Book Review: It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

Summary by Goodreads:

Ambitious New York City teenager Craig Gilner is determined to succeed at life - which means getting into the right high school to get into the right job. But once Craig aces his way into Manhattan's Executive Pre-Professional High School, the pressure becomes unbearable. He stops eating and sleeping until, one night, he nearly kills himself.

Craig's suicidal episode gets him checked into a mental hospital, where his new neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio. There, Craig is finally able to confront the sources of his anxiety.

Ned Vizzini, who himself spent time in a psychiatric hospital, has created a remarkably moving tale about the sometimes unexpected road to happiness.

My Thoughts:

One would think It's Kind of a Funny Story is a laugh out loud comical novel, but readers, it's not.  This is one of those books that every teen I know has read, or has added it to their to-read list. It is ALWAYS checked out at our school library.  This book is an important one for parents and teachers to read too. More and more teens are struggling with depression and anxiety.  There is so much pressure on them to be the smartest, take the most Advanced Placement courses, be the best athletes or musicians or actors, etc.  AND yes, I see it first hand everyday.  They are turning to drugs and alcohol to try to relax and let go of reality for a while.

During his short life, Vizzini wrote openly about his own struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts.  According to the NYT, this novel is based on the five days he spent in a psychiatric ward of a Brooklyn hospital in 2004. Unfortunately, depression hit Vizzini harder than he was able to handle throughout his life.  In May of 2013, at the age of 32, he committed suicide.

For me, this book has been a hard one to digest and I have had to read it slower than I read other books.  I am grateful I have time this summer to process it and am looking forward to many conversations with students about it in the fall.