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Highly Illogical Behavior    by John Corey Whaley Amazon.com order for
Highly Illogical Behavior
by John Corey Whaley
Order:  USA  Can
Dial, 2016 (2016)
Hardcover, e-Book
* * *   Reviewed by Hilary Williamson

John Corey Whaley's Highly Illogical Behavior is a totally charming tale of the relationships between three teens who all have issues, yet all follow their own drummers.

Pale and chronically barefoot Solomon Reed, at sixteen, has not left his parents' house in Upland, California in three years, ever since a meltdown at junior high. He did try but the panic attacks were too much for him. Solomon does his homework online and is a Star Trek fanatic. Though he worries about his parents' concern for his situation, he has tried and really can't do anything about it.

Straight-A student Lisa Praytor is determined to leave Upland and get away from her mother and her dysfunctional relationships. Lisa is determined 'to fix Solomon Reed.' She plans to write 'My personal experience with mental illness' to win a scholarship and open up her future. Lisa and handsome Clark Robbins have been dating for over a year but he is unambitious and wants to stay in Upland. He also doesn't seem as interested as she is in 'taking things to the next level' and he disapproves of her plan to use Solomon.

Of course you can see where this is going but don't make too many assumptions as it's not quite predictable. Lisa does succeed in befriending and helping Solomon, who gets along with Clark extremely well, having more in common with him than with Lisa. There is unrequited love. Lisa's plan is revealed and Solomon devastated. But all does not develop as the reader starts to expect and the result is a wonderful, heart-warming and inspiring story, not to be missed!

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