It's Kind of a Funny Story Reading Response- May 23, 2013

     I am currently reading the book "It's kind of a Funny Story" by Ned Vizzini. This story is about a teenager boy who falls into depression. The depression starts when he works and studies very hard for a year to get into the top school of Manhattan's Executive Pre-Professional High school. He didn't have any friends because Craig Gilner would study so much. As time goes on, Craig can't eat or sleep, and hears voices in his head. He sees a shrink about this, but it doesn't seem to help. Craig is also in love with his best friend's girlfriend, and the day that Nia tells him there is no chance (even though there was before), he decides to kill himself. However, Craig doesn't go through to this. He ends up checking himself inside to a hospital, and is inserted into a mental hospital ( or Psychiatric Hospital). This story tells the journey of Craig Gilner as he goes through the stages of coming out of depression.

     I think this book is very interesting, and better than most books. It indulges more deeper into the story of depression than usual. When I think of stories of people who are depressed, I don't really think much of it. I say, oh I wonder if it was bullying or something. And it usually is. However, this story is about a teenager boy who enters depression over not social pressure, not bullying, but just regular pressure. Even though Craig does drugs, I don't think it plays as big as a part on his depression as school pressure does. His Executive Pre-Professional High school requires him to read the whole New York Times every single day. As his newspapers pile up day after day, he gets more depressed. It makes me think about how much all this educational pressure can hurt children and teenagers.

   In conclusion, I think the author made this story on purpose to let readers know more about depression. It is not always just a simple case of being bullied and getting depressed and trying to kill themselves. It can be something more complicated like it is in this book. I am almost finished with the book where he is about to check out of the Psychiatric Hospital. I hope it has a good ending! I suggest people to read this book if they are interested in teenagers problems