What it is: It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini follows the story of Craig Gilner, a 15-year-old boy with depression. He goes to a highly competitive high school and finds himself struggling with schoolwork, friend conflicts, and an inability to sleep and eat. Suicidal, he checks himself into the psychiatric ward of the hospital, where he isolates himself from the outside world and rediscovers what’s important to him–including his life.
What I liked about it: Vizzini’s writing style is excellent. It’s colloquial enough to feel like a real teenager’s voice while also formal enough to show Craig’s intelligence and worldview. The relationships and characters in the story are three-dimensional, even minor characters that Craig interacts with in the hospital. The novel includes deep musings while remaining light-hearted.
What I didn’t like about it: Nothing. This book was fantastic and I didn’t want to put it down, resulting in a few late nights and procrastination of obligations.
Memorable quote: “Take these verbs and enjoy them. They’re yours, Craig. You deserve them because you chose them. You could have left them all behind but you chose to stay here. So now live for real, Craig. Live.”
Overall rating: 5/5 stars.
Challenge satisfied: #1, read a book written by someone when they were under the age of 25.
Additional notes: I couldn’t stop thinking about Ned Vizzini while I was reading. He started writing this book a week after being released from a psychiatric ward, and committed suicide nine years later. Given how optimistic Craig was at the end of the novel, it’s sad to me that Vizzini couldn’t find that same will to live.
It’s Kind of a Funny Story is book 11 of 24 for my Read Harder Challenge. You can also read my reviews of We Need New Names and Lost at Sea.
An affiliate link is used in this post. All opinions in this review are my own and are not influenced by the affiliate.
Victim to Charm 
Loves this book so much I kind of forced my friend to read it!!! So glad you chose to read it.
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It’s fantastic!
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I can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for the review.
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You’re very welcome, Amy!
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I read it for the same Book Riot Read Harder Challenge category. That under 25 was a hard one is find books for. I felt the same way about the author, I wondered what happened. I sort of wished I hadn’t know his history before I started reading.
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Me too, it kind of colored the book for me. I actually had a whole list of under 25 books, so choosing between them was actually the hard part for me.
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It makes me sad about what happened to Ned Vizzini (and what ended up happening to Ned Vizzini) but I LOVED READING THIS BOOK
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It’s SO GOOD.
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Wow! You know a book is good when it results in some late nights and procrastination of obligations. That’s the kind of book I want to read! Thanks for the recommendation! :)
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Definitely get your hands on this one!!
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Sounds intriguing! The real ending makes me sad, but I am glad that his words live on and bring meaning to others.
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Me too. I suppose that’s the silver lining.
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I’ve been seeing this book around so often, it seems like, and now your review has sold me. I need to get ahold of this book!
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You need to!!
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Devastating that the author committed suicide. Mental illness is such a devil.
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Absolutely. It’s tragic, really, that something so invisible can be so deadly.
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As someone who has suffered from depression (but never to the point of feeling suicidal, thankfully), it really defies explanation. If you haven’t experienced it firsthand it’s just impossible to understand.
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I have, actually, so I definitely understand. As someone who’s recovered, though, it can be hard to remember quite what it was like every day. I’ve forgotten a lot of how I felt (thankfully).
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Yes, it is a good feeling to be free. I am good most days but have minor setbacks here and there, so it’s never far from my mind. But I have learned so many strategies to combat!!
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So glad to hear it! My experience is mostly the same.
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This is a fantastic book. Glad you liked it as much as I did!
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Agreed, Liz!
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OOoo, I read this one and thought it was really good. It made me really sad to find out that the author committed suicide later on, but it contains such a vital look at the world of mental illness. Exceptional choice!
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Agreed!
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