping readers see themselves while building empathy for others. I’ll be honest: I never thought I’d find so much humanity in a story about roaches.”