It's Kind of a Funny Story

This powerful Young Adult novel follows Craig Gilner, a high-achieving New York City teenager whose intense academic pressure culminates in a suicidal episode. Admitted to a psychiatric hospital, Craig navigates a new world populated by diverse patients, each with their own struggles. The story explores themes of anxiety, depression, self-harm, and the journey toward mental wellness, offering a poignant and often humorous look at finding connection and hope in unexpected places. Based on author Ned Vizzini's own experiences, it's a moving and honest portrayal of mental health challenges for older teens.

Ambitious New York City teenager Craig Gilner is determined to succeed at life—which means getting into the right high school to get into the right college to get the right job. But once Craig aces his way into Manhattan's Executive Pre-Professional High School, the pressure becomes unbearable. He stops eating and sleeping until, one night, he nearly kills himself. Craig’s suicidal episode gets him checked into a mental hospital, where his new neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio. There, Craig is finally able to confront the sources of his anxiety. Ned Vizzini, who himself spent time in a psychiatric hospital, has created a remarkably moving tale about the sometimes unexpected road to happiness. Featuring a new cover with key art from the film starring Keir Gilchrist, Zach Galifianakis, Lauren Graham, and Emma Roberts, the movie tie-in edition is sure to attract new fans to this beloved novel.