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It's Kind of a Funny Story

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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 laid-back, 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.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

This book is the most amazing masterpiece I have read in my whole entire life. This book is realstic because kids who go into advanced classrooms do sometimes get depressed with the competiton. Unrealsitc from some of the characters in and Life changing because the way Ned Vizzini writes and takes you into the world of prozac and zoloft will change your whole outlook on life.
This book is about a boy sent into a prestigious acedemic program and "cracks" under the pressure if his peers. You will definetally love this book and you won't be able to put it down.

Craig's journey from hopelessness to life again is not only inspirational, but it opened my eyes to thoughts of happiness, and the choices one must make to acheive it. Vizzini writes in such a real way, presenting the reader with a blunt, and often disturbing reality that one must face as they make the decisions that will shape their lives.

Vizzini's It's Kind of a Funny Story offers a compelling look at how a fifteen year old boy who earns 93s and gets into a prestigious high school can end up in a depressing slump, eventually checking himself into a psychiatric hospital.
I think this novel has a lot to say about our society, and offers, perhaps, a social commentary on the rigorousness of the modern education system. On a larger scale, it examines how the pressures and stresses of everyday life can take a detrimental toll on individuals.
At an inital glance, Craig, the protagonist, is a normal teenager. He's kind of invisible but he works hard to get into the prestigious high school he has been yearning to attend ever since childhood. When he was a child, he loved drawing maps of Brooklyn (his residence), but after encountering much frustration because he couldn't draw it perfectly freehand, he stops.
Upon his first experience at the Executive Pre-Professional High School (what a mouthful!) is when Craig's life alters significantly - for the worse. This is the point in which he loses his appetite, starts smoking pot with his friend Aaron, stops doing homework, and is generally experiencing the symptoms of depression. Sometimes he lies in bed for a long time before he can get up - precisely because he sees no point in getting up and living. Craig soon then comes to reject life altogether. His mental state is a precursor to the physical symptoms he endures, such as vomiting and loss of appetite.

Then, one night, he decides to commit suicide because he can't go on living like he is. He calls the Suicide Hotline, at which point he is instructed to check himself into a hospital. Coincidentally, there is a hospital right near where Craig lives so he goes on over there and checks himself in. Once there, Craig meets a slew of wacky people with all sorts of mental problems. He develops new friendships there and has an opportunity to reflect on his values and his life.

His musings about what he wants resonate profoundly with those of us who are living a life that is modern and fast-paced. Craig craves simplicity - indeed, he feels like preschool is heaven, because in preschool you are given small, easy tasks to do and you do them and it's done. Real life is much more convoluted, not to mention the added stress and burdens.

It's Kind of A Funny Story is a humorous look at what happens to a teenage boy when the pressure gets to be too much. Readers will accompany Craig on his journey of self-discovery and his quest to discover what makes him feel happy and at peace with himself.

With clever wit and adept writing, Ned Vizzini has done it again with this third book of his. The characters here are idiosyncratic and interesting, and the plot fresh and original. I thoroughly enjoyed reading It's Kind of a Funny Story. While this book does deal with Craig's depression, it is told humorously and is ultimately life-affirming. Fans of Vizzini's previous books should be sure to check this one out.

There is absolutely nothing more exciting then a first kiss. Especially when it's done in the psych ward of the hospital.

It's Kind of a Funny Story is centered on Craig Gilner, a fifteen-year-old genius who likes simple things, like video games and bike riding. However, at Craig's new school, the Executive Pre-Professional High School, almost everything is complicated, which is why Craig ends up becoming a depressed, drug smoking teen, who can't eat anything without regurgitating at least one part of his meal. To him, life is a nightmare.

After one night, he thinks up the most brilliant plan: suicide. He thinks it would save his family from all the pain he is causing them. However, he can't bring himself to do it, and checks himself into Argenon Hospital. Craig thinks the hospital will discharge him at the end of the night, but he ends up in the adult psychiatric ward. At first, Craig thinks this will make him lose it more then he already has. But after his first day, he meets the many interesting characters of the ward, called Six North, that he soon crafts friendships with. But Craig seems to bond the most with the cute, little suicidal blonde named Noelle.

Ned Vizzini's style of writing is completely original, and I can't say I've even read another book quite like this. I recommend this book to anybody, as it is extremely well-written. It is also eye-opening to what happiness can mean to different people. This book is really fantastic and kind of a funny story.