Ned Vizzini

It's Kind of a Funny Story

Kaylee Graves

I don't know how I can be so ambitious and so lazy at the same time

jill

I think about how much this means to this guy, about how much more important it is than going to any high school or getting with any girl or being friends with anybody.

A humorous account of a New York City teenager's battle with depression and his time spent in a psychiatric hospital.

Ayla Blumberg

one of my favorite, nostalgic and most read books ever. 

Sophia Rico

Just keep reading it. I think it will be worth it.
I have to admit: at first when starting the book, I only enjoyed it for my own relatability with running theme of school and peer overwhelming pressure. The book starts off pretty slow-paced, but upon reflection, I think it really does add to the building up of the characters and to the sense of how life- in general- completely disregards the concept/pacing of time. It really is kind of a funny story of how oddly at peace I feel after reading this book. I don't even know how to explain myself :/ if you like the synopsis, give the book a chance.

Paula Plaza Ponte 

Art saves the day. I guess that's what happens when you don't abandon a so-so book. You get attached to the characters anyway. In the end, I rooted for Craig and felt joy when he talked about and did his art. I wish there were actual illustrations of his brain maps. I want one too. 

I think I would still recommend this book to some of my kids. It talks a lot about the pressure of succeeding at everything all at once at a young age. Pressure is a canker sore and not paying attention to what it can do to us can become an aggressive malignant tumor.

Dani

It feels weird to say this (it might be the first time I do) but I feel obligated to admit I liked the movie better. There is more depth to Craig when it comes to the written word, for sure. But I would've liked seeing Bobby develop more as a character. Also Noelle came off as annoying instead of witty, half of what she says does not translate well into a real life situation, if that makes sense?
Anyhow, it is a good read and I do love the idea behind it, but it's certainly not a book I'd re-read or hold on to.

chloe rae

This book is wonderful and important and sincere. It's a heavy topic but Ned deals with it in such a matter-of-fact way that it's not overwhelming, just honest. I did think the beginning section was a bit too drawn out, and wished that the little romance this book contained could've had more substance, but other than that it was so powerful. It's the kind of book that is going to stick with me. I loved the main characters love for people, and how he appreciated their genuineness. Life is worth living and I enjoyed watching the main character and book come to this conclusion.

Maui Santos

5/5

Despite being a book about depression, Ned Vizzini made it a light and exciting book. Craig Gilner should be a role model for when you feel the need to kill yourself. Stop and think, seek help and go from there.

Everything will get better for you, it just takes time.

Jackie Lu

** spoiler alert **
           pretty good book. I liked the writing. Some characters and certain actions of those characters were questionable but it made sense in the end kinda. Thank you Ned Vizzini

Annika Arguemore

a nice read, I must say.

as I ventured deeper into the subconciousness of Mr. Craig Gilner, I discovered that we're not quite so different... Craig & I. I can relate to his situation. I, too, was once held captive to pressure and the consequences it held. this may seem a little personal but when I gave into pressure, I fell unto a routine that I could run to whenever I got stressed. I ran to that routine for like a year before anyone noticed. P.S. it wasn't self-harm, I swear. then my folks got a shrink for me. well, she didn't actually do anything. she just talked to me and asked me what I was afraid of and asked me some more other stuff. then the urge to run back to that routine faded away although it sometimes pops up once in a while. this happened to me when I was a whole lot younger. right now, I'm 15 and so's Craig (well, he's eternally 15. preserved on paper since he's sort of fictional) and I think I've got it altogether when no one's really got it altogether. but I think I've coped. I've managed. and I think that's the whole point of this book. and also, the whole point of life.

It is very sad, but it is a growingly common situation these days. I recommend this book to ages 15 and older; there is some mature content in it. Otherwise, it is a great insight into the minds of those with mental illness.

Payton Washer

Samantha gust 

Amazing 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Where to start this book was a roller coaster. I was drawn in through all of it and it was kinda like reliving my experience in a psychiatric hospital. I laughed I almost cried I yelled. This story is about a 15-year-old boy named Craig who was diagnosed with depression we go along on his adventure through struggling to him admitting he needed help. We meet many other people with other mental health issues. I loved that this was a pretty accurate representation. I understand Craig's tentacles I have plenty myself and im still waiting for my shift maybe I just need to find my anchor first. 

If your looking for a good mental health book make sure to check this out

Originally reviewed Dec 31, 2017 | Imported from my Goodreads account

Alberto

Quoc Khanh

Yeah, kind of funny, but nostalgic and deep.

Like many ambitious New York City teenagers, Craig Gilner sees entry into Manhattan's Executive Pre-Professional High School as the ticket to his future. Determined to succeed at life—which means getting into the right high school to get into the right college to get the right job—Craig studies night and day to ace the entrance exam, and does. That's when things start to get crazy. At his new school, Craig realizes that he isn't brilliant compared to the other kids; he's just average, and maybe not even that. He soon sees his once-perfect future crumbling away.

Gillian Rose

It's a great story about mental health, but something was missing for me.

Jordan Peet

** spoiler alert **
           This book is a book I've been wanting to read for years now, and I'm so glad I finally got to read it, especially during a time in my life where I relate to Craig more than ever. 
The first half of the book was especially amazing in describing how he felt about his different relationships with his family and his friends and discovering how to love himself and how to heal with help instead of just trying to do it by himself. I also really enjoyed that it showed his anxieties and described it going around and around in his head as he falls deeper inside his head. My most favorite thing that this book did so well was - it wasn't sad! There were some sad moments when Craig wanted to commit suicide or his friends didn't understand and was joking about his mental illness, but overall it wasn't a sad book. It is a book about finding help, finding understanding friends, getting to know yourself and what you need to do in your life to try to make you happy. 
With that being said, towards the end of the book, I started to not enjoy the relationship between him and some of the characters. In my opinion, I thought it was too quick to go from having a mental illness, wanting to kill yourself, to wanting to date someone who has her own problems. I kinda wish that Craig and Noelle stayed friends until later on, helping each other get through their hard times with someone to lean on who understands, instead of just agreeing to start dating right after they both get out. That is really the only issue I had with this book, the rest of it, in my opinion, was amazing and truly an outstanding book.

Jeannette Ordas

I liked this book, but there were parts that I skimmed - I mean I skimmed the first few pages before I got into it. Weird. A bit too happy-go-lucky for a book about suicide & mental illness, but it was well-written, funny & sweet.

akúa osei bobie 

my favorite book ever. read this at a difficult time in my childhood and it made me not feel alone💐

Izza

Such an amazing read. back with a review whenever I feel better.

Emelie

Out of experience I know it doesn't take you 5 days to go from depressed and suicidal to want to live, live, live your life!

Alyssa Huffman

I always want to re-read this book just because I remember loving it so much when I first read it in high-school. Then I read it and it makes me think way too much and I have an existential crisis right then and there. But, I still love it and will continue re-reading it until I run out of existential crisis to have.

changed my whole outlook on my conditions as a teen, a really hard read but still good to get through.

reese

Lauren Tabor

Nick Schmoyer

Favorite book of all time. I. LOVE. NED. He just knows, yaknow? #RIP

georgia greenway

picked this up in very personal concerning circumstances that i am not gonna talk about in a goddamn goodreads review, but fuck. thank you ned <3

It's Kind of a Funny Story

Reviews

Highlights