It's Kind Of A Funny Story

“I didn't want to wake up. I was having a much better time asleep. And that's really sad. It was almost like a reverse nightmare, like when you wake up from a nightmare you're so relieved. I woke up into a nightmare.” 

- Ned Vizzini, It's Kind Of A Funny Story

In the book It's Kind Of A Funny Story by Ned Vizzini, Craig Gilner is a determined teen from New York, who worked tirelessly to get accepted into the high school of his dream. For a long time studying was his only priority, until he finally got accepted into the school.  From there, everything goes downhill for Craig as the stress from trying to fit in to his new school takes in. This causes him to become severely depressed, and often think about committing suicide.

Craig is very smart and a little socially awkward. After being accepted into his dream school, he goes to celebrate with his best friend, Aaron. Partying with Aaron causes Craig to realize how the school has taken over all of his time, leaving no space for friends. Suddenly, keeping his GPA at the required "98.6" becomes to much for him. He becomes overwhelmed by stress, which causes him to not be able to eat, sleep, or even get out of bed. Even though his friends and family are very supportive, nobody really seemed to understand him. Craig is aware of the "problem" that is going on in his head. He hates it, and looks for a way himself back to how he was before. "Tentacles is my term-the Tentacles are the evil tasks that invade my life." Craig refers to school as a Tentacle.  

Craig attempts to find the "problem" that might have caused him to change, and his brain not to work "properly". Craig switches back and forth between doing drugs, and refers to this as an experiment. By doing this, Craig, tries to find something tot blame for his brain not working "properly". In this case Craig tries to blame the drugs and see if he stops will is cure him? Will it bring everything back to normal?

Craig seems to not have any control over himself. He does not eat, and instead starves himself. The rare times he is able to get food inside him, his stomach usually hurls it out. Craig feels bad about his, especially when his family tries so hard to get him to eat. But no matter how hard Craig tries, he is unable to eat. It seems to be impossible for him. 

Sometimes, Craig feels lonely; he feels like his existence doesn't matter. Even when he is in a crowd of friends, or with his family, his mind wanders off. "(Did anyone notice I was in here? Did they see the lack of light under the crack and notice, it like a roach? Did Nia see?)" (Page 7) Craig believe that nobody would notice if he were to disappear, or would even care if he died. When Craig is around people, he always excuses himself and goes to the bathroom. He shuts off all of the light, and usually just stands there for a long time. Imagining he was dead, and see's if anybody notices. Does anybody notice his absence?

Craig's depression hits its peak, and causes him to think about suicide most of the time and how much easier everything would be if he ended his life. He knows he needs help and decides to admit himself into a psychiatric hospital. Surprisingly, in there he feels at home and peaceful. Craig makes new friends, who might be a little crazy, but they understand each other the way nobody else seems to be able to. During his short stay in the hospital, he tries to make his life better. He works through his mixed feelings, and his brain finally goes though the shift he was waiting to occur for the longest time. Craig leaves the hospital as a happier person, and gains some survival tools for the real world. "You could have left them all behind but you chose to stay here. So now live for real, Craig. Live. Live. Live. Live. Live."