This heavily illustrated novel (mostly) in verse follows 7th grader Will, who is navigating some tough issues around disordered eating and body dysmorphia. Even though Will is in middle school, his thoughts and feelings will resonate with readers far beyond middle school.
126. The Roach King of Raleigh
2026/04/26 | 8 mins.
16 year old Quill is devastated about the break-up of his parent's marriage due to his dad's alcoholism. Money is tight, really tight. Quill needs a way to feed his new hungry pet, a bearded dragon. and to help his mom pay the bills. In comes Quill's cock rorach breeding business (based a true event in the author's life!).
126 The Roach King of Raleigh Shannon Stocker
2026/04/26 | 17 mins.
16 year old Quill is devastated about the break up of his parents due to his dad' alcoholism. Money is tight, really tight. Quill needs a way to feed his hungry bearded dragon AND earn some money to help his mom with the bill. In comes a cockroach breeding business (based on a true event in the author's own life!). Transcript here
125 A Scar Like a River Lisa Graff
2026/03/30 | 6 mins.
Fallon is one strong 13 year-old girl dealing with a heavy past, family secrets, and events that will impact her for a lifetime. Yet, there are some comical moments, along with healing, and an ending that will 100% impact you! Transcript here
124 Yasha's Amazin' Bar Mitzvah Margaret Gurevich
2026/03/08 | 6 mins.
If you've ever felt like you didn't fit in, or like you were losing yourself trying to be someone else, this book is for you. Yasha is dealing with a new home, new so-called friends, and his upcoming Bar Mitzvah. The only thing that seems to be going well is his continued love of baseball, but even this is getting messy. Transcript here
In this cafe, I serve up books written mostly for middle school students and young adults. I'll provide enough information to help you decide if a story is right for the young readers you serve, but I won't give away all of the details just in case you want to read it, too. And, I sure hope you do.
South Africa