The Summary of The Book Highly Illogical Behavior

Introduction

In the book Highly Illogical Behavior by John Whaley (2016), some of the central conflicts the characters face include mental illness, a questionable plan, and a love triangle. The story begins with a teenage boy named Solomon Reed, who suffers from agoraphobia, the fear of any type of predicaments, due to an unfortunate event that happened three years prior. In eighth grade, he stripped down into his boxers and lowered himself into the school fountain, causing total embarrassment and resulting in him locking himself up in his house for three years, two months, and one day. He thought that this would be his whole life, but all of that was about to change when he meets Lisa Praytor and Clark Robbins.

The Impact of Lisa and Clark

Lisa and Clark are a high school couple who make a significant impact on Solomon’s life. Lisa is first introduced to Solomon with a primary plan to befriend him, hoping to gain experience with mental illness for her college essay and somewhat help him face the outside world again. Soon after, Clark is introduced, and before long, they become best friends. The couple manages to help Solomon conquer his fear, encouraging him to come out into the swimming pool in the backyard. Their friendship symbolizes the transformative power of companionship and support.

The Love Triangle

However, with Clark and Solomon spending almost all of their time together, Lisa worries that the guys are romantically interested in each other and even gives Solomon the wrong idea about Clark. Solomon is gay and falls in love with Clark, but Clark's feelings are not mutual. This love triangle adds complexity to their relationships and challenges the characters to confront their feelings and assumptions.

Resolution and Friendship

A couple of weeks later, after the night of Solomon’s meltdown when Lisa and Clark confess about the college essay and how he felt used, Solomon’s grandmother gets into a car accident. This incident becomes a turning point, showing the true essence of friendship, as Lisa and Clark are there to help Solomon leave the house to visit his grandmother at the hospital. In the end, the narrative demonstrates the true value of friendships and how they can provide crucial support to those suffering from mental illness.

Conclusion

Whaley reveals how important it is to understand people with mental illness and the moral support they need. He also uncovers the misunderstandings of mental illness through different character perspectives and emphasizes the importance of forgiveness in sustaining friendships. By intertwining mental illness and friendship, Whaley creates an incredible plot because some people find comfort within friends and even consider them as family. This theme underscores the potential for healing and growth through human connection and empathy.

References

Whaley, J. (2016). Highly Illogical Behavior. New York, NY: Dial Books.