It's Kind of a Funny Story
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''It's Kind of a Funny Story'' is a 2006 novel by American author
Ned Vizzini Edison Price Vizzini (April 4, 1981 – December 19, 2013) was an American writer. He was the author of four books for young adults including ''It's Kind of a Funny Story'', which NPR named #56 of the "100 Best-Ever Teen Novels" and which is th ...
. The book was inspired by Vizzini's own brief hospitalization for depression in November 2004. Ned Vizzini later died by suicide on December 19, 2013. The book received recognition as a 2007
Best Book for Young Adults The American Library Association's Best Fiction for Young Adults, previously known as Best Books for Young Adults (1966–2010), is a recommendation list of books presented yearly by the YALSA division (Young Adult Library Services Association Th ...
from the
American Library Association The American Library Association (ALA) is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with 49,727 members a ...
. A film adaptation, directed by
Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck Anna Boden and Ryan K. Fleck are an American filmmaking duo. They are best known for their collaborations on the films ''Half Nelson (film), Half Nelson'', ''Sugar (2008 film), Sugar'', '' It's Kind of a Funny Story (film), It's Kind of a Funny ...
, was released in the United States on October 8, 2010.


Plot

Craig Gilner, the narrator, is 15 years old and lives with his family in a middle-class Brooklyn neighborhood. He attends the prestigious Executive Pre-Professional High School, having studied arduously to win admission. Once admitted, however, he becomes overwhelmed by the school's intense academic pressure. He has a longstanding crush on Nia, who is dating his best friend, Aaron. He feels alienated and unable to fit in. His stress eventually manifests itself in an eating disorder, affects sleep habits, and suicidal thoughts. He takes a stand and goes to a psychiatrist who prescribes him
Zoloft Sertraline, sold under the brand name Zoloft among others, is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. The efficacy of sertraline for depression is similar to that of other antidepressants, and the differe ...
. He is elated for a brief period, and believes he is cured (what he calls "The Fake Shift")—so he decides to throw away the medicine. Consequently, his depression builds until, unable to fend off his suicidal ideation, he calls 1-800-SUICIDE and is admitted to a nearby psychiatric hospital. He is initially taken aback and feels he doesn't belong in a loony bin. He meets many other patients, some friendly, others reclusive or delusional, and is supported and encouraged by his family and school principal once they learn of his hospitalization. He is apprehensive about going back to school and talks to his psychiatrist, Dr. Minerva, about this. Craig meets a female patient, Noelle, who coped with a history of abuse by cutting her face with scissors. In isolation from the outside world, and with help from Noelle, Craig confronts the sources of his anxiety and regains his health. During his recovery, Craig experiments with art, specifically stylized human figure maps, and discovers he has a great deal of natural talent and ability. He realizes his art makes him feel good and wishes to pursue it. Once Craig has recovered, his counselor suggests he transfer to an art school, a thought that excites him. However, he is scared of telling his father the same, who considers people at art school "messed up". He returns home at the novel's end, with a new energy to live life. He begins to appreciate the little things that make him happy.


Major themes

Critics recognized many themes in ''It's Kind of a Funny Story'', such as being yourself, and finding out who you are. ''
Kirkus Reviews ''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...
'' stated that the novel addresses "the influence of peer pressure", and how depression recovery can be attributed to being oneself and "acceptance for who he is".


Reception

The book is widely celebrated, with it being selected in 2007 by the American Library Association for its list of the Best Books for Young Adults. It was also met with critical applause from multiple publications including the ''New York Times'', who described it as—"Insightful and utterly authentic...this is an important book." However, some critics suggested that ''It's Kind of a Funny Story'' is a funny but sometimes dull story. ''Kirkus Reviews'' stated, "while these thoughts are truthful, it does not make them interesting". They also added, "what results in a slow start to an easy, occasionally long-winded novel". Despite the occasional dullness, they also praised the book to be "humorously poignant". Another critic, Jennifer Brabander from ''
The Horn Book Magazine ''The Horn Book Magazine'', founded in Boston in 1924, is the oldest bimonthly magazine dedicated to reviewing children's literature. It began as a "suggestive purchase list" prepared by Bertha Mahony Miller and Elinor Whitney Field, proprietres ...
'', also praised Vizzini, stating "despite the serious topic, Vizzini again manages to be quite funny".


Background

In ''It's Kind of a Funny Story'', most critics agreed that the book is believable and seems real. It is mostly based on the author, Ned Vizzini's, own experience in an adult psychiatric hospital. Jennifer Brabander, an author in ''The Horn Book Magazine'', stated, " A bulk of this novel (which is based in part on Vizzini's own experience) remains believable." Ned Vizzini also agreed with this statement when James Dick Blasingame interviewed him. Vizzini stated, "''It's Kind of a Funny Story'' was based on my real life and is 85% true." Vizzini stated in his interview, "I put Craig in adult psychiatric because I actually went into adult psychiatric in November 2004." Brabander also agreed when she wrote, "Vizzini spent 5 days himself in a psychiatric hospital, which inspired him to write this book."


Film adaptation

In 2010,
Focus Features Focus Features LLC is an American film production and distribution company, owned by Comcast as part of Universal Pictures, a division of its wholly owned subsidiary NBCUniversal. Focus Features distributes independent and foreign films in th ...
released a film adaptation directed by
Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck Anna Boden and Ryan K. Fleck are an American filmmaking duo. They are best known for their collaborations on the films ''Half Nelson (film), Half Nelson'', ''Sugar (2008 film), Sugar'', '' It's Kind of a Funny Story (film), It's Kind of a Funny ...
. The film starred
Keir Gilchrist Keir David Peters Gilchrist (; born 28 September 1992) is a Canadian actor and musician. On television, he portrayed Marshall Gregson on the Showtime comedy-drama ''United States of Tara'' (2009–2011) and headlined the Netflix comedy-drama '' ...
as Craig, along with
Zach Galifianakis Zachary Knight Galifianakis (born October 1, 1969) is an American actor and comedian. He appeared in ''Comedy Central Presents'' special and presented his show ''Late World with Zach'' on VH1. Galifianakis has starred in films including ''Th ...
,
Emma Roberts Emma Rose Roberts (born February 10, 1991 Additional on October 9, 2016) is an American actress. Known for her work in film and television projects of the horror film, horror and thriller (genre), thriller genres, she has received List of awar ...
,
Zoë Kravitz Zoë Isabella Kravitz (born December 1, 1988) is an American actress, singer, and model. She made her acting debut in the romantic comedy film '' No Reservations'' (2007). Her breakthrough came with portraying Angel Salvadore in the superhero fi ...
, and
Lauren Graham Lauren Graham (born March 16, 1967) is an American actress and author. She is best known for her roles as Lorelai Gilmore on The WB/ CW television series ''Gilmore Girls'' (2000–2007), for which she received nominations for Screen Actors Guild ...
.


Musical adaptation

As of 2017, NBC Theatrical is developing a stage musical version of ''It's Kind of a Funny Story'' with music composed by
Drew Gasparini Drew Gasparini (born April 20, 1986) is a songwriter and musical theatre composer/lyricist, best known for writing songs for season 2 of ''Smash (TV series), Smash'', as well as the scores for the Broadway musicals ''The Karate Kid'', ''Skittle ...
, book by
Alex Brightman Alexander Michael Brightman (born February 5, 1987) is an American actor, singer, and writer. He is best known for his work in musical theatre, specifically as Dewey Finn in the musical adaptation of ''School of Rock'' and the title character ...
and orchestrations by
Justin Goldner Justin Goldner is an American music producer, songwriter, arranger and session musician based in New York City, originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His performances have been featured on Grammy, Latin Grammy and Tony award-winning projects ...
. This will mark the second musical adaptation of one of Vizzini’s novels, the first being ''
Be More Chill ''Be More Chill'' is a teen novel written by American author Ned Vizzini and published on June 1, 2004. It follows unpopular high school student and social outcast Jeremy Heere, who is considered a loser by his peers. Deeply unsatisfied with his ...
''.


References


External links


''It's Kind of a Funny Story'' on Google Books
* {{DEFAULTSORT:It's Kind Of A Funny Story American young adult novels 2006 American novels Novels set in Manhattan American novels adapted into films Books by Ned Vizzini Books about depression