Stepping outside to go to school or the backyard seems to be a simple task, but for some people, it seems to be impossible. "Highly Illogical Behavior" by John Corey Whaley tells the story of Solomon Reed, a sixteen year old boy, with severe anxiety as well as a seventeen-year-old girl, Lisa Praytor, who is determined to "fix" Solomon, due to her interest in psychology. John Corey Whaley's third book, "Highly Illogical Behavior" is an eye-opening story that reaches beyond the surface and finds abnormalities and friendships between unexpected characters.Solomon Reed suffers from agoraphobia, which is a fear of situations that might cause panic, helplessness, or embarrassment. When he was in junior high, he stopped leaving his house. Now, it has been over 3 years since he has gone outside. Lisa Praytor, an ambitious former classmate of Solomon, is searching for colleges with the best psychology programs. She finds her dream school to be Woodlawn University, which has the second highest ranked psychology program in the country. To go to Woodlawn, she must write an extraordinary essay in order to receive a full scholarship. She plans to write about "the kid who never left home again."
As Lisa begins to evaluate Sol, she realizes that she started out with the wrong intentions and tries to change her relationship with him. She begins to forget that this is only for an essay. Over time, Solomon, Lisa, and Clark, Lisa's boyfriend, form a powerful friendship. Will they continue to be friends after high school? Will Lisa be accepted to Woodlawn? Is Sol ever going to leave the comfort of his home? Visit John I. Burton's library and check out this story that emphasizes the appreciation of the little things in life.
Written by: Alex C.