Let me start out by saying that I loved this book not because it was written well, but because it read like good fanfiction that I would normally enjoy. Certainly not a requisite for the Printz award, but it gets the Angie "I would have love to have read this as fanfiction" award, and in a good way (if you want an example of "reads like fanfiction when I didn't want fanfiction" see my review for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child)!

ANYWAY, Harry Potter is an agoraphobe, and hasn't been outside of his house in 3 years, since a panic attack drove him to shed his clothes and lie in the Hogwarts fountain. He never returned to Hogwarts but takes magical classes online, happy to be at home with his awesome parents who make plenty of money to keep their son comfortable and happy in his safe home indoors.

Hermione is a know-it-all who is determined to get into the second-best magical medical school for psychology. Her project is Harry, whom she is determined to "fix" and then write an essay about to get a full ride into college. Who knew Harry would in fact be fun to hang out with and not crazy at all! Why, she should introduce her boyfriend Ron to this charming young man!

Begin spoilers:

Spoiler

Ah, but Harry comes out as gay to his first real friend, Hermione. And Hermione has been thinking Ron suspect lately as their relationship hasn't gone beyond the merest of touches; and water polo with other boys in Speedoes? Totally suspect. So when Ron and Harry meet and immediately hit it off, Hermione is heartbroken but happy for her friends. Harry begins to improve upon his condition with these two new friends. Until the story just crashes and burns. Like, it's a Love-Train wreck when the truth is out about everything. Who loves whom? Who are real friends?

And this is where the fanfiction ends and the reality begins. Harry/Solomon is an agoraphobe who isn't magically cured by the end of the book. Ron/Clark is NOT gay and doesn't hook up with his best friend. Hermione/Lisa does NOT know everything and is not a licensed psychiatrist and doesn't magically cure anyone and makes some really BIG mistakes. I enjoyed this dose of realism even if I did want Harry and Ron to get together, but let's be real, they are Solomon and Clark and they are two lonely guys that enjoy being homebodies and being best friends. And the ending was perfect. If you want the other ending, find a fanfic, I'm sure this scenario is actually out there somewhere. Or read this manga that is strangely similar, that I happened to start reading at the same time:Ten Count