It's Kind of a Funny Story

If anyone compares Ned Vizzini to Ken Kesey, don't listen to them. He's different because I said so. And because he is. In so many good ways.

His third book, IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY, takes its readers on an honest (and, in the end, refreshing) plunge into Craig Gilner's teenage depression and resurfaces in world that, five days later, feels real for the first time. He looks like your everyday modern kid until he sneaks out in the middle of the night and admits himself into a mental hospital. Why would he do that? If you asked him, he'd tell you it's because of all the Tentacles. Too many Tentacles and not enough Anchors. The stresses of life are wrapping him so tightly that he's not sure he can handle it. Even if he wants to.

The thing about Tentacles (Yes, it's spelled correctly) is he'd cut them off if he could, but if he did, he'd end up a failure. That's how life is right? He studies his brains out to ace the entrance exam and get into Executive Pre-Professional High School, so he's obligated or something to the best student he can, right? It seems so simple. Study hard. Read 3 newspapers a day. Respond to email. Answer phone calls. Sound normal. Look normal. Basically, do what everyone wants, when they want, and he'll make it in life. They'll see him as a success.

The problem is that Craig wants to end it all. As much as he loves that beating heart of his and his family and his friends and chilling with Aaron and hoping for something more with Nia, he wants to die. It's the only way he can think to stop the Cycling in his brain. He keeps waiting for The Shift to happen, but it feels eight continents away--In other words, Impossible. Vizzini captivates his readers with wild parties, Argenon (mental) Hospital, crazy roommates, Egyptian music, Brain Maps, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the third best sex scene of the year according to the Henry Miller Award panel, in a way that's as witty as it is wistful, and as humorous as it is human. Readers will love to follow Craig as he learns that cutting off the right Tentacles may be the only way to go from Broken, to Healing, to Normal, to Real, and finally, to Alive.

Reviewed by Jonathan Stephens

I'm sure this YA novel would prove riveting for actual young adults/teens but for me, far beyond young adulthood, this novel's character's emotional issues seemed simple. The portrayal of depression lacked the harrowing darkness I would've expected from one seriously contemplating suicide. However, I've discussed this novel with many high school students who really connected with it.

I am a psych nurse and work with teenagers so I was interested. Its a good story about a boy who finds himself in a strange situation. I didn't love it and wouldn't read it again but it had some truth to being in a psychiatric center.

Sadly, I found out about this book shortly before the author's untimely death. This book addresses a serious medical condition, depression, in a manner that one can easily understand. The author's ability to describe the inner workings of a person's mind is truly fascinating. Highly recommend this book.

I bought this book because its movie is one of my favorites. It was fun because it taught me that there is always hope for those who suffer any mental illness. However, it didn't provide any tool for handling our emotions or even suicidal tendencies. It was just story.

I'm a high school teacher, and as an adult, I found this book juvenile. However, the author has a spot-on grasp of the high school mind and writes like an insider. Teens would love this book (and my students do).

What a book. Sigh. I loved this book. It tackles depression, suicidal tendencies, and mental health issues in a really realistic way. I was left feeling uneasy for the main character. He got better, but the undertone was, at least for me, that he was better "for now." I loved his self awareness and the bit with the maps was really unique and added to the story. Ned Vizzini was a very skilled writer. This book is funny yet sad, uplifting yet depressing. A really great read and will add to a reader's empathy of what those with depression go through.

If you liked perks of being a wallflower you would definitely like this book. It was surprisingly easy to relate to (even if u don't have depletion). And I loved the structure and fast moving pace the book had to offer. All in all I would recommend this book to most teenagers, it's a good read.

I was aware that the quality of the book was used but this book is pretty out of shape.. Stains and rips on the pages, plus marks on the cover. Overall pretty beat up but still functional; just wished it was better quality.

This book is very powerful. In my opinion, too powerful. It is not hard to relate to this story and that can lead to some negative thoughts. It is a good book for angst driven teenagers, but as a middle school student whose friends are all genius' as well, I find it a very depressing book.

This is a gift. The book was supposed to be new, but it came with dents, creases, & a small tear. I'm not happy about giving a gift in this condition, but don't have time to return for a new one. Nor do I want the hassle. The box it came in was completely undamaged which leads me to believe that this occurred from the selection and packing of the item. I have no idea what the book is like since it was a requested gift. Hope she likes it.

Very boring, and really do not feel with all that is taking place in the world around us, that we should be subjecting our children to have to read this book as a SCHOOL REQUIREMENT...I understand that it is an eye opener as to how some children cope under pressure from those around them, I just do not think it should be a school requirement to read

This was a book I bought to read something different than my usual suspense book. I kept reading hoping it would become more interesting but it never really did. I guess it is just not what I am I to.

By page 4 it discussed "semen stains on the bed sheets" and talked about Marijuana usage. Maybe its my fault for expecting better but not what I wanted for my 14 year old daughter to read. I emailed for a return and was just refunded my money without having to send back. Which was awesome but now I'm stuck with a book I don't want...lol

I really likes this book. I like the romance and the humor! I recommend it to all my friends that are romance junkies just like me I love romance and thought they could've been a little more romance in it because I really like romance!!!

Absolutely LOVE this book. Probably one of my all time favorites. It's honest and funny and tear-worthy all at the same time. It's absolutely perfect for adults and teens and is completely captivating I finished it in about 2 days and have read it over and over since. This book was fantastic. Anyone dealing with any kind of mental illness needs to read this. Heck, anyone who knows anyone or knew someone who had a mental illness or saw someone with one on TV or in a movie or even just walked past someone who looked glum, needs to read this.

The novel follows 15-year-old Craig: he is depressed and suicidal. He attends a prestigious school which he spent months and months studying and working towards however, since the day of his welcome letter, he's never been happy. The school is just stress and grades, he's struggling to keep his head above water and admits himself into the mental health ward. The synopsis sounds cringey, teenagery maybe even predictable but it's not. The title sums it up perfectly: 'It's Kind of a Funny Story' because it is. Never have I wanted to laugh at a character's cynical humour while wanting to cry over the bleakness of his life. I was emotionally invested and, more so, emotionally torn.

This book just did it for me and led me to read all his other books as well, they're so good. Definitely recommend reading this NOW

Before I get into this, I want to express my deepest condolences to the author's family and friends, as Mr. Vizzini lost his battle to depression and anxiety and passed away on December 19, 2013.
Let me put in a warning that this book may contain spoilers (depending on how you look at it), but I tried my hardest to not put anymore than what was in the summary for the book.
Now! This book is about a teenage boy named Craig, who battles with depression and anxiety after being accepted into an incredibly tough school and is struggling with how "mediocre" his grades are. This leads him to seriously contemplate suicide and he ends up in an adult mental hospital. Here he ends up changing his life for the better, meeting new people, and starting new relationships.
All in 5 days.
And that's the biggest problem I have with this book. Way too many life-changing moments happened within the span of 5 days in a mental hospital. In the first day he was magically able to do things that he hasn't been able to do for almost a year. It was like he was mysteriously cured of all of his problems just because he checked into a hospital.
And while that's a very positive and encouraging perspective to give to people who are battling with mental disorders, it isn't true. At all. It's a hard-fought battle that people struggle with everyday. And while some days are better than others, there is no magical cure that can be given by doctors, no matter how much everybody wishes.
I think the most frustrating part for me was that this was even mentioned in the book, "there is no cure," but it seemed that Craig was magically cured of all of his problems, anyway, with only a few tiny hiccups here and there.
I just wish that instead of ending the book at the point that it did, Mr. Vizzini had continued a bit more into after his stay at the hospital: How he coped, or how he didn't. How he had some steps back in his healing with his huge steps forward.
To summarize this review: this book was just too much of a "happily ever after" to me for such an important subject matter.

This book was a bomb. It was recommended to me by a friend, and I couldn't get more than halfway through it. Poor writing, unnecessary vulgarity that goes beyond basic teenage thought and interaction, and a dull, meandering plot. I'm going to give it away.

Overview: Craig suffers from clinical depression that appeared shortly after starting at prestigious Executive Pre-Professional High School. He had worked all through his eighth grade year to study for the admissions test, and the day he got the results, a perfect 800 and an acceptance letter, was his last good day. As he starts to attend the school he realizes that he might not be cut out for the rigorous course work and intense pressure of the school. These feelings are only made worse by the effortless success of his classmates. This enacts a downward spiral as he feels he can't balance school work, his friendships, and the other problems in his life. This culminates with Craig deciding he wants to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge. Luckily, he calls the Suicide Hotline and seeks help at a local hospital where he is thrown into the adult psychiatric floor despite being fifteen. There he meets plenty of interesting people all trying to cope with their own chemical imbalances. It is there, without the pressures of school, potential failure, and bad friends, that he starts to heal and form constructive relationships with his fellow patients that make him realize his will, and above that want, to live. This is a great and important book about confronting your problems and getting help when they become too much to handle alone. Overall: 5

Characters: 5 Craig's voice reminded me very much of a modern, and far less profane, Holden Caulfield. He had a blunt, matter of fact attitude and a tangible intelligence. He had a full understanding of his world and what the pieces of his world are. His time in the hospital only helps him grow this understanding and gives him strength to scale back his toxic friendships and remove himself from the situations that sent him over the edge. Craig has defiantly earned himself a place as a highly important character in YA literature.
The other characters in the story are also important and well developed. Each of the fellow patients serve and important purpose for Craig and his self discovery acting as mirrors for him to look in on himself while also playing roles such as comic relief or potential love interest which also serve as foils to characters that exist in Craig's outside world.

Plot: 5 This story is mainly a character driven book, not to say it is devoid of plot, but the plot isn't really the point. Each step is meant to show Craig take a step forward or back and is full of plenty of introspection and notable growth.

Writing: 5 In the first section (there are eight) I wasn't too sure about the writing or the voice of the character (especially concerning the speaker tag "was like"). As the story progressed it really flourished allowing readers to get into Craig's mind and identify with the stressors and pressure he is under. And I came to really enjoy the voice. Not only does this book give great insight into aspects of mental health and mental healthcare, it also shares important messages about the pressure that is put on teens about school and the future and the crippling effects that it can have on young people.

WARNING: SOME SPOILERS

I bought this book fully expecting to love it. After reading such great reviews about it, I had no doubt in my mind that I was in for a treat. And I was . . . for the first half. Once Craig is admitted into the psych hospital, the book begins to fizzle. The different characters he meets are interesting (especially Noelle, who pretty quickly became my favorite) and his voice remains believable for the most part, but his journey over battling his depression feels watered down, and the book's ending is rather abrupt. So he feels Noelle up and then, all of a sudden, develops a reverence for life? Uh, yeah, no, sorry but I'm not buying it. The NY Times called this "an important book." If I were to go by the first half, I would agree. Vizzini does capture the essence of depression--of what it feels like--very well (which makes sense given he himself suffered from depression and spent time in a psych hospital). But it seemed like, somewhere near the end, he thought to himself, "Okay, so Craig's five days are almost up--I need to hurry and make him better! How should I do that? Of course, give him a little action with his girl! That oughta perk him up." I know Craig mentions at the end that he isn't cured, that his problems haven't completely left him, but his "progress" (I put that word in quotes because I don't really think he made progress at all) still felt out of the blue and superficial. The best aspect of the second half of the book, in my opinion, was his discovering his passion for art and deciding to transfer schools. However, the decision was made rather spontaneously and came across as a way to tidy everything up without any real resolution.

Furthermore, I felt this book tried too hard to be light-hearted, and thus lost some of its "punch." I know depression is a hard subject to write about, and that sometimes the best way to handle hardships is through humor, but I thought the humor here was a bit forced and out of place. I almost think it would have been better had Vizzini gone a more serious route.

All in all, a noble effort but not one I was all too impressed with. 3/5 stars.

(As a side note: RIP Ned Vizzini. My condolences to his friends and family.)

Spoiler alert!!!!

It's Kind of a Funny Story is based on the author, Ned Vizzini’s, real life struggles with depression. Unfortunately Ned could never control his depression and chose to end his life before he could see how successful his book became. Although the main character Craig has a brighter outcome. Craig goes through daily life struggles of school stress and out of reach lovers. These struggles he calls his tentacles. He always thought that he could never control these tentacles. He went through many therapist and hospital stays to try to help control his depression. Close to committing suicide Craig finds the light at the end of the tunnel. He begins to feel normal after staying in an adult psychiatric unit. I think even though Ned could never overcome the depression he suffered through he chose to give a happy ending to Craig because he desperately wanted to find the light. I chose to read this book because of how relevant it is in my life and the lives of my loved ones. I find relating to Craig and all of his tentacles very easy. Like Craig I realize how much worse people have it than I and I can finally look forward to all the things I want to do in life. Although I too know people who have taken their lives like Ned and feel the overwhelming control depression has. It's a very light nice ending for Craig. This is a very good easy read and I highly recommend it. Especially to those that have ever battled depression. This book can be sad and depressing all in its own, but it is a big eye opener.

What makes this book a swift and enjoyable read is the immediate likability of the narrator, Craig. He is self-deprecating, witty and intelligent. The matter-of-fact banter he has with himself caught me off guard and then drew me in.

Craig is severely depressed, probably chronically so, and this book chronicles his decision to commit himself to psychiatric care. The people he meets inside are wildly interesting and immediately loyal and the value of quality mental healthcare is truly highlighted in this piece.

What I like the most about this book is that the things that cause Craig to "cycle" are the very things that cause my students stress: love, friendships, schoolwork, parental expectations, societal expectations, self-esteem, sexuality....

This story proves to be a little too neat for my liking, and unfortunately it contrasts with the tragic, yet all too common outcome of the author's own life.

It's meaningful and impactful and a great read.

It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini isn’t a funny story at all as one would expect from the title. Although I found it to be a sad book at times, it is also an important one as it deals with a very real topic – depression and suicide.

One might think from reading that previous sentence that the book would be difficult to read given such a heavy topic that is not discussed nearly enough in our society. Instead, I found that it was the opposite. Although the main character, Craig, is hospitalized and going through quite a dark period, I found the story to be inspirational, as throughout the story one can see the light at the end of the tunnel and you know (or hope) that things will get better for Craig.

Now, to lighten the mood, some “fun facts” that I believe would add to your reading experience. First off, in 2010, a more comical movie adaptation was made featuring Kier Gilchrist, Emma Roberts, and Zach Galifianakis. I have not yet had the chance to watch this film as I discovered it while writing this post but it will surely be on my “to watch” list. Another fact is that Ned Vizzini, the author of this novel, was hospitalized for depression in 2004. Not even a week after his release, this novel was written. It would be interesting to see if this novel would have still been written if he had not been hospitalized and struggled with depression or if the novel was inspired solely on his experience. I guess that is something we will never know.

Although it dealt with a difficult topic, I enjoyed reading this novel as I found it to be a book that allows you to believe you can deal with anything. I would recommend this book to anyone who is dealing with a mental illness; either your own, or that of someone close to you. This will allow you to gain knowledge on how and where to get help, that you are not alone, and that things can and will get better.

I really enjoyed the honesty of this book (as I noticed many other people mentioned in their reviews as well.) I am not someone who has ever suffered from anxiety or depression, so this really opened my eyes to what it feels like and some of the internal struggles that people who suffer from depression deal with. Depression has increased a lot in teens, so I think this is a really relatable book for teenagers especially.

I think the fact that the author suffered from depression and endured time in the psych ward of a hospital really speaks to the fact that authors can create great writing from their own experiences. I'm not a writer, but I did a lot of research in college about how an author cannot separate his life with his work.

Though the story was about a boy with depression, the book was actually light hearted and funny. It was a quick read. Craig was a really relatable character, and I sympathized with him.

I feel terrible giving this book a three star rating. I just went in expecting too much. I've heard many great things about this book. And I think that's the thing. I try to refrain from reading reviews because I feel like my mind gets altered because of them. With hearing so many good things, came great expectations.

I feel like this book was too long. I felt like Ned made the days last forever. But I guess that's how it is when you're depressed. I felt like this book was never going to end.

My major thing about this book is that there is almost no happiness in this book. I think the only time I smiled or felt happy was when Muqtada was in the scene. He was by far my favorite character in this book.

Overall, I feel like this book was a good read. It just wasn't my cup of tea at this point in time.

I literally just finished reading this book a few hours ago and I couldn't wait to write a review on this. This book came out a few years ago and the on-screen adaptation came out in 2012, however, I wasn't aware of this book or the story itself until last year. I finally found a beautiful copy at Hastings and couldn't wait to read it. I started reading it about a week and a half ago and from the first chapter to the last I could NOT put it down. Ned Vizzini's writing is so relatable and so honest. It follows the story of Craig Gilner, his battle with depression, almost committing suicide and then ending up in a mental health rehabilitation. It is funny, relatable, beautiful, honest and a book that I would recommend to anyone to read. By the middle of the book you'll be hooked and feel like you know Craig and you want to help him out, also you'll realize the concept of the cover art. This story is so important to anyone who has ever felt down, depressed, sad, or a failure. It's also important to anyone, period. It really has changed my perception about certain things in life. If you haven't read it, please find it somewhere, get your hands on it and read it right now! It's excellent. I give it 11 stars!!!! :) hehe.

Happy Reading, Everyone!

xo,
Rach

I found this book by searching for psychological fiction. This is loosely based on a real life story and that made me want to read it even more. I was lent a digital copy and ended up buying it to support the author because I loved it.

Book is about a teenager who is struggling with daily life events. Craig can describe what he is feeling and thinking, but does not know why or how to control it. These actions and feelings start to effect everything and become too overwhelming that he ends up wanting to commit suicide. Craig unknowingly admits himself into a mental facility and after realizing and adjusting, things unfold that affect the way he sees himself, his problems, his friends and his life life. Craig meets new people in this hospital and discovers so much more about life and its ins and outs.

I enjoyed this book because it is realistic. As a person who has spent time in a facility, I could connect with this book and I found it addicting. There are so many different people out there with different backstories and problems. Everyone deals with their problems in different ways with different outcomes. Overall, great story.

This book will forever be in my top 10 favorite books. I read it in high school during an episode of depression, once during college, and once now as an adult who recently went through postpartum depression. It is so relatable, so funny, so witty...and overall just a great book.

Vizzini perfectly captures life in a mental hospital in a fresh way, and instead of making it seem like a negative place to live, he makes it seem like a place to thrive. To just LIVE. It's eye opening, it's heartfelt, and it spoke to me differently in each place of life that I was in when I read it each time.

I devoured “It’s Kind of a Funny Story.” I don’t think I will ever forget it. Parents who push their children to over-achieve or parents who have children who push themselves should read this book. Teenager Craig becomes determined to win a scholarship to the best elite high school in New York City. To prepare for the exam, he studies, makes note cards, and takes practice tests. His perfect score earns him a full-ride, but once there, Craig can’t keep up with the tremendous work load. Like many of his over-achieving classmates, Craig struggles with depression, self-worth, sleep and eating problems. Craig eventually tries suicide and lands in a mental hospital for a few days, enough to help him gain insight into his stresses and begin fixing them. This is a young adult book for older teens and parents who push their children to excel. There’s a cost to pay.

It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini isn’t a funny story at all as one would expect from the title. Although I found it to be a sad book at times, it is also an important one as it deals with a very real topic – depression and suicide.

One might think from reading that previous sentence that the book would be difficult to read given such a heavy topic that is not discussed nearly enough in our society. Instead, I found that it was the opposite. Although the main character, Craig, is hospitalized and going through quite a dark period, I found the story to be inspirational, as throughout the story one can see the light at the end of the tunnel and you know (or hope) that things will get better for Craig.

Now, to lighten the mood, some “fun facts” that I believe would add to your reading experience. First off, in 2010, a more comical movie adaptation was made featuring Kier Gilchrist, Emma Roberts, and Zach Galifianakis. I have not yet had the chance to watch this film as I discovered it while writing this post but it will surely be on my “to watch” list. Another fact is that Ned Vizzini, the author of this novel, was hospitalized for depression in 2004. Not even a week after his release, this novel was written. It would be interesting to see if this novel would have still been written if he had not been hospitalized and struggled with depression or if the novel was inspired solely on his experience. I guess that is something we will never know.

Although it dealt with a difficult topic, I enjoyed reading this novel as I found it to be a book that allows you to believe you can deal with anything. I would recommend this book to anyone who is dealing with a mental illness; either your own, or that of someone close to you. This will allow you to gain knowledge on how and where to get help, that you are not alone, and that things can and will get better.

You can also read this review on my blog, Caught Read Handed.

Let’s start with a brief synopsis:

Craig Gilner is an ambitious New York City teenager who seeks entry into the Manhattan Executive Pre-Professional High School because he believes getting into the right high school will start him on the path to a successful life. However, once Craig aces his way into the school, the pressure builds up, so much so that he stops eating, sleeping, and doing his school work. One night it all gets to be too much and he nearly kills himself.

Craig’s experience gets him checked into a local mental hospital, where he meets an array of fellow patients from many different backgrounds, including “a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio” (book jacket). At Six North, Craig is finally able to find the sources of his anxiety and confront them.

What I thought:

I’d already seen the movie adaptation of this book, though it had been several years. I had a feeling I was going to really enjoy this book. And I did.

When I sat down to start writing this review, I couldn’t. It was difficult for me because of how well I related to this book. The beginning of the book, before Craig goes to Six North, was almost too relatable for me. I won’t go into too much detail, because I don’t think that this is the right place for it, but I’m going through a very rough time in my life right now, and I cried more than once while reading about how Craig was feeling, what he was thinking, and what he calls “The Cycling” (when your thoughts continue to circle around and around on all the things you haven’t done, won’t do, can’t do; in essence, why your life isn’t that great).

Because this review is so hard for me, I don’t think I can do my typical “several paragraphs on why I loved/didn’t love this book” review for this one, so I’m just going to bullet point the things I liked and try to explain them. I hope that’s okay.

-It’s authentic. Oh my goodness, is it authentic. It’s real, and each of the characters and what they are going through feels genuine, real, true. The emotions in this book are raw and sincere.
-“My depression is acting up today” (Page 121). I wish I could say this whenever I’m asked, “What’s wrong?”
-“Sometimes I just think depression’s one way of coping with the world. Like, some people get drunk, some people do drugs, some people get depressed. Because there’s so much stuff out there that you have to do something to deal with it.” – Page 240
-It’s a story that needed to be told. Ned Vizzini, the author of this book, spent several days in adult psychiatric in 2004. He wrote It’s Kind of a Funny Story right after he got out. Ned needed to tell this story, for himself and for us. It’s important for teens, and adults, to be able to have a book like this that they can relate to, to show them that they are not alone. It’s so powerful.
-Several laugh out loud moments: though this book deals with very serious content and themes, it comes across as a rather light read. Craig is witty and clever, and the people with him in Six North are funny, vibrant, and animated.
-This book makes me want to live.
"So now live for real, Craig. Live. Live. Live. Live.
Live." (Page 444)
-I felt uplifted at the end of this book.
-One of the ways that Craig deals with his anxiety and depression is through art: he creates maps of imaginary cities. I totally understood this; I paint, draw, create little sewn monster dolls…make art. It is a perfect way to focus on something completely different but pour out all of your emotions at the same time.
What I didn’t like:
-Nothing.
The bottom line: I never wanted to relate to this book as well as I did, but honestly, I’m glad that I did. This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. It is a story that needed to be told, and I’m glad that Ned Vizzini wrote it and I was able to read it.

I’d just like to say that I hope wherever Ned is now, he is finally happy.

Rating: 10 – Perfection. One of the best books I’ve ever read

It’s Kind of a Funny Story is a breath of fresh air. It takes on a serious topic without an overly serious tone, and portrays a serious problem (mental illness) negatively while much of the media chooses to glamorize it. Part of my enjoyment might be because this book hits close to home, as I myself have gone through many of the same things the main character Craig did. To anyone wondering whether it’s an accurate portrayal of depression, anxiety, etc., well, it’s spot on.

The writing is clean cut, getting straight to the point without being too clipped. The story is realistic to how teenagers act, not sugarcoating their behavior and yet not trying to cast them as the Troublesome and Misunderstood Miscreants. Almost everyone is likable, – at least in their own way. Even the characters who I’m pretty sure were written in just to highlight how irritating an environment like this can be have their own distinct charm.

Despite the lack of a traditional climax in the novel, I find the book to have momentum and a flowing pace. I kinda want a bit more of a tangible goal or conflict near the end, but am still pleased with how the novel handled its ending.

Overall, It’s Kind of a Funny Story is an enjoyable read filled with endearing characters, a nice flow, and wonderful insight. I’d highly recommend it, (especially if you’ve gone through similar troubles of your own.) A solid 4.5 out of 5.

I stumbled on to this book in a thrift store during a recent trip back east. I had no idea what it was about, but I liked the title. Imagine my pleasure when, upon reading it, I realized that I had discovered a modern masterpiece.

It's Kind of a Funny Story is probably the best book out there concerning teen depression. It's honest, clicnically accurate, yet quite funny at the same time. Vizzini obviously knows his subject first hand and that knowledge shines through to the reader at every level.

Several things deserve mention here. First, when describing the psychiatric wing of the hospital, Vizzini treats the patients with respect. Yes each character has his/her own quirks and foibles, but it would have been all too easy to write two dimensional characters that were no more than walking examples of modern day psychosis. What Vizzini gives us instead are the real people who find refuge in a hospital after temporarily or permanently losing the ability to cope. The characters make good decisions, bad decisions, express anger, joy, confusion, and impatience just like anyone else. They are not walking symptoms, they are everyday people. Quirky, yes, but no more so than many of the people you know who happen to be walking around "outside".

I was also very impressed with the way Ned Vizzini describes the psych wing. Anyone who has experienced an in-patient psych stay will find themselves nodding in recognition. From the med queue to the smoke breaks, the art and the music therapies, the questionnaires, and the morning vitals, all are described accurately and honestly. The staff, rooms, routines, "activities/therapies", and (sadly) the role that insurance limitations can play are presented in a way that acknowledges the oddness of this type of hospitalization, yet also provides understanding as to why things are done in a certain way. I actually found myself thinking, "So that's why they do it like that!" several times.

The book does have certain limitations. The initial entry into a secured unit, ECT (electro-convulsive therapy), and family sessions etc... are not addressed, yet the ins and outs of the average patient and the average experience are fully and accurately given.

I can only speculate on how this book could have changed my life as a teen in the 1970's and '80. Today's teens seem to be under even more stress and anxiety than I ever experienced at that age. I believe wholeheartedly that It's Kind of a Funny Story should be required reading for every teen. The added bonus is that they'll actually enjoy reading it!

I saw the movie adaptation of this book a while back and was unimpressed, so I was expecting the book to be similarly disappointing. Luckily, I was wrong. It wasn't the easiest book to get into at first, though. And I wasn't that big of a fan of the way the book was set-up in parts--at least with regards to the first few parts of it. There was also some mild slut-shaming in it, but there wasn't so much that it ruined the book for me.

The main character and his situation were so easy to relate to. Vizzini's explanations of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation were so spot on that it was almost scary. I wish that this book or one like it had existed when I was a teenager because I think it definitely would have made things a lot easier.

It is a quirky, funny story, but it also is a really deep story. It's got some really sad moments, and if you make it through without crying, then you're doing better than I did. The only reason that it took me 3 days to read this book is that I ended up crying so much while reading it.

This is probably the most realistic work of fiction that I've ever seen for what it is like to have a mental illness and what it's like to have to spend time in a psychiatric unit. It's really wonderful and worthwhile. I would recommend this to anyone who has a history of mental illness and to friends of people with mental illnesses, because it explains what the mentally ill deal with on a day-to-day basis. Even though it is meant for a young adult audience, the way it's written makes it feel appropriate for adults as well.

This book was a surprisingly refreshing read about depression and its accompanying thought process. I picked it up because I knew there had been a movie version of it (which I'm still planning to watch), but now I'm really glad I ended up reading the book first.

I thought it was quite simply a very honest, detailed portrayal of the thought processes of someone, specifically a teenager, going through depression. At first, I was quite annoyed with Craig Gilner, our main character, but somehow, somewhere in the middle of my reading, understanding and compassion dawned on me. It's a hell of a lot of pressure for any teenager (heck, even for me, and I'm a young adult) to live in a society that wants us to be the best at just about everything - school, extracurriculars, life, relationships, so it is kind of understandable why Craig would be driven to depression. I really could empathize with his concepts of the Cycling, Tentacles and Anchors because they just made so much sense - even I find those things to be true about my own life.

I came away from reading the book with a sense of peace. Though it would occasionally come back and try to bite him in the butt, I was happy that Craig was able to make the solid decision to live, to try to beat the odds instead of letting the depression, despair and hopelessness win. It inspired me in a way to try and do the same - to fight for my dreams, to fight to live and to try and beat any odds despite the many people (or even society in general) telling me I can't.

I loved the insertion of art as a way for Craig to deal with his depression, or in his terminology, an Anchor. The concept of brain maps as art is quirky, unique and I would love to have Craig make me my own masterpiece. I think the other reason I could appreciate the idea of art as an anchor is because I think that's what writing is for me. I've always believed that having a creative outlet is important and I feel like this story explains why I would believe that better than I ever could.

I leave you now with my favorite (and a very inspiring) quote from the story - "Dreams are only dreams until you wake up and make them real."

I really enjoyed this book, I think it was different than most books chichis why I enjoyed it. On the back of the book there was a quote that said "A book about depression that is the least bit depressing". I think that quote is the best way to describe this book. The way that he described the characters was spot on and he really made the book feel alive. I think it's a mature read but in a good way. Craig, (main character) starts out as a normal teenage kid, but once you get further into the book you start to realise how different he is and I really enjoyed that. In the book he has two main love interests, Nia and Noelle and at first, I wanted Craig to end up with Nia but I started to dislike Nia the more he described her and started to like Noelle. My favorite character was Craig because we have the same sense of humour and I feel I can relate to him the most. Not because of him wanting to kill himself, or his problems with home or eating but because of the way he thinks and his tone of voice that he uses. I could never really put the book down, I always wanted to read more. Every chapter there was something interesting to read about even if you didn't know it yet. I think this book is a must read and an important book because Craig's character really makes you think and I really enjoyed it.

One of the quotes on the back of this book says this is "a book about depression not the least bit depressing," and that description fits this novel perfectly. I know it seems wrong and, well, kind of impossible, but this book is hilarious. The clever and original style had me laughing at loud (and earning stares from strangers) during almost every chapter.

There's just something about Craig's voice - he doesn't take himself too seriously, and he thinks of the world in ways I had never considered before. His way of speaking is amazing; he has original terms for every part of his psychological state and development: the Tentacles, the Anchors, the Cycling, the Shift, fake shifts....Those terms are catchy and made it so easy for me to really understand his mental illness. He was easy to relate to from the beginning on. Especially his feelings on academic pressure I could relate to - I think that's something all of us have felt, albeit not as extremely as Craig.

The secondary characters were great as well, especially the ones at the psychiatric hospital.They were complex, original, vivid and entertaining. Obviously, all of them had some type of mental illness, and while most of them were pretty messed up (sorry, can't think of a better way to say that), they all stayed real and understandable. Especially Noelle was a great character, and I loved her realtionship with Craig.

I'm not sure, though, how I feel about the characters outside the facility. The parents were okay, but Craig's friends were kind of strange. Him being in love with Nia, his best friend's girlfriend, was helpful to explain his situation in the beginning, but I don't really get what the later developments of those relationships added to the main plot - they were just kind of off-putting.

At first, I didn't really get the cover of this book, but now that I know the story behind the brain maps, I love the cover! I loved reading about Craig's art and how that helped him. Especially knowing Ned Vizzini spent some time in a psychiatric hospital like Craig did, and knowing he started writing this novel a few days after he was released, makes this part of the story even more realistic and enjoyable.

The writing was great - raw and unpretentious. There was one little thing that annoyed me, though: Quite often, instead of writing "(dialogue)," said (character), the author wrote "(dialogue)," (character) is like. If there was some deeper meaning to that way of writing, I'm sorry, but I just didn't get it, and honestly, that was kind of annoying. That's just one little thing, though.

Overall, It's Kind of a Funny Story is a great book. Ned Vizzini someow managed to mix a fun, self-deprecating style with a great, life-affirming message. The voice and the characters are great. I definitely recommend it - even to those, who usually steer clear of such heavy topics.

In Ned Vizzini’s quasi-autobiographical novel, ateenage boy struggles with clinical depression and finally realizes he might be able to conquer it one day at a time.

The trouble starts when CRAIG GILNER applies to a tough private school in Brooklyn. He spends most of a year studying for the entrance exam and taking private lessons and undergoing prep exams. When he isn’t studying, he’s hanging with his friend AARON, who also wants to get into EXECUTIVE PRE-PROFESSIONAL HIGH SCHOOL. Aaron is a lot more laid back than Craig about the whole thing. He spends most of his time smoking pot and having sex with his girlfriend NIA. (Craig covets Nia in the worst way and when Aaron tells him about feeling the inside of her “pussy” and tells him it feels like the inside of a cheek, Craig nearly goes wild.)

Always sensitive, Craig gets clinically depressed after he gets into the school. His parents (mom designs postcards, dad’s in health insurance) are very concerned and send him off to a psycho-pharmacologist named DR. BARNEY. He puts Craig on Zoloft and refers him to a psychotherapist. It takes a few sessions to find a good fit for him, but Craig really likes DR. MINERVA. And that’s when Craig’s problems really begin.

There’s an urgency and a freshness to this novel that marks the author as a real talent. This is not the usual coming of age story. It is, instead, a character study. Craig is just a normal kid until his depression and anxiety spin out of control and he succumbs to the pain of it all. Every step along the downward spiral feels completely real and plausible, as does the ambiguous ending. (Craig is all right, for the time being, and hopeful that he will only get better with time.)

The characters here are not always developed to their fullest, but the author has a knack for giving us the detail that will make them come alive. Craig’s mom shows up at the hospital toting the family dog, much to everyone’s dismay. When she hugs Craig, the dog is in between them and growls. (It does not go unnoticed by Craig that the dog began barking at him when he his depression began to take hold.)

Nia, the girl of Craig’s dreams, proves to be a superficial sort long before Craig realizes it. She’s a tease and not really worth all the energy he pours into loving her. (His friend Noelle speaks for most readers when she tells Craig that Nia is a slut.)

The various patients on the adult ward are a mixed bag. The writer does a good job of making these damaged people come alive. It is perhaps too on the nose that Noelle is a survivor of a suicide attempt brought on by sexual abuse. Bobby and Tommy and Humble are actually pretty funny in their roles as drug burn-outs (what Bobby calls being a “garbage-head”) and they’re as close to the voice of reason as he’s going to find.

The doctors are uniformly sympathetic. (This is not a ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST situation, although everyone kind of hopes that it might be—at least among Craig’s posse.) One doctor in particular has a special knack for getting to the bottom of what’s bothering Craig and offering solutions. (Solutions are ANCHORS in Craig’s parlance, just as drawing the maps is a way for him to stay grounded.)

We like Craig and really wish him well. The descriptions of how he is affected by depression and anxiety get to us on a completely visceral and emotional level. (The author slips in some statistics on how many people in the US have depression or other anxiety disorders, and the figures are high enough to pretty much include everyone in the depression continuum.)

The problem with the book as a whole is that it gives us a backdrop and it gives us lots of characters, but it doesn’t really give us a story. Unlike, say, ORDINARY PEOPLE, where there was a beginning, middle and end to the boy’s tale.
movie, however.

This well-crafted novel is as real as it gets, a story told without self-pity and with large dollops of humor. It’s very accessible. Tragically, the real-life denouement—the author committed suicide just before Christmas in 2013—will now leave a pall over the hopeful ending, despite the important message about getting help for suicidal thoughts.

I've always wanted to read this novel but never got the chance nor the time to actually purchase it. I stumbled across the adaptation of the novel and read the plot seemed like an interesting story something I could relate to something that defined me as a person. Purchasing this novel was the best decision I could have ever made, as I read the title then flipped to chapter one the words drew me in this kid, this teenager is just like for I too am a teenager and I deal with the same feelings and urges he gets, this book took me back to the times I've spent in psychiatric children hospitals for self-harm or attempting suicides I felt for once in my life like a normal human being like I wasn't alone. I have to the Ned Vizzini for sharing his highs and lows in this book through the eyes of a teenager. It made me think hard, I'm young still, I'm still a teenager what do I want out of life? and how will I keep my depression from stopping me, the only differences we have are our reasons as to why we are like this, Craig wasn't even sure as to why he felt this way he just knew that he felt something and it wasn't what he wanted to feel it wasn't right, this books is awesome and an astonishment. I recommend you to read this book and not just scan it read it and take in the words it makes you feel as if you're inside of the novel itself. I plan to purchase Ned's other novel as well.

The simplicity and straight-forwardness of this book is what drew me to it the most I think. I finished reading it in 3 days, and was sad it ended too soon. Such a deep and serious topic taken and conveyed in such simple thoughts and scenarios, it was absolutely wonderful to read.

Craig is real. He's real, and he exists in all of us either now or at one point in our lives. His worries compared to the other people at the hospital are silly to say the least - but it doesn't make them any less real. He worries about his email, about his principal calling the hospital, about school and homework, about friends, about very mundane everyday things that worry all of us on a daily basis. At one point I did think to myself that this is quite ridiculous, this kid has everything going for him and he's in a mental hospital? Seriously? But then I thought about my life, all the little things that get to me on a daily basis, the sleep deprivation, lack of appetite and so on, and I thought well...I get it...I really get it. And if it were up to us, if it were that easy, we would all check ourselves into a mental hospital when we face a total breakdown.

I loved the characters, and Craig's development in the book. His family is quite amazing as well, I mean, talk about support! And Craig is such a good guy, that it just amazed me how well he was raised. He's a kid that parents would be proud of.

This book reminded me so much of Veronika Decides to Die for Paulo Coelho, without the over-dramatization. It was more realistic, and more profound in its own way. It is also I believe a book that is a lot easier for people to connect with than Coelho's books. And I loved the ending and the overall "moral of the story" - go after what you love and believe in, not what is expected of you or what you think is expected of you. Such a simple thing as what you choose to study or what school you choose to go to can affect your entire outlook on life. It's pretty cool.

Ned Vizzini captured every individual's reality perfectly within a fifteen year old kid - I'm impressed. I look forward to reading his other books.

It's hard for me to really talk about the plot, characters, and storyline of the book because I really want to get to the message of it. Was it a good story? Yes. Were the characters dynamic and interesting yet relatable? Definitely. I laughed out loud at certain parts ("BEWARE OF PENIS." ha!) and was really impressed with how a book that takes place mostly in one setting on a single floor of a hospital could be so enthralling.

But again, moving on to the message of it. I'm so thankful Ned Vizzini wrote this book about dealing with depression in young people. I wish I had read it when I was younger. To recognize the difference between the normal moody blues teens can get into and mental illness is so important and saves lives, I'm glad I read this as a parent even if my kids are far away from their teenage years.

Maybe this is trite and an oversimplification, but I think that many people who use recreational or prescription drugs dangerously and definitely hard drugs can be self-medicating for the many different types of chemical imbalance that can cause depression and anxiety issues, and it breaks my heart that many of those situations could have been saved if they had known that there was help. Not to mention suicide and self-harm, what tragic stories.

I would recommend this book especially to someone who hasn't gone through these issues. It puts you first-person into the shoes of someone who is. You walk through counseling, medication, and treatment in his recovery process and it was very eye-opening. Even if you haven't been through these exact situations the book is about finding out who you are, what your passions are, what makes you happy. And not just "oh I like vegging out with potato chips that must make me happy" but what inspires you and how you can inspire others. It sounds lofty, but it's true. It was a beautiful story.

This book is ok. In my opinion, it's not a life changer. Though it is sympathetic to people with mental health troubles, in my opinion it still romanticizes the experience of being in a mental health facility. It's great that there's an depiction of a psych ward that's positive (unlike One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest or whatever else is in that genre) but the totally unnecessary romance added into the story line was irritating and unrealistic. The time that Craig fingers a girl while they're both healing from self harm in a hospital was unnecessary. I think that the author probably wanted it to seem like they were really meant for each other because of their situations, but it just kind of felt like a creepy fantasy to me, with maybe a dash of manic pixie dream girl in there, too.

Apart from that, it was ok. It never reaches the sincerity and emotional strength of something like The Bell Jar or the complexity of Someday This Pain Will Be Useful To You or even the weirdly delicious angstiness of Catcher in The Rye, but it wasn't so bad that I didn't finish it.

Originally, I got this book because it sounded like a bubbly story of a boy with depression. I think that is very accurate of the book. The book was wonderfully written. One of the best aspects of it was how relatable it was. You may wonder how you a mentally stable person could relate; the relating came through being stuck in a cycle. In the book, Craig just got stuck and he did not see an outlet out of his life. Though it meant tearing down his previous life, Craig found a way out which would make him a hero to most people. Not only is this story heartwarming in the sense that the main character got his life back together, it gives us hope for our own lives.
Though your life may not be the best, this book will surely remind you of how lucky you are and the importance of appreciating your current life. I was thoroughly impressed with the complex thought provoking nature achieved through this book. Though written very comically and lighthearted, It’s Kind of a Funny Story teaches you to respect those with depression and gives more of an understanding.
Noted at the back of the book is the information that this book was written soon after the author got out of a mental hospital himself. This really gives even more perspective when reading it. I wish I had known while reading the book.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a comical story of hope. This book is not just for teens. Many adults could gain insight and enjoy this book.

It's Kind Of A Funny Story features an adolescent boy named Craig Gilner. Craig is extremely relatable since he is stressed about school and succeeding in the future among other things. He suffers from depression in the book, but hides it from his friends because he finds it embarrassing. Then, one night, his depression felt like it was overwhelming him, so he checked himself into a mental hospital called Six North. From there, the story picks up a plot about Craig’s recovery and the people he meets along the way.
I thought Vizzini does a great job of creating a realistic character in Craig. He struggles with fairly common things in the book which make him relatable to the audience. The tone that Vizzini used in It’s Kind of A Funny Story give it an informal, relaxed, and slightly humorous feel. A book written about depression, near suicide, and mental hospitalization, by nature, should not be witty and lighthearted, but Vizzini makes it an enjoyable read.
The only thing I could have gone without in the book was the drawn out plot in some parts. Craig’s five days in Six North take up over half of the pages. I understand that that is the main plot of the book, but nothing extremely exciting happens in there, and I strongly believe more plot could have been revealed in the same amount of pages. I would have loved to learn more about each of the people he encountered in Six North instead of bits and pieces here and there.
Overall, I really did enjoy this book, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves relatable characters and enjoys a lighthearted take on a sensitive subject.

It's Kind of a Funny Story, my new favorite book, is a quirky and honest read that comes with a very unique narrator. I've never really seen anything remotely like it--it's definitely a book that would appeal to boys, with Craig's dryly hilarious way of looking at the world. So, it's a book about life in a psychiatric hospital, and I guess the word 'hilarious' is probably not the first one to come to mind with that scenario, and yet, it really is. Craig's outlook and subsequent narration of the goings-on around him are a blast to read, serious, heartbreaking, and unexpectedly funny at the same time. Like I said earlier, it's a ridiculously honest book, with the real tone of a real kid. The fact that the book was written by someone who had gone through a remarkably similar experience (and in fact, began writing the book only a week after his own stay at a hospital) makes a world of difference. The story moves at a good pace, with a great cast of well-developed characters that really brings it all to life. Each character has their own story, their own personality, their own life, and we get to witness a glimpse at all of that through Craig's over-perceptive eyes. I was just a tiny bit disappointed at the ending, in particular, the overly-happy non-subtle resolution with Noelle. I felt that was extremely overdone. Other than that, I'm glad it ends somewhat happily, but still makes it a point to address the fact that Craig is not cured and still has a long way to go ahead of him. The book definitely makes it a point to address the diversity of psychiatric problems. I'm not going to lie--it's a triggering book, but I would go so far as to say it is a necessary read for people who can handle it.

Rating: 5/5

It's Kind of a Funny Story is about 15-yr-old New Yorker, Craig Gilner. Craig is highly ambitious, spending his entire middle school career studying to get into an elite high school. Once there, Craig realizes maybe he isn't so smart after all. He has to work twice as hard as his classmates just to get by. All this pressure causes Craig to suffer from depression, preventing him from sleeping or eating. On a particularly bad night after Craig stops taking his medication, he nearly kills himself, deciding to call the suicide hotline at the last moment. From there, Craig spends the next five days in a mental hospital, possibly the most influential five days of his life. He learns to eat and sleep again, he creates friendships, discovers a passion for drawing, and he finally confronts the reason as to why he is so unhappy.

I loved this book. For a book about depression, it was amazingly light-hearted. The tone was clever and humorous and very real. The cast of the novel was original and entertaining. Craig himself was a brilliant character. I don't have depression, yet could sympathize with Craig on so many levels. Craig is a teenage boy, and acts like one. He makes mistakes, but every now and then has a moment of insightful clarity.

The topic of depression and mental illness was treated carefully. These people were messed up, but never seemed inhuman. All of them were very real. While the plot wasn't suspenseful, it was gripping and had me flipping the pages without hesitation.

The only thing I found doubtful was Craig's miraculous recovery. Maybe with some that may be the case, but not many. It would have been difficult if they book ended any other way however, so I'm not too upset about it.

It's Kind of a Funny Story was a truthful and funny story about depression I won't soon forget.

Wow, this is such a great book! My friends wanted to go see the film, so of course I had to read the book first. The book is about Craig, a 15-year-old overachiever from a good family, who is extremely stressed out and feels under so much pressure that he thinks about committing suicide. Luckily, he decides this isn't normal and calls a hotline, which lands him straight in a mental hospital, where he meets an interesting group of people.

I'm not sure about you, but I wasn't convinced by the originality of the story. It's nothing I hadn't encountered before. Boy, was I wrong. This book is phenomenal. Maybe it's because the author actually had experience with being in such a hospital himself, because the descriptions and feelings are written so well, so raw, so believable and so, so beautiful. I felt like I could really connect to Craig and the book really helped me to understand depression better. However, the book itself was far from depressing, there was so much humor in there!

Experiencing Craig's road to self-discovery, seeing his brain-maps in your mind, and relating to the pressures he feels in life is a beautiful experience. I honestly believe everyone will recognize a part of him/herself in Craig and will be helped a teeny tiny bit by reading this book. We're all under pressure, we're all a bit crazy, but we can all find our voice and overcome our fears.

I first heard of “It’s Kind of a Funny Story” the movie. When I found out it wad a book, I thought it’d be pretty cool and smart to read the book before seeing the movie. It really attracted my attention since i heard it was about a troubled teen and i thought maybe reading this as a teenager, I’d be able to understand and relate as opposed to reading it as a child. At first, I found myself getting pretty bored while reding this book, but once all of the interesting twists began taking place, I found myself glued to the book and couldn’t put it down.
The book was basically about a suicidal adolescent who had many problems with family, friends,school, social problems,etc as he was growing up.The book incorporates episodes of peer-pressure, family crisis,anxiety, and many other problems teens face everyday. The main character,Craig, decides that he’s tired of living a miserable and depressing life so he decides to admit himself into a psyciatric ward for two weeks. Here he learns about true friendship,love, and most importantly finding hapiness.Some parts of the book i found really relatable and it brought back some memories. I definately recomend this book and give it 4 stars. It was very well written and was easy to read and comprehend. I really enjoyed the author’s vocabulary choice for the main character,Craig. He talked how most teenagers talk in today’s day in age, which may have been a reason i could relate more. This book is definately targeted towards an audience of the ages 13-18. I wouldn’t recomend it to children any younger because it can be very graphic. Other than that, It’s a great read and can even teach teens a lesson.

I went back and forth about giving this 3 stars or 4 stars. I chose four because I think it's on the high end of the spectrum. In my opinion, the first 100 pages were...not necessary. They could've been summed up faster, rather than jumping from past to present to past to present. Then pages 100 to 136, I totally related with Craig.

The hospital took up about 300 pages of the book, and it has its ups and downs. I liked the people you meet, but this is where Craig kind of did some seemingly-uncharacteristic things. For a depressed kid who wanted to commit suicide, he was VERY outgoing. He could strike up a convo with anyone, anytime. I just didn't find it completely realistic, since many depressed, suicidal people close up and shelter themselves.

Also, there was an abundance of exclamation points. A lot of them were Craig, and again, I just didn't feel like he would be someone who acts all excited like that.

Then there's the love story. It's great that he got over Nia and all, but he spent all of 10 minutes with Noelle before deciding he wanted to have sex with her. Okay. Not that unrealistic when you're a 15 year old guy and you've never had a girlfriend. My complaint is that even though it wasn't "insta-love," it was definitely, "insta-besties" (no matter how much it was inherently denied) and the relationship just moved too fast. Noelle's character was cool, but her friendship with Craig needed to be developed more. Heck, throw them in the hospital for an extra week, stretch out their friendship, and I wouldn't have had any complaints about it.

Other than that, this book was enjoyable. I got through it fast, I looked forward to reading it again each time I put it down, and there was a string of chapters where I literally couldn't put the book down, because I HAD to keep reading. The characters were fun (though somewhat underdeveloped) but you get enough flavor to enjoy them.

Lastly, R.I.P. Ned Vizzini. You fought a good fight. I've been there and I understand.

It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini is a young adult novel that reads like a memoir, except that it's funnier than most memoirs. It's the story of Craig Gilner, a teen who puts all of his energy into getting into a competitive New York City high school, only to find that the pressure of the school is too much for him. Craig gets severely depressed. He smokes too much pot, and can't get out of bed in the morning. He can't keep any food down, he has insomnia, and he experiences anxiety over keeping up with things at school. Eventually, after a near suicide attempt, Craig checks himself into the hospital, and is admitted to the adult psychiatric ward (the teen ward being shut down for renovations). The rest of the book chronicles his time in the psych ward, the people that he meets, and his own mental progress.

There are so many things to like about this book. Craig's voice is authentic and compelling. He's clearly in deep mental trouble, and yet is matter-of-fact about it, too. He never loses his sense of humor or his compassion for other people. The other psych ward patients are quirky and well-drawn. Clearly the author has spent some time with mental health patients (this is confirmed in a footnote of the book). Craig's family is less well-drawn, but I like how supportive they are of him.

Vizzini is dead-on in his portrayal of depression and anxiety. Sometimes he's so dead-on that it almost resonates too close to home. Craig lying in bed, thinking of nothing, because he can't face getting up and dealing with the day-to-day things that he has to deal with, for example. Or Craig worried about getting out of the hospital because of all the email that he'll have piling up. He'll feel compelled to go through it in order, and he thinks: "then as I'm answering them more will come in, and they'll sit on top of the stack and mock me, dare me to answer them before digging down, telling me that I need them, as opposed to the one or two e-mails that are actually about something I care about." I have to admit that I feel that way all the time, like the incessant email monster is out to get me.

The book gets a number of important points across, without being at all heavy-handed about it. For example:

- Everyone has problems of one sort or another, but help is available.

- Depression is caused by a chemical imbalance, and can be treated.

- The decision NOT to commit suicide is something that you'll be glad about later.

- You have to find your own way, with the career and talents and friends that are right for you.

I personally could have done without Craig having not one but two different girls throw themselves at him, in a physical way. But I suspect that the teen make viewpoint on this is pretty accurate. (e.g. "I know that's not a good reason, but I can't help it; if a girl likes me I tend to like her back.")

Overall, I found the book compelling, funny, matter-of-fact, and realistic. I think that it could help any reader to have more empathy for people with depression or other mental illnesses. And for readers experiencing such problems themselves, It's Kind of a Funny Story could be life-saving, or at least life-changing. And it's highly amusing along the way. I strongly recommend this book.

This book review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on May 29th, 2006.

I love this book because of the mixture of crazy (for lack of a better word) characters. Rarely do you read so many different characters from different walks of lives. My only complaint is that there wasn't more development in other characters. I especially Noelle, who turns into a typical one dimensional character to serve only as a love interest to validate Craig and reduce his insecurity about being able to be loved. I know most books, even the great ones, put in a love story because it's what readers want. And I liked their story, it just monopolized the ending and basically gives into the myth that all a teenager needs is a girlfriend or boyfriend to validate them and make them better. Was Craig that depressed or did he just need some action with a girl? The ending sure supports that for me. I just felt the book as a whole was better than that one relationship or that one part of Craig's life.

I absolutely loved this book! It has always been a rule of mine to read the book before I watch the movie, but when I saw this movie, I was not aware that it was based off of a novel! So after waiting a couple years, I decided to read the book. I think one of the reasons why I liked it so much was because of how much I could relate to it. A younger person, struggling with depression, who is not quite aware of himself or his capabilities. These are things I have either struggled with myself, or I have witnessed first hand in my life. A major strength was how much the author was truly aware of what happens in a psychiatric ward of a hospital. I never felt as though the facts and information were faulty, as I sometimes feel when reading books. Though it was slow and kind of hard to get through during some parts of the book, it truly was a learning experience for me. In a backwards way, Craig's struggles made me think a lot more about my own life, and made me realize that even though it might seem like its the end of the world in the moment, I can get through it. I recommend this book to my friends already, and will continue to do so!

In my Modern Fiction class, my Teacher recommended this book for me to read. I immediately took hold of it because his summary of the book interested me. Craig Gilner is incredibly smart, and one of the most hardworking people around. He decides he wants to attend a pre-law type of high school that has a limited acceptance rating. The type of work he'd be doing in this school is long and strenuous, and when he gets in, he soon finds out it's too much for him.
Craig has many problem such as anxiety, and he ends up diagnosed as clinically depressed. On the brink of committing suicide, he decides to do the smart thing and call a suicide hotline for professional help.
Overall, I am very happy with the book. It's an incredible story that lets you see through the eyes of someone who has these types of problems. Obviously, nothing could truly simulate how depression or anxiety feels, but this book can at least give a good idea. This book is an engaging read, I would encourage anyone to pick it up.

I'm writing this review because I'm currently in a mental ward. This book is basically the same stuff that I'm struggling with (hopelessness, pressure at school etc) and the kid in the book fortunately gets treatment and I'm just waiting to find out if I will be sent to another mental ward because this one doesn't provide treatment. It's just bloody hell and I just wanna go home. I've been stuck inside this place for 24 hours and I'm not allowed to go anywhere not even for a walk. I'm only let out of my room to take a shower which is on the other side of the place and to go to the bathroom and I have to be monitored 24/7 even at night so I have to keep my door open when I'm trying to sleep. I have no clothes because i did something really bad that involved me getting stuck in mud so i have to wear this gown with makeshift underpants which is nasty. The good thing is that my mom is here with me and will stay with me until we find out what they're gonna do with me. I hope I will get out soon.

I just finished reading this book and have some thoughts and feelings that I would like to share. I went into this book thinking this would be a good book about mental illness. My students and I both were interested in it after doing a class on YA Literature and as someone who has mental illness, has checked themselves into a mental institution to prevent myself from committing suicide, and has even gone through ECT treatments I figured it would be something I could also relate to. And I thought it would accurately depict mental illness. I was wrong.

Vizzini obviously had very real mental problems that drove him ultimately to take his own life. This I do not dispute and I think it is tragic that that happened to him. But I want to talk about his book. I've read reviews praising this book from top to bottom for it's "accurate" portrayal of mental illness. I disagree. I am not a psychiatrist or a psychologist, but I have gone through serious mental crises and deal with my illness every day, and if you can feel better after 5 days in a mental ward it doesn't seem plausible you had depression (unless you are bipolar and cycled up).

At the beginning of the story I can believe he is ill although it sounds more like an anxiety problem than depression (anxiety is horrible too!). He can't keep food down and throws up, he has trouble sleeping, he has racing thoughts that are obsessive and cyclical, and has trouble focusing on his homework. Ultimately he ends up with suicidal ideation and begins to take steps to carry it out. It sounds like anxiety that drives him to despair. Totally believable and relatable and an accurate depiction of mental illness (I'd call it anxiety, he calls it depression, I am not a doctor so whatever, the point is the kid is ill).

Now here is where it starts to become something else. Something that, to me, is both an inaccurate portrayal of mental illness and, frankly, a dangerous story to pass off to teens as realistic. It starts small, like where the doctor doesn't correct him when he equates self harm and suicide. As someone who self harms (and research has shown this), the two are not usually related as counterintuitive as that might sound to people who don't self harm. To not make this clear to teens does them a disservice. Then it escalates to the boy being in the psych ward playing games, making connections, drawing pictures, making out with girls, getting rid of toxic friends, and deciding to change to a new school (um why had no one suggested this to him before--parents, therapist, doctor...there were so many things it sounded like the therapist never suggested that it boggles the mind). Suddenly, pretty soon into him being there, he is already feeling a lot better without physical symptoms of his illness and having this rosy attitude. I am sorry, but if he was truly sick he wouldn't be "cured" in a five day stay in the psych ward (he acknowledges at the end he could relapse, but that is besides the point). In addition to that large misrepresentation, he mentions things like the presence of blinds which, I am sorry, would probably not be there. They don't kid around in places like that...anything you could use to harm yourself or kill yourself is not around. You can hang yourself with blinds.

I think it is very dangerous that the author seems to conflate mental illness and a life crisis. At the beginning of the book, like I said, I believe it sounds like he has a real illness. It is good that Vizzini shows teens what that can be like and how to deal with an acute crisis like being suicidal. But then to pivot to this "life crisis" attitude in the hospital where the kid does not seem sick at all, but merely needs to get his s*** together (which is admittedly very hard and is stressful...but is not mental illness) is shocking. A mental ward is not a spa or a short retreat from the world. It's the LAST place you want to go. It is the LAST resort. You sure as hell don't normally leave there walking on sunshine and roses because of how refreshed you feel. You are glad to get out, but you aren't suddenly not sick.

I want to talk about Vizzini for a moment. He supposedly modeled this book on his own experiences. So I wonder--did it really happen like that? It seems unlikely. If so, he couldn't have been that sick, but we know for a fact that he was because he ultimately took his own life. From what I've read about him he sounds like he was a really nice guy and that makes me wonder if he wrote the book to give a rosy picture and a happy ending to something he knew didn't have one. Hopefully it wasn't to sell books.

So as a reader who has mental illness and that has spent a very short stint in a mental institution and had serious mental issues for over a decade, I would say I am extremely disappointed in the portrayal of the whole damn thing. I find it personally offensive to treat the portrayal of mental illness in such a cavalier and inaccurate way. I also think it is dangerous and does a huge disservice to kids dealing with serious mental health problems. They shouldn't be told there is some quick fix. They should be shown how things are and shown characters that truly learn to cope and deal.

But I sympathize with the author because he did have problems. Maybe he just wanted the happy ending his issues could not give him. I'd like to think that rather than that he did it for better sales. His misrepresentation is not good, but maybe he did it as much to himself as he did to anyone.

Recipe for suicide: push yourself beyond your abilities, criticize your performance relentlessly, lust after your best friend's girlfriend, smoke pot and masturbate daily, fail to make emotional connection with others. Do this as a ritualized habit and you're two steps away from psychosomatic meltdown and doing a triple gainer off the Brooklyn Bridge. Following this precise process is what eventually places Craig Gilner at death's doorstep knocking frantically for entrance. Funny thing is, before embarking on his course of destructive habits, he was just a normal, blend into the woodwork kind of kid, a regular guy, the kind of guy you would see walking through the halls at school and notice only if he was momentarily blocking something you were trying to see, "What does that poster say behind that guy---is the anime club meeting today?" One could say in the social domain the primary impression left by his presence was a decided lack of impression. In other words he was terminally unimpressive.

So, how then can this be a funny kind of story when it involves the escapades of a fifteen year old boy under so much social and academic pressure he attempts suicide and checks himself into a Psychiatric Hospital? It is entirely due to the skills of Vizzini that this mélange of otherwise tragic cum melodramatic potential is rendered a soul searching, life affirming, joyous celebration as we are allowed access to an inner sanctum where only the invited may tread. One may immediately on understanding the premise of this tale jump to Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest as likely parallel. The mistake with this approach is in confusing apples for oranges. While Kesey's tale is an indictment of the failures in the mental institutions of his day, a grim satire to be sure, Vizzini's foray into psychiatric institutions is teeming with fascinating and personality laden characters who in summation lend a vacation camp veneer to the proceedings within. And what can be taken away from this tale is that even in the most unexpected and unlikely of places, redemption is not only possible, but entirely achievable.

Douglas Coupland was dubbed the voice of his generation with his landmark socially relevant novel, Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture. Perhaps Ned Vizzini will be awarded the same distinction as the voice of his generation for his contribution A Funny Kind of Story; equally socially relevant and worthy of official acknowledgement.

As someone who has spent several years dealing with severe depression and struggling not to give in to suicidal urges, this book was incredibly powerful for me. I first read it a couple of years ago, when things were getting to the breaking point for me. I felt like every word just really resonated with me. I had never felt so connected to a book before. I remember finishing the book and just breaking down sobbing because I had ended it remember the reason I wanted to stay alive. It breaks my heart knowing that Ned lost his own battle with depression. I hope it brings him some comfort in the afterlife knowing just how many lives he touched and even saved with this book. It's well written, expressive, and their characters are so relatable.

Nowadays there are a countless plethora of books in the large Paper Ocean. Yet, none of these books has ever captured a personal story that was this accurate. It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini explains the psychological condition of depression from the fantastic view of his younger self with a splendidly well written story of struggles and feelings. The way that Vizzini writes shows strong writing aspects of being simplistic and incorporates his personal experience.

This little-known author created a piece titled It's Kind of a Funny Story. This novel is written in a way that is understood by all, but this does not take away from its message or story. Instead, it implies a visual in the reader of what it was like when this was happening in his life. The simplicity of his writing makes it so that the audience understands everything that he is saying. All of the information is organized in an accurate way that supports the meaning while keeping it understandable. He was aiming for a slightly not serious story about depression, and he achieved just that with novel. Another thing that supported this was how relatable the story was.

To a person that knows many people with mental illnesses like depression, I have learned how to deal with a person with it. Personal experience has taught me what it feels like, and there is nothing more accurate than Ned Vizzini's story. The experiences that Craig went through is how it is. This story is not a very original idea, many people have made attempts of capturing this feeling, but none of them even come close to this magnificent book. For example, Vizzini's examples of social anxiety and things that make it worse and better is spot-on. Certain friends and adults make it much, much worse while other solid aspects make it better, at least a little.
Stories like this can make you think about many aspects of your life, and how you relate to what Craig was going through, and eventually made through. Being depressed just means that there's room to be happier and to improve. Ned Vizzini's book shows what it is like in the life of a depressed person, and this applies to everyone. The accuracy of this story is flawless, and it is written very well.

There are so many things I love about this book that I’m inspired to write my own. 15 year-old Craig Gilner’s unflinching, awkward, painful, and awkwardly-painful story is simply breathtaking. No really, at some points I couldn’t breathe it was so funny. Though very common, the story of an amazingly talented but slightly suicidal teenager is pretty much unspoken. There’s like, this rule that you can’t talk about suicide. At all. But nowadays it seems rules are being broken. It’s still incredibly painful and uncomfortable to talk about it, but people are willing to acknowledge it as an issue to be dealt with rather than a sin. People can’t help being depressed; it’s a chemical imbalance in the brain. What impresses me about this book is Vizzini isn’t loud about the subject, rather he’s real. Craig is so incredibly relatable, because if you aren’t like him you know someone like him. Anxious, clever, over analytical, talented, shy, but then again brave just about sums it up. The whole book is about struggle and depression, but it’s quite funny. In this case the title was very well thought out on Vizzini’s part. While caught up in Craig’s adventures you might learn a thing or two about yourself; his struggles aren’t too far off from those of us who don’t have mental disorders. They’re quite normal actually. He just wants to fit in, do well, have fun, and build a secure future. Sound familiar? The biggest lesson from this book is that we are our own worst enemy. We are usually the only ones standing in the way of ourselves. But at the end of the day, we know that. Why don’t we do something about it? We all put so much stress on ourselves with what we’re supposed to be doing, all these things to do. Take it from Craig, “Things to do today: 1.) Breathe in. 2.) Breathe out.”

It’s Kind of a Funny Story, by Ned Vizzini is definitely a good read, and I recommend it to people who are in for different plot settings, and a bunch of different characters. You get to really see what the main character, Craig, is feeling, and how he expresses himself throughout the whole book. It’s like you get to really know you Craig is, and get to become a good friend of his. This book isn't one that’s very distant from the character, it’s upfront and personal. That’s why I like it so much. Also, you may get to relate to him at some points in the story. I know I was.
One person on the store wrote “Craig's story of setting ambitious goals and expecting to find happiness and satisfaction when he achieves them is easily relatable. That behavior is certainly not limited to teenagers, or to those that become clinically depressed.” I agree with this person. People set goals all the time that they want to achieve. Whether it’s to lose weight, to make new friends, or to get better grades, people set goals for themselves. For Craig, it’s to find the Shift. Craig is depressed right now, and he wants himself to get better. One step he takes to make himself happy again is hanging out with his friend Aaron. They would hang out every day, just watching movies, playing video games, or even just talking or taking a walk. Instead of staying cooped up inside of his house, he went out with a friend. Another way that he started to make himself happy again was when he brought himself to the hospital when he knew he was going to commit suicide. That was a huge step for him to take, since this was when he was at his worst state. He called the suicide hotline, and they suggested him to go to the hospital. So that’s what he did. He didn't even tell his parents, he just walked over himself. Craig also started to find happiness again when he was in an art class in the hospital, drawing maps, just like he did when he was a little kid. This brought back memories of when he was good and happy, so this definitely helped him gain confidence to fixing himself.
My favorite character in this book was Craig’s younger sister, Sarah. She was always there for Craig, and she always supported him in everything that he did. She cares for him very much. When he went to the hospital, she visited often to check up on him, and make sure that he was doing alright. Even when he was at home she wanted to make sure that he was taking care of himself, and that he was happy. Having someone who cares for you so much is a very important thing to have in life. Not everyone has someone that cares for them. So, Sarah is very important to Craig, and she looks up to him. She wants to express her love towards him as much as possible.
One of my favorite quotes in this book is “‘Everybody has problems. Some people just hid their crap better than others. But people aren’t going to look at you and run away. They’re going to look at you and think that they can talk to you, and that you’ll understand, and that you’re brave, and that you’re strong. And you are.’” (Vizzini 366-367). This is a really powerful quote, and it’s one that I can relate to. I am usually a very self conscious person, and so hearing this is very meaningful. Also, I have some things I’m dealing with too. Although Craig is saying this to a totally different person who has totally different problems, it’s still very strong, and I bet that a lot of other people can relate to this too.

Although this book was published over ten years ago, this was the first book that I read in 2017. I blew through it simply because the story and the characters were so engaging. This book humanizes people with mental health problems so easily and generates humor out of tough situations. It is certainly a wonderful asset to the Young Adult canon, and one that does not underestimate the level of understanding that young people have for topics such as mental health. Vizzini's death was a great loss in the literary community, but I am grateful that we have this book from which to read his story.

Way back when I was in college, in the days before MySpace or Facebook or even LiveJournal, I read ANGELA'S ASHES by Frank McCourt. It also happened to be a favorite of my advisor's. When he saw me reading it, he said, "You know, it's funny about that book. You want to laugh at it, but at the same time you feel guilty for laughing because there's so much sadness."

I had to agree with him. While reading ANGELA'S ASHES, I never knew whether to laugh at McCourt's humor or cry because so much of his life was bleak. And until now, when I read IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY by Ned Vizzini, I have not felt so emotionally split over a book. That's a good thing, trust me.

IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY is kind of a funny story. It's about 15-year-old Brooklynite Craig Gilner, who attends a prestigious college prep school that will set him on his way to the right college, the right law school, and the right job on Wall Street --- assuming he can bring up his 93 average. Studying for his school's entrance exam occupied Craig for months, and he was proud of his perfect score. Now, though, the school is a huge source of stress for him. He feels scattered and depressed, and even though he really likes the doctors who are helping him with his depression, he can't seem to make what he refers to as The Shift, a move back to normal life. When he calls a suicide hotline, they suggest that he go to the emergency room. From there, Craig spends five days on Six North, the adult psychiatric floor of his local hospital.

Six North turns out to be exactly what Craig needs. Away from the stress of high school, parties and friends, he is given the chance to decompress, focus on getting better, and find out what he wants to do to achieve happiness. In this sheltered environment, supported by his doctors and his family, Craig returns to one of his first interests --- art --- and makes not only the quirkiest but the most real friends of his life, who help him on his way to healing.

Even though there are a lot of serious issues here, you can't help but laugh. The people Craig encounters on Six North aren't anything like his friends from school. Craig tries to maintain normal ties with his pals while on Six North, but they don't quite work out. His voice is very honest, and he's not afraid to share the details of a high-stress high school life, including sex, drugs and Egyptian popular music. Read it and weep. Or laugh. Maybe both.

--- Reviewed by Carlie Webber

Before I read this book, I bought it for a friend as a birthday gift. About two, three years later, I finally decide to pick it up and read it myself. It was about October when I started and I finished it sometime before December. There was one line in the book that really changed my life. It was Craig was first checked into the hospital and when he's having a discussion with Humble. Humble says something along the lines of how he's afraid of living and not dying. When I read that I really understood what it's like to have a mental health disorder.

The way this book was written can resemble a memoir because Vizzini wrote this book after he was released from a hospital himself. And that's what makes it more realistic for the reader. As a young adult myself who is still in school, active in various extra curriculars, and dealing with relationships, this book is very relatable and shockingly real. This book is a great read for that reason. If you know someone who has a mental health disorder, whether it be depression, DID, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder, you would greatly benefit from this book because you take the time to step inside their mind.

I haven’t ever been inside of a psych ward in my life, but Ned Vizzini really takes me there as if I was one of the common folk inside of the hospital. When Craig Gilner, a teen who really puts the “high” in high school, can’t cope with the stress and lifestyle of attending one of the greatest sought after high schools around, his life really starts to fall apart. This story is told from Craig’s eyes, and as the story plays through he really explains just what it’s like to be cooped up inside of a mental ward.
Craig is one of the main characters that gave this story its punch. I believe this could be because we are right around the same age and I can put things in perspective a little better. If the story were told by a 40 year old woman on the other hand, I don’t believe that I would’ve enjoyed this book as much as I do. The simple idea that there’s so much more than meets the eye with high school life is truly explained and in some ways are very relatable.
A friend of Craig named Aaron is kind of a polar opposite in a sense. In many ways they are alike and in many ways they are not. Aaron is the type of person who is very outgoing and doesn’t mind getting in trouble, but to a certain point. Craig, meanwhile, isn’t very outspoken and is more clean-cut if anything. Craig thinks that Aaron is helping in the start, but you’ll just have to keep reading through It’s Kind of a Funny Story to find out where their friendship goes.
Once Craig gets to the mental ward, he soon starts to be more outgoing and adventurous and realizes that maybe things aren’t so bad. Although things might seem bad, the only way to make it better is for him to make changes, and those changes could make things so easy as to eliminate most if not all of his “tentacles,” which you’ll learn more about when you read the book.
If you want to find out more about Craig’s adventures and everything that happens to him along the way along with the cause, you’ll have to read this. If I could rate this book out of 5 stars, I don’t believe 5 stars could even start to explain how good of a book this is.

The author found a way to tell the truth about depression and suicide ideation in a way that allowed the character to fully own it, and the reader to feel compassion instead of judgment. The movie is terrible - mostly because it's not the same story. In the book, In the book, Craig finds the resources within him to work his way back into the world, but in the film it's because of "the girl". Lame. Lovely and came to my family at a meaningful time.

I thought this book was interesting and informative. I read it in a day and was moved by the author's honesty. I think he hit it exactly when describing how he felt when he was depressed. This is a perfect book for young adults, or kids in high school. I like that the setting was New York City. I like that it was real. There were some negative or even slow parts, but it ended perfectly. It is a beautiful, real story that people need to hear.

This is truly one of the best books I've ever read. I have coped with mental illness since I was a teenager and have spent a lot of time on psych units. I've never read anything that's portrayed them so honestly and with so much humor and poignancy. Depression is abhorrent but so many books/movies don't ever really do it justice. This book completely does and I would say it's a must read for anyone who's been through it or who loves someone going through it. I'm so terribly sad that Ned Vizzini is gone. He was a gifted and intuitive writer. We always lose the wrong people. (less)

"It's Kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini is a book for everyone. Everyone who's ever felt anxiety, everyone who's ever held high standards for themselves and for everyone who has ever felt that the weight they must carry on their shoulders might just be too much of a chore to lug around with you on a day to day basis. So much so, that they've possibly thought about suicide. I, myself, have struggled with depression through childhood and all of my adult-life, but now, being a 20 year-old, I think (and thank my lucky stars) that I've grasped how to manage my anxiety to the point of minimizing my depression so that it is barely present at all to me anymore. For that reason though, I truly feel like this book could really help people out. It really gets down to the core emotional aspects and thought process of someone who is so wracked with anxiety that they don't think they can possibly handle it anymore. But then the ending of the book (particularly the last few lines) totally reinforce what I now know/think and truly helped me beat down those everyday strands of anxiety and depression (even if it was just a little bit more).

That said, I am in love with this book. I had seen the movie on TV about a year after it's release and I loved it. But it wasn't until another year later that I decided to order the book. Once I did, it sat in my room for a day or two before I decided to pick it up and actually read... But once I did, I kid you not, I could not put the thing down! Ned Vizzini is an amazing person, one who has felt all of the things that I think I have (and possibly, then some). And he has mastered the art of the word so that you feel what he felt/the main character feels.

I loved the book so much that I ordered a hardcover copy (the first one I ordered was the "movie-tie-in edition" because it was cheaper) and then sent it to Mr. Vizzini out in LA. He was such a good guy, signed my book, left a little message and sent it back to me and now that signed copy of the book sits proudly on my shelf amongst my favorite written works of all-time. Then, I lent my best friend my paperback copy because I felt he could really relate to it too.

All in all, the book is a spellbinding piece of work. One so startlingly real, gut bustingly funny (yes, Mr. Vizzini actually manages to throw in some real laughs, mostly due to his gifted voice) and amazingly relatable, that it truly might be my favorite book of all-time. I'm a big reader of Young Adult novels, but this one takes the cake (and the sprinkles, the filling, the icing and whatever else cakes come with).

Thank you, Ned Vizzini, for such an inspiring and heartwarming book, one that is more a gift to its reader than anything else.

Because this was written shortly after the author spent five days in a psychiatric hospital, I feel that this is better than several other books that are "like this one." It's a story about a 15 year old boy who suffers from depression and is admitted into a psych hospital for five days after having the desire to end his life(The pressure of high school was too much for him). It's pretty spot on accurate to what it is really like living with depression and being in a "hospital." It's not depressing at all, actually, to read.

It's Kind of a Funny Story was amazing. I finally finished it last night before bed. I felt as if I couldn't get enough of it, and when I finished it I wanted to know more about Craig Gilner's life.
As a person who has had depression as teenager, I related to what Craig was going through. He was just a kid who trying to cope with life and high school, but he just kept spiraling down a hole.
I believe this is a must read book. It will give you an insight to the world through Craig's lens. It will be relateable. Also, it will not only be serious, but it will be funny.

People will say this about a lot of books, but I don't think that makes it any less special despite how many books we label. There comes a certain point in really great books, where I can't put it down. It's Kind of A Funny Story made turn my alarm off for the next day, and rearrange my plans so I can read it through after I got to the special point. I loved the book. It was relatable, humorous. and has so many moments that made me stop and think, or go back to reread a beautiful part. I'm looking forward to the movie, and then rereading this book because I want to revisit the friends a Six North and pick up the details I might have missed the first time I read the book. I hope to read more by Ned Vizzini, and I thank him very much for writing such a novelty.

Ned Vizzini knew what he was talking about when he set his story in the adult mental health ward at a hospital, having been there himself, and he made me see it not only in a true, honest way but also in a touching, sometimes downright hilarious way. Fifteen-year-old Craig checks himself in after a conversation with the suicide hotline about his thoughts on killing himself, and because he was so sweet and self-deprecating and charming, I was as relieved that he did as I would have been had he been a real person whom I know (sometimes the people I read about seem more real to me than live ones). Who he meets and what he learns on the ward are gifts I won't spoil here, but I recommend putting time aside for this one right away.

Juggling the stresses of being a teenager can be tough. High school, relationships, friendships, teachers, principals, clubs, sports, recreational teams, and the big one, college, all of these things are added stress to any child’s life. When teachers told you to “Do your best,” and that you need to “get into those honors courses to get accepted to college,” before you even figured out where you wanted to sit in the cafeteria that day made your head ache and your stomach churn. College. Your future. Basically living to strive for something better or more, anything to “keep moving forward.” For tenth grader, Craig, these “what if’s?” become something more, voices in his head, that basically tell him he will never amount to much of anything; he is not the smartest kid at his “college prep school,” nor is he the star athlete in any sport, he doesn’t really even do any clubs. Craig, throughout the novel, reaches the breaking point and somehow brings himself back with the help of his unexpected, newfound friends, and his family always by his side.
As the book starts to unravel, like Craig, it is very clear he is not normal. Craig needs professional help, help he does not receive from his visits with his psychiatrist. As he threatens to throw in the towel, he dials the suicide hotline one night around two o’clock. He follows their instructions to go to the closest hospital to his home. He arrives and is checked in, but there is a catch, the hospital is remodeling their children’s psychiatric ward so Craig is forced to go to the adult wing. He remained unsure if he did the right thing, but as soon as he gets there is greeted by an unlikely new friend, Bobby, who is a middle-aged man recovering from drug addiction. Once Craig becomes comfortable at the ward, he analyzes the relationships he had with his “friends,” and realizes they are just making him worse in the long run.
Throughout the novel, Craig really finds himself. He realizes what he wants and stops trying to please everyone around him. He opens his eyes to the world around him and embraces it. Craig ended his journey by deciding to “live for real.”

I saw the trailer for the movie last week, and I was so excited that I ended up watching it just about fifteen times in a few days. So I decided to finally read the book (I've had it for a while.) If I could sum up this book in one word, it would be "okay". Sure, that's not descriptive, and it doesn't tell you a single thing about the book itself, but that's really how I feel about it. The plot, and the characters were both mediocre throughout the entire book. It was sweet, and had a fairly decent message, but this isn't the type of book that's going to stick with me.

Craig Gilner is a fifteen-year old living in Brooklyn and attending the tough Executive Pre-Professional High School, which is mostly the source of his depression. One morning he has a plan to throw himself off of the Brooklyn bridge, and instead he stops and calls the Suicide Hotline. Ultimately, he ends up in the hospital in Psychiatric care. He meets a variety of people there including a girl who cut her own face with scissors, a boy who's afraid that gravity will stop, and various patients with completely scrambled logic. Through his five-day stay he meets some interesting people, rediscovers his love and talent for art, and gets his life in order; leaving with a new outlook on life.

I think It's Kind of a Funny Story is a terrible representation of depression, or any mental illness for that matter. You never get to feel it in the characters, it's all quirky people and cute awkward moments but you never get to see the depression in Craig, besides his, fairly normal in teens, worried thoughts. I've had my own personal experiences with depression and long-term anxiety, and I really wanted to connect to these characters because I know what it's like to constantly worry about the future, or not want to get out of bed in the morning. And basically feeling like no one understands you, or what you're going through. But it just wasn't there. On top of that, I feel that Craig's shift at the end was pretty unrealistic. I didn't see the change in his thinking until maybe the last chapter, and that just doesn't make sense to me. Long-term depression doesn't make a huge change just by telling yourself that you're going to start living life.

If you're looking for a light, decently entertaining read than It's Kind of a Funny Story would be a good pick. It has the good message that you can change your life for you, and do what makes you happy. If you're looking for something deeper; a connection to characters that have to deal with mental illness, then I would put this one back on the shelf; you won't find that here.

Reviewed at: [...]

The Bookworm says... YES. It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini was an excellent book. Craig Gilner was always a model students and studied his butt off for the admittance test for Manhattan's Executive Pre-Professional High School. He spends all his time studying, and the pressure pushes him to his breaking point. He begins to become more and more depressed. Once he gets to the school he realizes that he will never be an A+ student, just normal 93's which aren't bad but they aren't outstanding and if they're not outstanding, he won't get into a good college and he won't get a good job. The stress keeps piling on and Craig stops eating and sleeping. He finally decides to kill himself. In the middle of the night, he prepares to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge. He calls a suicide hotline and they tell him if he is considering harming himself he should check himself into a hospital. Craig decided that death probably falls under the category of harming yourself, and checks himself in. While in the Brooklyn Mental Health Facility, he finds people that are non-verbal, transsexuals, depressed teens, drug addicts, and... love? Will Craig manage to get his depression under control (or experience the Shift as he calls it)? And what will he use to make this happen? Will he escape this hospital and find true love?

I've been hospitalized myself, and I was surprised at how well the book characterized the experience. The big difference was that while in the hospital, five days feels like a month, this book read pretty quickly. I liked seeing the character discover things that most people never do about themselves.

I might not be the target audience for this book...
1) I find it very hard to get into any fiction.
2) When I read it, I was a 19 year old female in the middle of college.

That makes it all the more remarkable that I loved this book so much. I knew Ned Vizzini from his earlier book, Teen Angst? Naaah . . . A Quasi-autobiography, which I loved. However, that book is simply a collection of autobiographical tales from his teen years, and pretty light-hearted tales at that. Picking up "It's Kind of a Funny Story", I was not expecting the depth that I found.

I was in the throes of clinical depression at the time and was startled- in a good way- to find that the author realistically portrayed how a depressed young person can think. (Granted, the narrator is a boy just starting high school, while I was a girl halfway done with college, but that didn't end up mattering at all.) Moreover, the story does not sugar-coat anything or go into a forcedly-happy direction. The hope that the narrator gradually finds is gritty, believable -- and encouraging.

A good deal of humor finds its way into the story, too, which made reading it a genuinely fun experience. I recommend this not only to teens, but also to young adults (around college-age) struggling with depression and/or suicidal urges.

It's a Kind of Funny Story grabs you in from the very start. Ned Vizzini's witty words make the story come to life and thrash you into the dramatic anxiety filled life of teenage boy, Craig Gilner. Up until being accepted into the prized pre professional high school, Craig had an ideal life for a teenage boy: girls, parties, and school. Although Craig had always been different once he entered pre professional high school with the heavy workload and many pressures he realizes he's in too deep and starts his cycling, Landing himself in the sixth north mental unit. There he meets some unusual people and learns a few things along his way to recovery.
To me this book deserves to have a five star rating because of the exceptional story line and the connection that he's able to make to a fifteen year old boy and his problems when he is much older, also he was really able to capture the emotions and problems Craig was facing. Vizzini did an amazing job writing this book I really felt that's he was able to connect to teenagers today and make a statement with this book. The genre of this book is realistic fiction because the story is very realistic to life. I recommend this book to anyone who needs a good read with a meaning, also for someone who enjoys a humorous view on a serious subject.

-LSK

As a teen with depression, I completely understood Craig's thoughts of just being average. Reading the book was funny, sad, and romantic. I loved it. When I discovered Vizzini had killed himself, I nearly cried and understood the realistic experience of a psych hospital. Great book.

What I love most about this story is that in the end Craig doesn't say that he is cured, but that things are looking better. It's a very real story about how depression can change how you think and feel and act. It also shows how just because someone's life isn't completely awful, doesn't mean that he/she isn't suffering from depression. Craig is a relatable character in that he is a teenage boy who is doing what society expects him to, but at the same time feels the pressure and strangulating affect of the "tentacles" that are everyday life stressors. He finds relief in his art and in doing so is able to become someone he wants to be, not what society expected him to be. It's a story of finding yourself in an age that makes doing so difficult, and sometimes we don't make it out without a few scars.

This is a great book which gives one a better understanding of a young person's struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts and/or actions. Having a granddaughter with both issues I found this book of great help in understanding her.

I did not purchase this book through the store, but love the book so much that a review is necessary. This is my all time favorite book. VERY VERY VERY NEEDED TRIGGER WARNING. I first read this at a point when I was very unstable and couldn't finish the book due to the depressive and suicidal thoughts of the book. However, once reaching a slightly better place in my life, I read the book and couldn't put it down. This book is amazing and anybody who struggles with mental illness can relate to its truths. Overall, this is an amazing book and I would definitely reccomend it for people in a semi stable place.

There is no easy way to approach the topic of depression and suicide. Most authors would be afraid to even mention the word "suicide" for the fear of possibly crossing a very controversial boundary in today's society. Those authors obviously aren't Ned Vizzini, ex-patient of a psychiatric hospital and writer of It's Kind Of A Funny Story. His realistic, yet blatant, account of Craig Gilner provides the unwritten perspective into a teenager's mind whose life has spiraled out of control due to depression, and describes the inglorious details of a mental hospital which Craig is forced to stay in until his depression is contained. Despite the dismal occurrence of events that Craig is involved in, Vizzini writes of an uplifting, heartening message of hope that becomes the focal point of the novel, which conveys that any problem is ultimately able to be solved, despite the extent of the problem itself (in Craig's situation, conquering suicide).
"They're yours, Craig. You deserve them because you chose them. You could have left them all behind but you chose to stay here" (Vizzini 444). Behind the troubling conflicts presented to Craig, he discovers that any goal is attainable, even if one is attempting to achieve their goal during the worst conditions. Craig, who was battered and beaten down by depression and suicidal thoughts, takes the initiative to devote himself to being released from Argenon Hospital and to return home. Along the journey, he realizes there is much more to getting better than just remembering to take a prescription. From that point on, Craig's stubbornness turns into perseverance as he makes it his goal to clear himself of depression, even if it involves losing his best friend, transferring schools, and reestablishing himself as a completely different person. Vizzini, who was a patient at a hospital for depression early in his writing career, was placed in a similar situation to Craig for he too had to start fresh, and shrug off all the comments about him being "locked away in a psycho ward". Both Craig and Vizzini had success after being released - Craig transferred to a performing arts school where he was able to succeed in his map drawings and Vizzini went on to write It's Kind Of A Funny Story just 30 days after his hospital visit, which became a New York Times bestseller. Vizzini did write It's Kind Of A Funny Story to relay an account of a worldwide teenage issue, but he did so as well to prove that even the worst of situations can bring out the best in people.
Vizzini, however, does not present a sufficient amount of direct evidence that supports his claim - his message was very much interpreted from "between-the-line" hints throughout the story. There are statements that Craig makes that represents how he is resolving his issues, such as the defining point in the novel when he decides to "call" his "parents and tell them" that he thinks it would be best "to transfer schools" (Vizzini 392). This decisive act supports the thesis, because it shows Craig taking the initiative towards recovering his life from the hole that has been dug by depression. While in the hospital, Craig also develops an Anchor, his version of a steadfast item that he can count on to always be there for him. Noelle, a patient who scarred her face with scissors, is that Anchor. She is the one who encourages Craig to start drawing again, which is a monumental change in Craig's depression because he is given an outlet to focus on that is not as pressuring as school or friends. Noelle ultimately leads to Craig's recovery, but only a reader who can interpret clues such as these would realize that Noelle is the leading factor in Craig fulfilling the message Vizzini is trying to convey.
Throughout the book, Craig's feelings are contradicted by his family, his friends, and his doctors. While Craig is experiencing nearly fatal symptoms that coincide with depression, such as his suicide plan to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge, his friends consider his actions to be a result of him "Craig-ing out", which is their term for Craig being too stoned to interact with others. His friends, especially Aaron and his girlfriend Nia, believe that Craig does drugs because school is too much pressure, and that is why he acts reserved around people. Vizzini does an excellent job at countering this claim by illustrating an over-the-phone fight between Craig and Aaron while Craig is the hospital - " `What does that mean? Wait I still don't get it: what was wrong with you in the first place?' `I told you, I'm depressed. I take pills for it like your girlfriend.' `Like my girlfriend?' " (Vizzini 256). This argument establishes not only counter-evidence for Aaron's false claim, but also is a significant part of It's Kind Of A Funny Story because Aaron and Craig's falling-out aids Craig is his movement away from bad influences and towards the better ones. Additionally, Craig's parents refuse to believe that anything is wrong with their "perfect" son. While they know about his drug issues, they believe Craig's change in behavior has been caused by the pressure from his teachers as well. The night Craig attempts suicide, he sleeps in his mom's bed for comfort. His mom, clueless of what Craig is going to attempt to do, reassures Craig's sister (Sara) that everything is going to be all right, that he was just having a bad night and needed time to rest it off. Vizzini opposes this claim as well by describing the chaotic thought process going through Craig's mind as he debates suicide or life. Finally, when Craig breaks down and calls the Suicide Hotline for help, it is proven that his symptoms were not just a result of a stressed-out student - they were truly because of serious depression. Out of all the excellent techniques Vizzini uses in his writing, declaring counter-arguments for false claims in It's Kind Of A Funny Story is one of his strong suits.
"One of the leading cause of death amongst teenagers is suicide", claims The Centers For Diseases. In It's Kind Of A Funny Story, Craig experiences warning signs of this suicide, from "a serious depression" to "feeling that" he is "unable to cope with daily life" (Vizzini 100-101). To help, Craig is prescribed Zoloft, a drug that is actually recommended by doctors for depression. Besides the symptoms and prescription that relate to real depression, Craig is registered into Argenon Hospital, which is based off the real Woodhull Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. By creating a situation that, instead of being fictional and exaggerated, could very well happen to anybody, Vizzini's argument is proven to be more convincing. For instance, many patients with severe depression are actually given Zoloft and, like Craig does, the patients stop taking the medication because they believe they are cured. The affect of this action- the patient is plunged deeper into depression until a breaking point is reached. Craig attempting suicide is a portrayal of what somebody with severe depression might do in order to stop the hurting. Because suicide is such a controversial yet valid topic, Craig's recovery period is perceived as much more inspiring and heart-warming through the action of his victory over suicide. Vizzini makes a lot of arguments in It's Kind Of A Funny Story that could be contradicting, but his argument for Craig's success story is bona fide and highly believable.
Besides It's Kind Of A Funny Story, I have not read a various amount of teen suicide novels. Among the few that I have read, however, are Go Ask Alice (Anonymous) and Impulse (Ellen Hopkins). Compared to Vizzini's book, both Go Ask Alice and Impulse were darker in that there was a more negative connotation surrounding the characters. It's Kind Of A Funny Story, on the other hand, is supposed to be taken as a serious book, but peppered with humor (humor provided by the other patients at Argenon Hospital - President Armelio, Bobby, Noelle). Another difference between the books is that Go Ask Alice describes an unplanned suicide as a result of an overdose, while in It's Kind Of A Funny Story Craig planned his suicide, and never goes through with it either. Similarly Impulse takes place in a mental hospital as well and revolves around the heartbreaking stories of three teenagers who all attempted suicide. But, as in Go Ask Alice, one of the main characters in Impulse commits suicide because he is getting no support from his family in his recovery. It's Kind Of A Funny Story is different because Craig's recovery is successful, and he receives help from Noelle, his therapist Dr. Minerva, and his parents. While all three books revolve around the emotional struggle of suicide, It's Kind Of A Funny Story is very different for it carries a more uplifting tone rather than a dismal one.
Overall, It's Kind Of A Funny Story is a book with a serious subject, yet with a comical and almost satirical tone. Even the title implies that Craig's journey is something that can be looked back upon and laughed at. I perceived the book to be heartwarming and inspiring, since it was based off of a real-life experience of Vizzini's - it really proved that anything can be possible, no matter how far away from success you are. This book is definitely a "must-read" for any teenager who is looking for a good read, or would want to know what depression is like for those who have it. I know that the novel definitely opened my eyes to how depression starts and how it can completely control one's emotional and physical state. It's Kind Of a Funny Story is not a book for the light reader - readers can become attached to Craig's intriguing story and experience the ups and downs with him, just how Vizzini intended the book to be. "So now live for real, Craig. Live. Live. Live. Live. Live." (Vizzini 444).

"Sometimes I just think depression's one way of coping with the world. Like, some people get drunk, some people do drugs, some people get depressed. Because there's so much stuff out there that you have to do something to deal with it."

***3.7 stars***

There are very few books that I've read and come away feeling so different, so....affected. I don't even know where to start trying to reflect on this book.

Every emotion is experienced.

We're happy, sad, devastated, depressed, happy again, lonely, hateful, in love, overwhelmed, grateful, hopeless, suicidal, excited, angry,.... Every page in It's Kind of A Funny Story hits a nerve somewhere. The whole time I was reading, I felt like I was inside Craig's head, seeing the world through his eyes and understanding his every thought and feeling.

Craig isn't a bad kid. He's a regular middle-class 15-year-old with a loving family, friends, going to the best school in his city. I came to realize throughout the book that to other people he probably seemed like a spoiled brat, but I NEVER got that impression of him. To me, he was just lost. He's overwhelmed with school, has no self-esteem, and severe clinical depression. This book pretty much chronicles his time dealing with it; the spiraling descent and the rebuilding afterwards.

I love his family too, because they're real, and they're great. Too many times books about depression and self-harm focus on the tense familial relationships surrounding the issue and don't deal with the issue itself. Craig's mom, dad, and little sister are great. They're supportive and honestly love him. There's no petty jealousy or alienation.

The characters are all-around good and well-developed. Noelle was cool, even though she doesn't come in until about halfway. Humble is crazy, and added some much-needed humor to an otherwise heavy read. I found myself giggling alot more than I thought I would reading a book about depression.

I honestly don't want to talk about what I didn't like. I'd much rather focus on the positives. But a review is a review so here goes: The story really dragged in the beginning. I understand that it's important to be detailed, but we don't actually enter the psych ward until around page 200. I wouldn't have minded that, but the back of the book made it seem like it would've been alot sooner. I got kind of bored a couple times, tbh.

The word-building and writing are simple, yet manage to take us through a complex web of emotion and break it down.

I have no idea how Ned Vizzini managed to create the amazing voice that is Craig, but I'm glad he did because I love him. I cant talk about it enough. He's so real. I UNDERSTAND him, and no, he's not stupid or weird. In fact, if there's one thing I learned from this book, it's that no one, NO ONE, with depression or schizophrenia, or whatever else it is you may or may not have, is stupid or weird. Yeah, you're screwed up, but you know what? We all are.

It's Kind of a Funny Story wasn't just a novel; it was a learning experience.

In Conclusion,

Life is screwed up; babies dies everyday for no reason, murders still happen, mothers abandon children, wars still kill thousands, but in the end, we're all a little bit like Craig, trying to find our own ways of coping, sometimes getting overwhelmed, sometimes just dealing, but in the end,

"Life's not about feeling better, it's about getting the job done."

-JennTheAwesum

To view this review on Goodreads go here: [...]

"Making teens depressed is like shooting fish in a barrel," says Bart Simpson in the "Homerpalooza" episode. Maybe, but what drives a teen to become so depressed he wants to kill himself? Ned Vizzini offers some suggestions in "It's Kind of a Funny Story." Craig is a high-achieving high school kid with a seemingly typical group of fair-weather friends. His depression manifests itself in nausea, obsessive thoughts, and a feeling of being overwhelmed by the demands at the prestigious Manhattan high school to which he badly wanted to be accepted. (Of course, the pressure of attending this school - where the low-nineties grades that had seemed excellent throughout his previous school years suddenly take on the stain of mediocrity - is one of the factors in his depression, as well).

Medication and a caring therapist help him feel better, which leads him to drop the medication, which leads to near disaster. On the brink of suicide, he voluntarily commits himself to a psychiatric ward, where he learns some unpleasant, but valuable, things about himself and his life. He also rediscovers an unusual, abandoned child-hood talent that makes him something of a legend on the ward and gives him a new perspective on himself.

Of course, Craig is surrounded by an interesting cast of psychiatric patients, none of whom come across as exaggerated or stereotypical (which would have been an easy trap for a writer to fall into).

There are many very moving scenes in this book, and its ending is ultimately hopeful while not glossing over the fact that, as Craig says, "I'm not better, you know." One of the best books for teens I've read during my 4 years as a Young Adult Librarian.

Ned Vizzini, cult author who has been relatively successful although not blown up yet, was depressed. In December of 2005 he had suicidal thoughts and went into his local hospital's recovery program. He was there five days, and it took him a month to write this novel afterwards.

The main character, Craig, is starting to feel the pressures of life. Recently accepted into the most prestigious high school, things start building up, however instead of dealing with them he just keeps stacking his problems in the corner. While he's fallen into some shady friendships and into some pretty heavy pot use, his grades slip and he realizes he's not perfect. The thoughts nearly drive him to suicide, but thank God, he checks into his local hospital instead.

This story aside from some setup, mainly are the chronicles of Craig Gilner's 5 day stay. As he forms friendships with some of the patients he meets a girl, which leads to the development of one of the best and most touching romances I've read in a story since I read Feed about four years ago.

Through depression this narrative shows that there are reasons to live, and should help many teens through rough times. Although it's sad Ned Vizzini had to suffer through those times, it was now for the better since he has written this wonderful work which we can all learn from.

I expect this book to explode on the YA media, even though there are some adult themes (drugs, sex, language, etc.) it's nothing worse than you run into during the average day of life.

Although the book is about 440 pages long, you would never know it. I read this book in a day and a half, and I plan to read it several more times. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Whether you're depressed or not, young or old, that doesn't matter, because this book is about something we all have in common: life.

I don't question the genuineness of Craig's experiences. Afterall, Vizzini did write this just after his own discharge from a psychiatric ward. However, this book hardly tackles the course of mental illness. Prior to Craig entering the hospital, the book was going in a good direction. Craig's depression seemed raw and relatable. However, once Craig enters the ward, he hardly tackles anything. His eating disorder has miraculously dissapeared. On top of this, girls start swooning after him. I understand that this probably bumps up the novel in teen-read standards. But it becomes ridiculous after he fondles girl #2 in his hospital bedroom. Ultimately, this novel didn't seem genuine to me. As a young person who has suffered from depression for several years, I was hoping that something (humor, even) would draw me closer to Craig. But the characters became more distant as it progressed. In the end, I was left feeling indifferent toward the work.

It was an amusing book. Craig's depression was very interesting and, dare I say, quirky. Though the book felt a little empty. It just wasn't quite deep as you'd expect it. However, it is all fun in games. The book IS called "Its Kind of A Funny Story" after all.
It moves at an okay pace, though I put the book down for nearly a month. Thats the only issue, it doesn't quite go until the middle of the book. Plenty of interesting characters to keep you laughing. Though Noelle made me think of a friend of mine, so I pictured her as Noelle the entire time. Craig is pretty interesting. Noelle is adorible. Nia reminds me of myself, spunky and permisquous. Then of course all the people from the ward which were just amazing.
I recommend reading it, for the most part.

I loved this book! As someone who has struggled with depression I think this is great insight to those who have loved ones struggling with depression or even for parents who have teens (or children who will be teens). Most people get depressed at some point, not all need medical help or medication but it's still good to understand.

RIP Robin Williams
Never forget this IS a real problem for those who have to face this demon (as I call it) every single day. Awareness is necessary.

Whether you're a depressed teen or not, girl or boy, I recommend you read this book. Mainly recommend for ages 14-mid 20s.
Ned Vizzini really connects to the teen mind in this book. He writes Craig as exactly the way a male teen would talk & think. Which is what really got me into this book.
I read this very lengthy book twice in less than 6 months. This book will definitely keep you busy.
I did a project for this book & my teacher loved my project.
The movie for this isn't all that great. It's too short & leaves out a lot of the main stuff.
But the book is great! I got a few of my friends to read it & they loved it to.
R E A D. T H I S. B O O K.

This is a beautiful story of a teenager, Craig, who struggles with depression, and checks himself into a mental hospital. Once there, he meets other patients that have various other mental illnesses and begins to see the beauty in them and, eventually, his own. As Craig learns to cope with his depression, he begins drawing maps like he did in his childhood days, which offers him an escape.

This novel completely nails what it is like to live a life of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideations. As a person with chronic depression, I fell in love with this book. Vizinni confronts a tough subject with humor and honesty, making for a book with exponential reach.

Before I purchased this book I would've liked to know how much I could truly relate to this book and see so much of myself in the main character, Craig Gilner. The stresses of life are wrapping him so tightly that he's not sure he can handle it, too many Tentacles and not enough Anchors. Even though this book is 444 pages, you'd never realize it. Once you pick this book up you won't be able to put it down. Be prepared, though, to go through many emotional levels as you work your way through Craig's journey back to mental stability and happiness. I would recommend this book to anyone, high school and up, that are dealing with the stresses of life, because this book is about something we all have in common: the pressure to be perfect.

I have no qualms with a book dealing with serious mental illness, suicide and treatment/recovery. But, there's a lot of these kind of books in the YA genre and this one isn't half as good as several others.

The story takes off during the second half of the novel, but the first half is nothing more than ramblings of a pot-head freshman who is sick with anxiety over doing his homework but doesn't mind in the least traipsing across New York city to smoke and party all night. When he finally decides he's had "enough," he decides suddenly its a good night to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge. We're supposed to believe that he's truly suicidal but he doesn't want to bike to the Brooklyn Bridge because he's afraid of what might happen to his bike once he's "gone." So, he takes the next best option: he walks next door where theres (conveniently) a hospital that admits him right away. Ok....

The second half of the novel covers his 5-day stint in the psychiatric hospital where theres a fairly cliché assortment of psych patients. He's clearly least damaged of the bunch and within a dozen or so hours has discovered his passions in life: artwork and volunteering to help people in psychiatric hospitals. Ok....

His parents are the epitome of the "perfect supportive family" and happily agree to let him leave his pre-college high school to pursue art at the tender age of 15. What a lovely life. By the end its impossible to believe that this kid is anything but spoiled and couldn't possibly have a life worth throwing away.

I give the book three stars because the author has a talent for telling a story, but this protagonist was just not cutting it for me personally. The author also tells us that this story is (loosely) based on his own story, and for that I am pleased that he has decided to share his story which will undoubtedly help others through tough times.

There are lots of great YA novels out there that tackle tough topics like mental illness and the struggles of high school. Try:
- The Perks of Being a Wallflower
- Looking for Alaska

I first want to say that anyone interested in the movie should read the book first. Books are always better.

Secondly I really enjoyed this book although it did seem to read like a romantic comedy that happens to take place in an mental institution. Although Craig is afflicted with many problems by the end of the novel he cannot lose. While I was not hoping for Craig to fail it was frustrating to see a character that was on the verge of ending his life at the beginning of the novel suddenly realizes that life seems to be perfect. Over all it is a fun read, but not exactly what I was expecting. Anyone interested in the field of psychology would find the goings-on in the ward pretty interesting. Also Vizzini's writing style is very readable and keeps the reader enthralled in the story. If you are looking for a feel good story this novel is it.

While I could certainly relate to Craig that isn't the sole thing that makes this book so charming, easy to read, and cathartic. There is so much to learn and experience in its pages and I feel I am better for having the opportunity to read it.

I'd certainly consider this recommended reading.

Especially for the 20-somethings, and certainly for the ten-somethings, but also for the rest.

It’s Kind of a Funny Story

Craig Gilner, a 15 year old depressed and suicidal boy, tells the story of how he overcomes his depression. He feels he isn’t as smart as everyone else at his school, and he is under a lot of pressure from his father to succeed. He checks himself into a mental hospital, and over a period of five days, he meets a girl named Noelle and he meets with his therapist, Dr. Minerva. In the end, he overcomes his depression.

The book begins with the main character, Craig Gilner, thinking about suicide. He wants to jump off the Brooklyn bridge. Instead of jumping, he calls a suicide hotline. On the advice of the operator, he checks himself into a nearby hospital. Because the teenage section is under renovation, Craig gets put into the adult facility along with the rest of the teenagers. He meets Noelle, who is in the facility because she cuts herself. Noelle encourages Craig to start drawing again. With the help of Noelle and Dr. Minerva, he realizes that he wants to go to art school. So by the end of the book, with help from his parents, his sister, Dr. Minerva, and his budding love for Noelle, Craig ends with this line: “So now live for real, Craig. Live. Live. Live. Live. Live.”

I would recommend this book because it’s about overcoming depression and choosing to live happily. It’s a good book because it has some funny parts, some emotional parts, it’s a good message for young readers, and, yes, it’s kind of a funny story!

I though the portrayal of Craig's depression was shockingly accurate. In fact, I think it's one of the most realistic portrayals I've read.

Craig is depressed after getting into the prestigious high school of his dreams. He feels trapped by all the pressure and he's losing his focus on what he really wants. One night he decides he is going to kill himself, but instead he calls the suicide hotline and ends up checking himself into the hospital. While in the hospital he learns to cope with his depression and figures out what he really wants.

While Craig's character seemed very real to me, I was disappointed by the one-sided characters in the psychiatric hospital.

This is one of the best books I've read that discusses mental illness in an authentic way, without being either cliche or depressing or unrealistically hopeful. The writing and characters were great and the book as a whole is memorable.

This book came highly recommended, which is part of why it disappointed me. The last act was enjoyable, and I can't think of a better title for teens interested in a real, honest presentation of depression. The end hummed along nicely.

However, I plodded through the first third waiting for something, anything, interesting to happen. Perhaps it is a difficulty inherent to depressives: reading about one is...well, depressing. Which may be a great compliment to Mr. Vizzini's skill as a writer. But I was fed up with Craig Gilner well before I should have been. This is a problem for YA writing, as struggling readers often won't endure 200-plus pages to get to something better.

Looking at the other reviews, I see "It's Kind of a Funny Story" has plenty of fans. It seems that for the right reader, this is a good book. I just imagine it is a limited audience.

I'll keep it short and sweet:

If you're a teenager who is stuck in the cycle of relentless school work in order to pave your future, this book will give you some solace. The main character faces a litany of challenges, many of which are paralyzing to many teens nowadays. It's a riveting read with many interesting characters. My suggestion would be to read the book then watch the movie, as both are uplifting in their own ways.

Vizzini's "It's Kind of a Funny Story" is one of my favorite books of all time. This story is told through the eyes of a depressed teen, and is supposed to emulate Vizzini's real life story of sadness that he turned into triumph. I loved the way he made depression, which is usually a misunderstood cultural taboo, into something more human. It is truly a page turner that will keep you enthralled until the very end. I strongly encourage everyone to read this book!

Full review can be found at: http://oneguysguidetogoodreads.blogsp...

For those readers on the fence about this read, this post is for you!

Book vs. Film: My Thoughts

I am currently taking a break from my usual reads. I wanted to try something different, so I went to my team with a list of what exactly I wanted: different, not a romance, and written by a male author. This is one of the many works I was suggested. My initial reaction when seeing the synopsis was pretty positive, but by the time I had finished the book, well... I really didn't know what to think. Let me explain.

This was a very easy read, which I liked. The content was very... well... different? Okay. I guess I should just be blunt here. The book is about a 15 year old boy who spends 5 days in an adult psychiatric ward battling depression after having suicidal thoughts. Okay, simple enough. The point of the story is how Vizzini is supposed to perfectly capture the insight of the 15 year old male mind. He was at one point a 15 year old male, as was I, so you would think he would have it down right? No. I have never been to NYC, I live in a town of less that 3000 people and have no desire to live in NYC, but I highly doubt any parent would give their 15 year old son the freedom in NYC that Craig seems to have. Sure he is responsible and smart and stuff, but I don't understand how he gets away with all this stuff. So essentially my biggest issue was with Craig himself. His problems, in my opinion, are a direct result of his lifestyle. So he has school stress? Who doesn't? So he has girl problems? Who doesn't? I'm just saying that I don't see what the big deal was here. I totally understand stress and can honestly tell you that I have dealt with the horrible effects of helping a loved one cope with clinical depression, so I know it isn't anything to take lightly, but Craig just really didn't do it for me. I didn't feel sorry for him like I should, I guess. In fact, I found Craig to be a bit whiny.

I was never a "wild-child" and honestly, my mentality seems to be a whole lot like Craig's. Which really could have worked, EXCEPT the book spends every other page talking about Craig and his friends "chilling" (which means they smoked pot, religiously) and about his constant obsession with masturbation. I realize he is a 15 year old bot, but Jesus, get over it. I got so sick of reading the words "jerk-off" in this book that I almost stopped. It would have been funny, but the way I read it, it was as though Vizzini was mocking teenage males, much the way a female author would have written the part.

Like I said, I liked the storyline and I think the book had an absolutely amazing message, I just think there were other ways to get there. The other characters of the book were amazing, especially Noelle. Noelle is our love interest and is also in the hospital with Craig. She has self-inflicted numerous cuts to her face in her bouts of depression and suicidal thoughts. She is really a deep character with a whole lot of emotion and I LOVED her story. She really had issues. I wish there could have been some more Noelle story in the book. The "romance" was played off very nicely. Noelle was great, but the other "residents" of 6 North were just as interesting. I really enjoyed their characters.

Two characters I DID NOT LIKE were Aaron and Nia. I'm sorry, but again this goes back to my Craig problem. If yo have such awful friends, THEN FIND NEW FRIENDS. Jesus, this is why the kid has problems. Why does he keep trying to make it work and WHY does the book end with everyone making things work? No, no, no, no, and no. Seriously. His friends are losers, straight up losers. I'm just saying life as a 15 year old in NYC must be WAY different than life as one in the Midwest.

I know I sound like I was really down on the book, but overall I really did like the positive message and the storyline, I just think it could have used... well... more. I give it about a 3 star rating. Now the movie on the other hand is a different story:

I don't think I have ever said this about a book to film adaptation, but: THE MOVIE IS BETTER! No seriously. Much better. Everything I hated about the book is rectified in the movie. The casting was GREAT and totally spot on. Noelle (Emma Roberts [American Horror Story: Coven]) had a much larger part as well! It was the perfect length and everything. The brain maps were fun, the jokes were actually funny, seriously, I LOVED this movie. Obviously a whole bunch was cut out of the book to make the movie flow, but I liked it that way. Craig's friends and family played a limited role in the film, but all it did was reaffirm my views of Aaron and Nia (which were played by the AMAZING Thomas Mann [Beautiful Creatures/Project X] and Zoe Kravitz [X-Men: First Class/Divergent]. The actors did a wonderful job with their parts, but the movie did nothing to make me like their characters more.

The film took a fairly depressing novel and turned it into a Drama/Comedy. It was depressing and sad, but seriously, I laughed SO many times, which is rare for me. Also, the actor portraying Craig (Keir Gilchrist) did a great job with the character (who was 16 in the film, why change a year?)! Also Bobby (Zach Galifianakis) was given a much larger role than the book which was pretty cool. Overall, I loved the film and would rank it pretty high on my list, I just cannot believe I liked it better than the book, I don't think I've ever had that happen.

In conclusion, and this may be the ONLY time I ever say this: skip the read, go watch the movie. It's 90 minutes of great story and a few good laughs that will leave you warm and hopeful about the future of today's depressing teenage generation. Anyways, that's my spiel about It's Kind of a Funny Story. Like I said, I was neither here nor there for the book, but the film is a must watch. The story was really great for me to read for some personal reasons dealing with some demons I have been fighting lately so I am glad to have read it, but I don't know that I'd read it again, make sense? Oh well. You guys got it!

Years ago I searched my high school library and public library for this book, and I wish I'd found it then. Not a bad book, I'm one of those people who need to know how it ends even if I don't totally love it. It was a little juvenile but worth reading.

It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini tells the story of 15 year old Craig Gilner. A young man who succumbs to the pressures of school, his friends, and his own standards, becomes clinically depressed and checks himself into a hospital to deal with his world that has begun to spiral out of his control. This book speaks directly to young adults because it tells a story that so many of them can connect with. Just as Craig feels, many young adults feel like high school is too much for them to handle and they don't know how to manage everything that comes with growing up. Teachers and librarians should absolutely work this novel into the curriculum because it would give students the ability to read a novel that they feel a strong connection to. It dives into such topics as depression, suicide, mental illness, friendship, and drug use. Funny Story could lead to many substantial and meaningful class discussions and writing opportunities as well as the ability to tie in a plethora of non-fiction texts. Finally, It's Kind of a Funny Story has potential for cross curricular teaching opportunities as it touches on the physical and chemical reasons for mental illness which could also be discussed in numerous science or psychology courses. I would recommend that this text be used in high school and should not be placed into the curriculum any earlier.

Teachers could use this text in many ways in their teaching. They could use it on its own, much in the same way that Speak has been worked into the ELA curriculum in recent years. It opens to the door to many avenues of discussion and is a coming of age story that students will be able to identify with. However, this novel could also be paired with something else that is more traditionally taught in schools. This novel could be paired very well with Shakespeare's Hamlet as both delve into the issues of suffocating expectations, suicide, and mental illness. It would be a fresh way to examine Hamlet and to increase interest because of its pairing with a contemporary novel such as It's Kind of a Funny Story.

As previously discussed this text could open up students to the opportunity to discuss issues that they find vitally important to them right as they are reading it. It gives students a connection to a novel that potentially represents how they see the world as well as a connection to their peers as they recognize that they all share similar feelings and experiences as they progress toward adulthood. However, there are drawbacks to using a text such as this one. It does touch on many difficult issues that are more apparent and aggressive than they are in Hamlet, for instance. It is, of course, the teacher's job to handle them with tact and with care. It would also be difficult if the students do not approach the content with maturity and perspective. In the end, if used well and potentially paired with the right secondary text or examined in another class as well, It's Kind of a Funny Story could have an impressive impact on the students who read it.

I bought and read this book about five years ago and am still thinking about it! The book is a laugh-out-loud story about a suicidal teenager who ends up in a mental facility and the people he meets while he's locked up. The book goes through some serious and emotional issues (obviously, it's about a guy who'd suicidal!) but takes a look at it from another side and you can really relate to the main character, Craig.

I would recommend this book to middle school/high school kids and adults alike.

It's Kind of A funny Story by Ned Vizzini, is a heartwarming novel that uniquely entertains the reader with the tragic story of a boy dealing with the effects of depression. As some novels drag on, this was a story I constantly felt engaged in, while the characterization built and the plot thickened. The author had a clear understanding of how to make this good read for all readers, and he did a superlative job of writing a novel that is highly relatable.
The storyline to this book was not particularly special in anyway--just one of thousands of suicide stories-- but Vizzini made this story come alive by touching the heart of every person who's eyes fell across the pages. Incorporating humor and tragedy into one quick read takes a truly clever writer in which Vizzini displayed. He took a depressing topic and displayed it in a manor that was not the least bit depressing.
Most depression stories come out as a undesirable rant, but Vizzini uses humorous characters-- like the girl who scars her own face with scissors--to create a mood that would have never been expected from a novel of this topic. Not only did this book expression the humor inside the life of Craig, but also conveys the daily struggles he faced in a way the reader can relate to. "It's tough to get out of bed; I know that myself. You can lie there for and hour and a half without thinking anything, just worrying about what the day holds and knowing that you wont be able to deal with it"(Vizzini 423). Vizzini appeals to the emotion of every individual reading these thoughts of a boy with problems beyond imagination. Often times I found parts of this book failing to be insensitive to people who actually relate to this condition, but his writing formed a sense of comfort and hope for those dealing with this harm.
Ned Vizzini's, It's Kind of a Funny Story is a well-enjoyed novel displaying the life of a depressed individual. The story takes many unexpected turns leaving the reader in shock at many points in the novel. It is hard to judge this book in a negative way after the personal insight and gratification collected from this read. As one of the few books that entertain the brain while gratifying to the heart, I can honestly put it at the top of my favorites list.

"It is kind of a funny story" written by Ned Vizzini is very interesting novel. The hero of the writer is a teenager named Craig Gilner. He goes to Executive Pre-Professional school in New York City. Craig has access to 800 of the smartest, most interesting students in the world - not to mention teachers and visiting dignitaries. His best friend is Aaron. Together they are riding bikes, climbing on the Brooklyn Bridge, and smoking pot... It seems that this boy has a perfect life.
But the school had so much pressure and Craig was not ready for it. As a result he got mental disabilities. The author describes every feeling of Craig. This way the reader can immerse himself into Craig's daily life and can even feel his problems. Craig had really serious symptoms of depression. He is unable to sleep and eat. Inside his stomach there was a man and he wanted food, but the only way he knew to ask for it is to tug the rope, and when he did, it closed up the entrance so Craig could not put anything in. In addition, it was not the only affect of depression on our him.In his thoughts appeared «Tentacles» and «Anchors». Tentacles were the evil tasks that invaded his life. The opposite of the tentacles were anchors. They were the things that occupied Craig's mind and made him feel good temporarily. Sometimes he had «The Cycling». The process of going over and over the same thoughts in his mind.
He started to go to the psychologist whose name was Dr. Minerva. In her office they were talking about all these kind of thoughts, school and Craig's family. Psychopharmacologist prescribed him the medicine called Zoloft.It worked, and it did not take weeks - it worked from the first day. Craig felt better, so he believed that his depression finished. He felt good.
Suddenly all the symptoms started to return back with all of those bad thoughts. And this time the boy felt worse.
One day Craig nearly killed himself. Fortunately,he found his mother's book where was the phone number of the suicidal hotline. This way Craig was redirected to Argenon Hospital.
He stayed in adult's psychiatric hospital with other people who also had mental disabilities. He had to stay for five days in the hospital. Craig's roommate was Muqtada. Muqtada never went out of his room, even for lunch. He had really big problems. Also, there was Bobby who had depression and introduced the hospital to Craig. There was Solomon who was hearing every sound.He also met Noelle, the girl who has scarred her face with scissors. There were self-elected President Armelio, Jennifer, Becca, alpha male Humble, Professor, Ebony, Jimmy, Smitty and many other patients.

A new life started for Craig in hospital. He started to draw the brain maps. And it became his hobby,a part of his life. Looking at other people more serious problems Craig understood that he must go on. In five days he got released from the hospital. During those days many things changed in his life. He met a girlfriend,Noelle. She also tried to kill herself. But now everything was okay. Also, Craig wanted to be an artist and he decided to change the school.
He understood that he could be rich without millions of dollars. The people would respect him even if he was not a president. Craig started volunteering in Argenon Hospital. He helped people. There were no more tentacles. Craig was one of that people who got unexpected road to happiness.
This was a really kind of a funny story that teaches us that life has many chances.

Alternately funny and sad, this true-feeling coming of age story denigrates drug use and peer pressure and celebrates following your heart. Encourages depressed teens to seek help without feeling didactic. It didn't change my life, but it was a good read.

It's kind of a funny story. Some parts of It's Kind of a Funny Story are funny, some comments made me laugh, true, but the overall theme is serious. Craig is clinically depressed. He has problems sleeping and eating. On page 33, Craig said, "There's a man down there and he wants food, but the only way he knows to ask for it is to tug on the rope, and when he does, it closes up the entrance." He also has `tentacles' which are the bad things in his life and `anchors' which are the good things. Craig has a therapist who puts him on medicine, but when he stops taking the Zoloft, he decides he has no more use for life and is about to kill himself. But Craig realizes he shouldn't die. Why should he die? He's so confused and upset that he has no idea what to do. So he checks himself into the mental ward. He finds out that just because you're not all there in your head doesn't mean you're not all there in your heart.

It's Kind of a Funny Story is a realistic fiction book, not part of a series, for anyone who likes a good long read about kids just like them, probably no younger than 10. It is based on Ned Vizzini's actual experiences.

I really liked this story. It's really detailed, maybe a little too much at times, but you really understand what Craig is going through. I highly recommend it. At the end of the book, you are left with a feeling of triumph because Craig has triumphed over his own thoughts.

This is one of those rare books that compels you to skip class or call in sick to work in order to read it in a single sitting! Depression isn't a funny subject, but Ned Vizzini's book is at times hilarious -- the protagonist, Craig Gilner, is a kid struggling to succeed in an elite high school, despite the fact that he is surrounded by brilliant overachievers.

As the social and school responsibilities pile up, he begins to buckle under the pressure. His depression worsens and he hops from one expensive therapist to the next in hopes of finding "The Shift", an almost magical moment when his depression will lift and life will be back to normal.

The meat of the book takes place in a psychiatric hospital, a setting that would tempt almost any writer to run to Cliche-town, but all of the characters Craig encounters are surprisingly raw, real, and vulnerable. By the end, you can't help but feel attached to everyone. No 'suspension of disbelief' is required when you read this book; you'll be entering a world every bit as real as your own. But mainly, it's one of the most entertaining books I've ever read!

This story gives insight into an issue that is widely unknown about and becoming exponentially more of a problem for kids in society these days. The storyline starts off rather slow but picks up at the end. One more thing to note is how personal this story was for Mr. Vizzini. A must-read for sure.

I've turned to this book at least half a dozen times since Ned was able to publish it. I've related to so many situations, and everyone goes through dark times. That happens; it's life.

If you're looking for an easy/moderate read, and if you are willing to let your mind wonder and explore the words of Ned Vizzini, this is your book.

After all, It's Kind of a Funny Story.

Vizzini's voice is so honest nd relatable because he had depression himself. Wonderful for those sick of mental health stigma. Definately reccommend for anyone struggling, trying to understand, loving someone with mental illness, and mosst definately parents of depressed kids.

I read this book for school and now this book is my favorite! You follow a teenager with all the pressure of growing up. From trying to make friends and be cool to the fantasies of your future. You follow Craig Gilner who lives in New York. He goes through many struggles to get into the best high school around, so he can go to an even better university. But when Craig finds out he is in, everything goes downhill. He becomes clinically depressed, he can't eat, and he can't sleep. And ends up in a mental hospital. While in there he meets a variety of people whose lives are just as bad or even worse. I recommend this book to teenagers and up because it will help teens realize they aren't alone when they are feeling down and depressed. And it will help adults understand teens and sometimes even themselves.

Craig who is clinically depressed has problems sleeping and eating. When he lays down the cycling starts. Cycling is when all your thoughts come into mind at the same time. He's thinking about all the things he could have done or the fact that all his homework is piling up, or the fact that he's having suicidal thoughts, and the fact that he's using drugs and alcohol. On page 33 he says:
"There's a man down there and he wants food, but the only way he knows to ask for it is to tug on the rope, and when he does, it closes up the entrance."
All this started when he got into Executive Pre-Professional High School. He was studying very hard and he aced the test but his only focus was to get into the school. When he got in, he was only getting a 93% in all his classes. He never thought that after getting into the school, the work would be as hard as the exam. He started having suicidal thoughts. Since he was planning on killing himself and it was going to be his last night, he slept in his mom's bed. But he couldn't sleep. He kept thinking about jumping off the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. He was going to do it until he thought about a book his mom used to read called, "How to Survive the Loss of a Love." He found it and there was a suicide hotline phone number so he called. He checked himself into the hospital. Once there he meets people who will change his view of life. This book is one of those books that you can't put down. It is like you need to know what's going to happen next.

Crystal

A student in my literature class.

It's a simple story, really, a few days in a young kid's life, but it's so well told and written in such way that it's very easy to understand and relate to. If you're ever feeling down or just weird about life, read this book, the end is like a rush and a great motivational speech, you close it and can't help but have a a big smile on your face. I felt very inspired, uplifted and just plain hopeful about life. Must read for young adults!

Loved this book, it was raw and real and a great portrayal of mental illness. It inspired me, but it is sad the author could not overcome his own battle, hopefully his books will help others dealing with it.

I love this book. There is so much humanity in this story. It is real. It is sad. It is funny. Vizzini captured the dialogue in a spot on way and his story overflows with heart and compassion. About a teenage boy who checks himself into a mental hospital and ends up on the adult ward and the way he changes the lives of those around him.

I really enjoyed this book I've been wanted to read it for a long time and I really got into it . The story is really easy to connect to and the main character is really interesting the world that the author creates is so complicated and interesting I would recommend it . I loved the book and I look forward to reading his other books

It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini is a fictional novel encompassing seven days of fifteen year old Craig Gilner's life in Brooklyn, New York Craig is an intelligent young adult who earns enrollment to the Executive Pre-Professional High School due to diligent studying. Aaron, his best friend, also earns a spot at the school and shortly there after Aaron begins dating their mutual friend Nia. While from the perspective of an outsider it may seem that all should be well, it is not for Craig. Shortly after entering the exclusive school Craig begins to doubt his likelihood of future success, becomes jealous of Aaron and Nia's relationship on top of fearing that he will become a failure and as a result, fights depression. As Craig realizes the disparity of his feelings and inability to effectively sleep or eat, he shares with his parents that he is depressed. Craig visits various therapists or "shrinks" and his mother, father, younger sister and even two dogs consistently support him and try their best to cheer his spirits. After a special dinner prepared by Craig's mom, Craig fails to enjoy the food and must visit the bathroom. The bathroom tends to be one location that Craig finds relaxing, but it is this incident that convinces him that he has the solution to his problem; suicide by means of the Brooklyn Bridge. Luckily, Craig calls the Suicide Hotline before he attempts to carry out his plan and walks to the Emergency Room as directed by the hotline operator. It is through his stay in at 6 North in Argenon Hospital that he meets other people, channels his feelings through creating artwork and finds the strength to help those around him and ultimately himself.

Young adults and all people in general wonder what their future holds and how their life will map out. It's Kind of a Funny Story urges readers to take an introspective inspection of their life and at the same time allowing all readers the much needed assurance that depression is not something to be overlooked, trivialized or ashamed of and that life is the greatest gift one ever receives. Vizzini's novel bravely tackles real life situations while remaining a tightly written narrative. As of March 2006, It's Kind of a Funny Story has received starred reviews from Booklist and School Library Journal in addition to inclusion as a Junior Library Guild selection for mature young adult readers. For all of the positive reviews and wonderful writting, the next book you read should be It's Kind of a Funny Story. Also recommended are the other acclaimed books by Vizzini, Be More Chill (Hyperion, 2004) and Teen Angst? Naaah...(Free Spirit, 1999).

In this novel Craig is a teenager battling depression, which leads him to stop eating, have stress and anxiety, and excludes him from communication with his friends/family. After an attempt to commit suicide, Craig seeks help in a hospital. Along the way he meets many inspiring people who encourage him to be a better person and increase his self-esteem. The hospital helps him find the source of his depression, and suggest ways in which he can overcome it. Craig then realizes that there are things in life worth living for, and regrets his choice of ever wanting to commit suicide.

It's Kind of a Funny Story has an inspiring plot and a meaningful story; however, it is not a favorite book of mine. It was written in first person point of view, and Craig as the author. I usually enjoy books with this plot, but I found that Craig complained and whined many times throughout the story. I understand that people battling with depression cannot control their mood, but I also know that people like this should talk about their problems. Talking to your family or even friends about your problems is crucial if you ever want to get any help. They are the ones who care the most about you and would do anything to help. Craig on the other hand chose to complain about everything in his head and not do anything about his sadness and anxiety. To me it almost felt as if he was too lazy to try to get on the right path in life. Many people have trouble talking about what is actually bothering them, but if they really want to get better, they will. That person will do whatever it takes to be happy again. If Craig had tried to tell his family, especially his father, about what is making him feel so much stress, they probably would have helped him. So, Craig chose the easy way out, not tell anyone what is actually going on, and attempt to commit suicide. In conclusion, this storyline was very predictable and seemed repetitive from previous books dealing with the same plot.

Although I was not a huge fan of the book, I would give it a 7 out of 10. I could see what the author was trying to portray and what kind of message he sending out. This book would not be the first I would recommend to many people; in that, there are many other better ones out there. If you were looking for an easy novel to read in your spare time, then this is the book for you. I found that it was not the type of book I would drink tea and snuggle under a blanket with. Moreover, I did not find myself wanting to keep reading, as said previously it was very predictable. There were no grammar/spelling mistakes whatsoever, and it was well written; the way the storyline was written however, was very poor. Overall, the ending was enjoyable and this book left me in a happier mood, as do books with a happy ending.

Ned hits a lot of things right on the nose including the tentacles, the cycling(both of which I can TOTALLY relate to and I know other teens can too) and most importantly...the comedy. It's a story about a depressed kid but i just love the way Ned Vizzini can make such a serious topic and add a lot of laugh out loud moments(never have I actually laughed this hard from a BOOK)ranging from the characters to Craig's awkwardness and thought process which I love. This is a must read for young adults and will have you rooting for Craig. This may sound cheesy but this book changed my life for the better and it really opened my eyes up to what life would be like if I stayed in bed and did nothing all day...Muqtada. I know it sounds cliche but It's a Really Funny Story :)

This book was amazingly written, I got into it so fast and couldn't stop reading unless I absolutely had to. I even started up late reading it that's how good it was. I recommend teens especially to read it, young adults and even adults so they can understand how it is for a lot of teens today. I just wish I knew what happened with him and Noelle, that just made me wish there was a second book.

I never read or reviewed this book.

I just finished reading the book It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini. It tells the story of Craig Gilner, a fifteen-year-old contemplating suicide. Craig ends up checking himself into a psychiatric ward, where he meets people that change his life and outlook. The story deals with a sad reality about teens and depression. It shows that there is hope and recovery at the end of the tunnel.

I was genuinely upset when I finished this book because I knew that I wouldn't be able to look forward to reading about Craig's life during my downtime in my day. I think that a lot of people (more than the general population) have dealt with some degree of depression at some point in their lives. This book was so inspirational and it made me value being alive and celebrating life every single day than I ever have before.

-Carrie

I love stories like this, -people who have clinical depression got to find their happiness and escape the depression all because of depression it self. I first saw this in the movies and i liked it so much that is why i decided to read the book and never had regrets about it.

I would read this book over and over again. I never thought anyone understood what it was like to have the essentials of living, and still be so unhappy with everything around you. If Ned Vizzini was around today, I would thank him for showing me such a great story.

i had seen the movie a while back and thoroughly enjoyed it. I picked up the book after hearing of Vizzini's suicide which weighed heavily upon me while reading this novel. while having had depressed moments in life nothing felt as described by the narrator. the wit, honesty, and heart of the book will remain with me for quite some time.

The book starts with a boy named Craig that wants to commit suicide. He eventually goes and calls a suicide hotline that gave him advice saying to go to the psych ward. after entering the hospital, Craig meets a girl named Noel. They start off by playing the question game, then arts and crafts, then a pizza party. Craig and Noel hit it off and they end up getting out of the hospital on the exact same day. "Do you know how depression works", asked Dr. Mahmoud.
I think this book would be good for younger kids to read because it can teach them how it is like to be depressed and how to treat others who are depressed.

i don't know about people who don't have depression, but this book seemed like another teen depression book that i couldn't relate with at all. though, i admit, i have yet to find a book whose account of depression tells a story i feel is fitting and truthful. and i've read sylvia plath's bell jar, and even that literary work seemed like an insult to depression. perhaps my depression isn't sophisticated enough lol. anyway...

***SPOILER ALERT!!!***
the thing that bothered me about this story was how depression was portrayed as a whole. craig is, inarguably, a very privileged boy. he has a loving, supportive family, that is very much aware and accepting of his condition. he is accepted into a prestigious school. and while i know pressure can mount to deepening depression or act as the catalyst, he is nonetheless in a more ideal situation than others who have depression, who can't concentrate or muster the focus to finish their homework. craig manages to function. he is overwhelmed and stressed out, but he manages to go about day to day accomplishing normal things. craig also doesn't seem to suffer from low self-esteem. he seems a little too arrogant and obnoxious, tbh, which didn't sit very well with me bc a large part of depression is low self-esteem to the point where you wish you were never born and feel undeserving of everything, whether it be life or a small compliment. craig is a functioning depressive, one who seems pretty well off- emotionally, actually. he isn't anxious about leaving his house, worried about what little thing might occur to send him into another depressive episode. he isn't a social recluse. he has friends and goes to parties and worries about girls. it seems craig is in the premature stages of depression, from how it is described in the book, and is experiencing a level of depression most kids would not even label as depression yet, but accept as a part of growing up. so, from my pov, it seemed a little unfair for someone in his circumstances/position to be receiving so much attention for a state of being a lot of people quietly keep to themselves.

i feel craig is a very privileged boy and doesn't appreciate it. i think a lot of people who have depression are fortunate and don't realize how much they have, but craig didn't really seem too concerned or guilty about this. and i couldn't relate to how it presented very little conflict at home. craig's parents accept his depression so easily. they say it's a chemical imbalance. for most ppl with depression, it's a secret they keep quiet, even when confronted, bc how do you tell your family you have depression and want to die? the thought of speaking about it is mortifying and saying the words aloud would undoubtedly make you burst out in tears. craig is really, really, really lucky to have a family who is aware and accepting of his condition. most depressives have to go about it entirely and completely alone. their families wonderng why they never speak at dinner, why their mood can so swiftly fall from happy to sad, why they've lost all their friends. they're loving and well meaning, but oblivious.

one part which did upset me was how simply craig admitted himself to argenon. he's very vocal, not at all shy about his depression. he calls a suicide hotline and bike rides over to the hospital. his parents are incredibly supportive. he never mentions the expenses, fixates over what to tell people or how to keep it a secret, whether ot not he even wants to get better, etc. the fact that he even gets to the hospital, untroubled by how his family will react, is unbelievable. it was another piece of the story that was too easy. it seemed the author decided to skin over the part where craig and his family register everything and went right to the part of the story that had potential to be made into a trendy, "witty" book.
i thought this book was trying too hard to be special and unique, when it really isn't. it kind of gave the whole thing an heir of pretention, that otherwise, would've made its flaws tolerable, but it isn't awful, absolutely readable (and enjoyable) and not the worst try i've read. and while it wasn't exactly what i was hoping for, i did enjoy reading it in bed.

overall, i thought this book's portrayal of depression was a disappointment. the reoccuring theme was: EASY. everything was easy, defineable, perfectly tied together with a neat bow. he's depressed, so he hears imaginery voices, compulsively vomits, and fantasizes about jumping off a bridge. depression isn't that... easy.

Disappointing. The novel's depiction of depression feels authentic, but once Craig reaches the mental hospital and (in a most implausible turn) finds his fellow patients almost universally delightful, this book really falls apart. Reading it, I felt an oppressive pressure to find these unwashed, arrogant, ranty, unsavory characters as charming as Craig apparently does, but none of them were particularly likable except for the self-injuring love interest.

It is possible to write a funny yet unsentimental and unflinching book about depression. See: "The Bell Jar."

I loved this! The language was a little rough but, its a good novel. You don't come across a good book thats worth your time that you actually don't think 'Oh, that will definitely be a classic' and that what you think when you read this.

Ned Vizzini has a distinct advantage over other authors who write about teen depression, attempted suicide, and the ins and outs of psychiatry--as a teen he was clinically depressed and even spent time in a psychiatric hospital. That experience has allowed Mr. Vizzini to bring to life the kinds of situations that were once largely absent in teen fiction; that of the fact that not all teens are happy, spontaneous, happy-go-lucky youths.

For Craig Gilner, gaining acceptance into the elite Executive Pre-Professional High School in Manhattan is not the end of his problems, but only the beginning. All the studying, the cramming, the all-nighters he pulled to get high marks in his old high school and ace his entrance exam now seem mediocre, at best, at his new school. Craig realizes quite early on that he's not brilliant, he's not at the top of his class--he is, in fact, average. For a guy who worked as hard as Craig did, with such obsessive determination, this is a blow not just to his ego, but to his very soul.

Craig soon finds himself unable to eat, unable to sleep, unable to find joy in just about everything. As he realizes he's clinically depressed, he tells his shrink--excuse me, psychiatrist--that his only joy in life comes from peeing. Yes, peeing. You go in, you get it done, you accomplish what you set out to do, and you're finished. It's pretty sad that going to the bathroom seems to be the highlight of his day (he even manages to stretch each trip out to about five minutes), but it's also the truth.

Dr. Minerva, for $120/hour, is attempting to help Craig figure out exactly why he's depressed and how to overcome it. But Craig no longer thrives on a life of complexity; for him, life is a nightmare. And as his depression leads to thoughts of suicide, he's not even surprised to find that there's an 800 number he can call. And after taking the plunge and calling 1-800-SUICIDE Craig hikes over to the local emergency room at the hospital, where he meets Dr. Mahmoud (who is not a terrorist).

From there, Craig is checked into a psychiatric hospital, and he meets a motley crew of patients who, amazingly enough, become better friends to him than the ones he had before he went in ever were. For Craig, being in the hospital might just save not only his life, but his sanity and his will to keep on keeping on.

IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY is a great read. Filled with issues that plague a large number of teens today, the author has managed to take sensitive topics and deal with them in a humorous way that never seems disrespectful. A very enjoyable, thought-provoking read.

Take a good helping of "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," add a heaping spoonful of "Girl, Interrupted," and stir in a dollop or two of "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," and you'll have a good idea what you're going to get with "Funny Story."

A week after the author, Ned Vizzini, was discharged from his own stay in the psychiatric ward of a New York hospital, he began the tale of depressed teen Craig Gilner. On the point of suicide, Craig checks himself into the hospital, hoping to come to find hope beyond his depression. Inside he gains perspective on his illness, his current lifestyle, and his own talents and strengths.

Smoothly written with a strong voice, "Funny Story" is full of vivid, real characters. What rings less true is Craig's almost-miraculous recovery and ability to gain a new lease on life after only five days. However, the fairly unbelievably happy ending was welcome after the flood of depressing books that seem to be hitting the charts.

This book is simply amazing. I think it captures depression in a way that's realistic, but heavy. Yes, the time frame isn't exactly perfect- the majority of the story takes place in a mere five days- but other than that, I haven't got a single complaint. It's very relate-able and charming. As soon as I started reading it, I was drawn in by the first sentence. It didn't take a couple of chapters to get into, unlike so many other books.

it was a great story! I definitely recommend this book is a great buy it was worth the read I would probably advise the book 2 teenagers are young adults they may be more interested in this book but all in all it was a fantastic read and a great book!

This is the best book I have probably ever read. You can really connect with it even if you're not depressed/suicidal. It really gets to you. Ned does a great job at describing emotions of the characters and all the scenarios. Whenever I feel kinda down, just pick up the book and start reading...kinda releases them in a way. I've read the entire book twice through already and I think I might go a third..

Get this book!

This book would have been good. But you can't end qa book about battling acute depression by tying things up with a pretty red bow. That is unrealistic and could be dangerous to anyone who suffers from chronic depression

Ned Vizzini has done a huge service to people who suffer from depression. Through It's Kind of a Funny Story, he lets teens and adults know that (1) anyone who goes through depression is NOT alone and (2) there is hope.

Beth Fehlbaum, author
Courage in Patience

all in all this book was great. Craig a teenage workaholic deals with the stress he that comes with gettin in to the top ranked school in new-york. He experiments with Drugs & a bit of alchol, lust for his bestfriends girlfriend of about two years and feels overwhelmed.

one night he decides he shouldn't live anymore. but as you already know by this point Craig is a smart-add-ish kid who's mind nevers rest and goes back to family memories. he recalls a book that has the suicide prevtion number in there and calls it.

i won't spoil the end, but he ends up in "mental ward" Craog ends up leaving with more then he started with.

The book starts out with the main character thinking about committing suicide, He later calls a suicide hotline and he ends up checking himself into a mental hospital (psych ward). Wile in the hospital, the main character Creg meets people just like him, some are even worse than him. He learns that he has way more in life than he thought and has a lot more potential than some of the people inside the hospital. His friend inside the ward tells him this, "He who is not busy being born, is busy dying" a famous quote from Bob Dylan. Also wile in the ward he meets a girl who later becomes his girlfriend named Noel. She came in for self harm and has scars on her face from an incident with scissors. Id say if theres a person feeling depressed this book might be a good choice because it shows Creg how killing himself is not the solution.

-This was written for a class grade

I would recommend this book to any teenager or young adult. Though it is about teenagers in high school, I think a lot of it can be applied to college students and maybe young adults starting their jobs. I put it in my top five favorite books.

this is probably one of the best books i ever read. it's a shame it's not as popular as it should be. i read it at least 2 to 3 years ago and i can recall almost every single detail--because it was so good. very memorable for me. enjoyable and funny. anyone who loves books that are funny AND powerful should definitely read this.

Wow!! I loved this book!! The main character is a boy named Craig Gilner who is fifteen years old. He gets into an extreamly smart high school called Exectutive Pre-Professional. After a while he realizes that he is'nt the smartest person and is not too happy with his 93 averege. He soon becomes depressed and checks himself into Argenon hospitol after calling a suicide hotline. This book was very good and extreamly detailed. I loved waiting to see what would happen to Craig next!

My friend recommended this book and I just fell in love with it! I got so into the book that I read it in a few days. :) I can relate to this book. It's an excellent book and the only book that caught my interest!! I recommend this book to anyone! I give it five stars!!

I belive this book was very good.It had a lot of drama in it which made the book more intresting. When i first started reading it, the first chapter was a little boring but it got better and better and the story went on. i just couldnt put it down. i recomend this book to kids and teenagers who can relate to the character Craig, with some sort of depression. If you want a good laugh, then this is a book for you.

An ideal book for anyone questioning their mental state. I definitely recognized some characteristics in Craig that I too have experienced and feel all the more better knowing that I'm not the only one who feels this way.

I've read Ned Vizzini's two previous books, Teen Angst? Naaah... and Be More Chill, and they were both hilarious. It's Kind of a Funny Story is also funny (heh), occasionally to the point where I was laughing out loud. It also hits on a different level though, and Craig's recovery is one of the most life-affirming things I've ever read.

I can't say if this will apply to other people or not, but when Craig talks about his "Cycling" and the "Tentacles" it was one of those YES!!! moments. It was like "I know what this feels like", and it was just very nice to read about that, and to know that I'm not alone in having it.

If nothing else, read the book for the ending. While it's still directed towards Craig, it's also kind of a message for everyone who's ever battled against suicidal feelings.

The author is a good writer, it's just that he seems to have fallen in love with his own writing. There's way too little action for a 400-plus page book. This book goes on and one and on. The Burn Journals is a much better, more intense, more realistic view of teenage depression. The romantic encounters at the end were a bit too unbelieveable.

A wonderful book about depression, stress, and finding ourselves again, I highly recommend this to anyone. Like, anyone. Those who have ever felt the pangs of heartbreak, being overworked, or depression will love this as well. Buy it. It is so good.

best book ever written!!!!!!! I loved the book funny and awesome. I love Ned's books as a teen I enjoy his view of high school and about depression. I myelf use to suffer of clincal depression and the book made me luagh at it and i just have to say this is the best book i ever read in my life.

i love this book. i wacthed the movie (i think its funnier than the book). the book is meant for 9th -12th grade, but im in 8th grade and i do think it was a little old for me, but it really is a good and i enjoyed it very much.

This is a case where I think the movie captures everything that was good about the book and streamlined it. For example, the movie starts about halfway through the book. While it's an entertaining read, you won't get much more out of the story if you've already seen the movie.

I'm surprised how bad some of the reviews are on here. As an avid reader, I really like coming across a good book on a topic that hits home. This book does just the trick. I was a little apprehensive in the beginning, but then again, what book isn't a little boring at first? I immediately fell into the plot and devoured this book within a day. Great read! I wanted more when I was done.

Beatiful.
Effortless yet very powerful. I've read this amazing novel several times and it still keeps me awake till the a.m.
I highly recomend this to anyone willing to laugh, cry, question one's actions, and fall in love with a book.

i barrowed this book from a friend and i had no clue what i was getting my self into! this book is about a teenage boy who enters clinical depretion after being exepted into the best school in town. I like this story because it showes how a well behaveed smart boy turns to lazyness, pot, and depression to solve his problems and as he grows and evolves and ends up in the mental part of the hospital but he grows to be a very nice interesting boy who finds what hes always been searching for an "anchor"

i do not reciment this book for anyone below the age of 13 or 14 because of crude language, very descripitive parts, and sexctual refrences.

i read this book and said finally someone who can get to how we teens feel.. im fourteen and i really wnt to just die sometimes. this book made me realize im not crazy. if ur in a pre pro school ur gonna be stressed and im and honors student so i can relate to this book.. its a must read for us teens..

Admittedly its been a year or two since I read this book; But I remember having some very definitive feelings while I was reading and then still after it was over. Mostly that Craig's epiphany at the end is, for someone who has dealt with depression, rather depressing. I have had these brief periods of hopefullness and even enthusiasm, but rarely are these moments genuine. It is easier to have hope about the future when you are thinking about it as the future, but usually once you go forward from there, things are almost garauanteed to fall apart again. It takes alot of attempts, as well as patience and endurance, to tackle life after depression. Everyone should expect it to come back. And so the fact that he is so sure of smooth sailing from here on, after a few minor modifications that may make him more aptly equipped to deal with reality, means that Craig is no where near done with the Psych ward.
After I finished the book, I was sure that he would go back, and as someone who knows what is in store, I just felt this sort of dread. Though I'm not sure if this was created through sympathy for the charchter or simply my own memories. Because, besides delivering a moral that will onlyngive false hope to those who wouldn't know better, the story is ultimatley lacking in the things that make a book a good book. Besides his situation reminding me of my own, Craig himself triggored no emotions; he was pretty stereotypical, depressed teenage pot-head, without any insight to offer on how depression can feel. The fact that he is placed on the adult unit because the teenage unit is under construction is a stupid excuse to put the charachter in a "quirky" enviornment that was easier for Vizzini to imagine because he had been there. As opposed to letting the story offer some reality to the kids reading his book who some day may have to be in a psych ward themselves. Other people have mentioned that the sensuality is a little far-fetched too, which it is, but I'm aware that it is not impossible (my roomates in the hospital, not me).Thats probably the most realistic glimpse Vizzini gives of the Psych unit. Everyone Craig meets is a circus freaks. It's sad; portraying something serious as being like the Rocky Horror Picture show will more likely deter kids than encourage them to ask for help.
Overall, the entire book was dumb. Craigs problems are not over, though it concludes his story as if they were; the portrayal of the Hospital and patients rings untrue; plus I personally disliked that, besides resolving his issues by finding a girl he will eventually break off with, He finds solace in this discovery that he is artistically gifted. I consider myself and artist, and though it is an incredible way of expressing emotion, it is also one of the most frustrating ways one can find to cope. Most of the world's famous artist suffered greatly thoughout their lives, and that is in part neurological and social, but it is also Artist's block. The most depressing and infuriating thing that I have ever experienced is the feeling of persistent failure when I can't communicate my thoughts through art. The fact that Craig is hoping to find peace and stability this way is just too depressing.
So I suggest Trying to find something else if you want to learn about depression. I reccomend the Bell Jar, and, to be stereotypical, the Catcher in the Rye.

I am a teenage boy who has depression, so sometimes I like to read stories about teens who are also struggling with this problem. I heard that this was a pretty good book, so I decided to buy it. Big mistake.
The book starts off pretty good, as it is about a teenage boy named Craig who is very smart but also depressed. He goes to a very tough school and is overwhelmed by how much work he must do, along with other problems in his life. I could relate to Craig quite a bit in some parts, and I was really enjoying the book. Some of the characters and situations don't seem very real, but I think the author was trying to make it quirky on purpose. I didn't think it was problemic, as I still cared about Craig.
Anyway, one night Craig feels really depressed and calls the suicide hotline. He ends up in a mental hospital, where he befriends many of the other patients during his 5-day stay. He also falls in love with a teenage girl there named Noelle, and it's all downhill from there.
Once he meets Noelle, the book suddenly changes from a somewhat quirky story about a teenager struggling with depression, to a bad romantic comedy about a teenage boy trying to convince a depressed girl to have sex with him. I find it surprising an author who has suffered from depression and stayed in a mental hospital could write such an unrealistic book about the subject. Yes, the first half had its share of fake stuff, but the second half is just ridiculous and insulting.
I was hoping this book would help me feel better, but it actually just made me more depressed and angry. Craig magically overcomes his depression just because he finds he's good at drawing and, of course, because he has sex with 2 girls while in the hospital, getting to keep one as his girlfriend until happily ever after. While I'm sure people have willingly had sex in mental hospitals in real life, it is a very rare occurance, and the author writes it like a bad fanfic.
It's obvious to me now that this book was not written for people who suffer depression themselves or people who want a realistic view of it. This book was made for teenage girls who think everything can be fixed by having a boyfriend and dream about the vampire guy in "Twilight." If you want a good, realistic story about teens dealing with depression in a psychiatric facility, go read "Cut by Patricia McCormick. That book is far from perfect, but it's a heck of a lot better than this fairy tale nonsense.

While I have great respsect for Ned, this book follows his other two in that it is a complete waste of money, time, and paper (not to mention bookshelf space). It reaches new heights of boring that I have yet to see accomplished by anything other than the history books I was forced to read in high school.

It is being marketed as a "humorous" novel about depression, which is supposedly rare (but is it really?) and is said to spread hope. In complete honesty, this reminds me of the thirteen year old girl with the loving parents who cuts herself because she couldn't get the skirt she wanted because it made her look too slutty.

Reading this book will not help you accomplish happiness. It will not help you see the silver lining. It will, however, waste a few hours of your time and some of your money, just as it wasted the paper it was printed on.