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It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

 

"An easy, quick read that tries to get the message across that even someone who seems like they have it "all together" is really struggling on the inside. Everyone gets overwhelmed from time to time and this novel shows the reader that it takes more strength and courage to ask and seek help than it is to just give in."

3 Stars

Pros: If you've ever spent any time in a psychiatric ward, it definitely caught the vast majority of characters. 

Cons: I had to keep reminding myself that the character was supposed to be a teenager and teenagers are inherently controlled by their hormones and don't think. This kid's "friends" were just...awful and I guess I'm lucky that I don't have jerks like that in my life. 

Full Review: 

Craig Gilner has worked for as long as he can remember to get into the best school in New York. And when he finally does, it all starts to go downhill. The workload is intense, he stops eating, stops sleeping, stops doing anything except hanging out with his friend Aaron and smoking weed. It isn't until one night, when his brain doesn't want to keep on going but his heart does, he calls a suicide hotline and they tell him that since he called them he, he has to check himself into the ER. 

He does so and is admitted to a psychiatric ward. He meets all kinds of characters, people who struggle with every kind of mental illness you can imagine but Craig takes it all in stride. He's able to see it all, take it in and think it through. When he friends are not supportive, at all, in fact, they mock him for being there, he starts to realize that maybe they aren't that great of friends after all. His family is supportive, though they don't exactly understand it. And all the patients think Craig is a great guy, helpful, generous and kind. 

And he is. He's just a teenager who felt the pressure of life bearing down on him and for a moment, felt like giving up. It's believable in that sense because I think everyone feels that way at some point in time in their lives. But Craig did the hard thing and admitted he needed help and he got it. For anyone's who's been in that position, it's a frightening experience but if you work hard and start taking things one day, one hour, one minute, one second at a time, and practicing gratitude, you realize that things are okay. That even though you're stressed and overwhelmed, things can and will get better. 

This was an up lifting novel for the message that it sends, to live, live your life, to not let pressure, stress and fear hold you back. But at the same time there were points of it that were just hard to stomach. The cruelty of his friends was just sickening. It's been a long time since I was a teenager and I'm lucky in the sense that the friends that I do have are understanding. The wanton cruelty of his "friends" was just tough to read. 

It was an interesting read, especially if you've found yourself in the same situation. And it also helps to pass the message along that even the most calm and level headed person could be struggling and going through something, so just, be kind to others because you don't know what anyone is going through. Just be kind, that's all it really comes down to. 

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