From the Printz Award-winning author of Where Things Come Back comes a quirky, highly relatable story of an agoraphobic teen who somehow becomes the perfect project for the perfect college essay.
“Raw, funny, and unforgettable.”—BuzzFeed
“Examines mental illness, connection, and the inner worlds that shape us with empathy and grace.”—The Boston Globe
Sixteen-year-old Solomon is agoraphobic. He hasn’t left the house in three years, 2 months, and 1 day . . . which is fine by him.
Ambitious Lisa desperately wants to get into the second-best psychology program for college (she’s being realistic). But how can she prove she deserves a spot there?
Solomon is the answer.
Determined to “fix” Sol, Lisa thrusts herself into his life, sitting through Star Trek marathons with him and introducing him to her charming boyfriend Clark. Soon, all three teens are far closer than they thought they’d be, and when their walls fall down, their friendships threaten to collapse, as well.
Highly Illogical Behavior showcases the different ways we hide ourselves from the world—and how love, tragedy, and the need for connection may be the only things to bring us back into the light.
John Corey Whaley's first novel,
Where Things Come Back, was the winner of the 2012 Printz Award and the 2012 Morris Award. His second novel,
Noggin, was a 2014 National Book Award finalist. He lives in Newport Beach, California.
“At a time when young adult literature is actively picking away at the stigma of mental illness, Whaley carves off a healthy chunk with style, sensitivity and humor. . . . ELECTRIFYING.”
—The New York Times Book Review“Tender and funny.”
—People“Raw, funny, and unforgettable.”
—BuzzFeed“A charming, heartwarming, and profound affirmation of the importance of connection.”
—The Huffington Post“John Corey Whaley has never disappointed us before, and he carries on that tradition with his funny, heartfelt, and oh-so-JCW-style
Highly Illogical Behavior.”
—Bustle“Solomon's descriptions of his anxiety are achingly real. Readers will easily come to care about these bright, wonderfully nerdy, flawed characters.”
—Kirkus Reviews, starred review“Printz Award–winner Whaley (
Where Things Come Back) again tackles heavy, heady topics with a light touch, populating his perceptive and quick-witted story with endearing, believably flawed teens.”
—Publishers Weekly, starred review“The alternating narratives capture the perspective of the bright, witty, and decidedly quirky protagonists . . . A logical choice for Whaley’s fans, Trekkies, and sensitive readers of all stripes.”
—School Library Journal, starred review
