Highly Illogical Behavior

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.