Title: Highly Illogical Behavior
Author: John Corey Whaley
Book Type: Novel
Series: N/A
Series Number: N/A
Genre: Contemporary, Realistic
Age: Young Adult
Disability: Agoraphobia, Anxiety
LGBTQ+: Gay
Published: 2016
Setting: USA
[ID: A book cover. The title “Highly Illogical Behavior” is written centre top in white capitals, except for the “i”s, which are lowercase. The author’s name “John Corey Whaley” is at the bottom of the cover in smaller white caps. Directly above it, text reads “National Book Award Finalist and Winner of the Printz Medal” in smaller white writing. The background is a black tunnel with colourful, wavy lines coming from the centre. The centre is designed to look like an open garage door. A figure stood in the centre of the image is looking out of the opening, with their back turned to the audience. They are looking at a colourful neighbourhood street. A pink car and green van can be seen, as well as red, yellow, green and blue trees. Small blue art of the USS Enterprise from Star Trek is at the top. Yellow buildings can be seen in the back. Two smaller human figures are on either side of the figure in the centre. /end]
Content Warning:
- Panic Attacks
- Ableism
- Self-Harm
- Car Accident
- Toxic Relationship
- Toxic Friendship
- Coming Out Themes
Summary:
Sixteen-year-old Solomon is agoraphobic. He hasn’t left the house in three years, which is fine by him.
Ambitious Lisa desperately wants to get into the second-best psychology program for college (she’s being realistic). But is ambition alone enough to get her in?
Enter Lisa.
Determined to “fix” Sol, Lisa steps into his world, along with her charming boyfriend, Clark, and soon the three form an unexpected bond. But, as Lisa learns more about Sol and he and Clark grow closer and closer, the walls they’ve built around themselves start to collapse and their friendships threaten to do the same.
Notes:
There is an audiobook.
There is an ebook/Kindle version.
Archivist Comments:
People seem to like that the characters in this are realistic and unlikeable at times. Some people also said that they appreciated how “real” the portrayal of anxiety is in this book, and the “nerdy” references (Star Trek, Lord of the Rings etc.) also seem to have been enjoyed.
But, though the characters are designed to be annoying sometimes, some reviewers have complaints regarding the character of Lisa and how she treats Sol and Clark.
The Disability Book Archive 
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