It’s Kind of a Funny Story
by Ned Vizzini
Hyperion Teens
[[It’s Kind Of A Funny]]
Actually, it’s not that funny of a funny story. Craig Gilner is a promising teen in New York City, who’s made it into the competitive Executive Pre-Professional School in Manhattan. Yet despite this and other achievements, Craig succumbs to clinical depression. Although he doesn’t hit rock bottom, he comes close to it, and winds up checking himself into a psychiatric ward after fending off suicidal thoughts. Eventually, Craig gets better, but there’s really no cure for this stuff – only better ways of coping.
This book is a fast reader, with large type, and Ned Vizzini’s style is quick and engaging, so it’s likely that you’ll read the whole thing in a handful of sittings. Somewhat autobiographical, this book shines with realistic characters and situations; we all know (or knew) many of the people featured here, and they all ring true. Although It’s Kind of a Funny Story is the kind of book you’d pass along to someone during troubled times, and is probably going to be a tremendous help to them, it’s an enjoyable enough tale to stand on its own.
Hyperion Teens: http://www.hyperionteens.com
