It's Kind of a Funny Story

It's Kind of a Funny Story

• Genre: Fiction; young adult contemporary
• Originally Published: 2006
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 620L; grades 8-12
• Structure/Length: 10 parts, 50 chapters; approximately 444 pages; approximately 8 hours, 35 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: It's Kind of a Funny Story follows the story of Craig Gilner, a high-achieving teenager in New York City who finds himself overwhelmed by the pressures of school and life. The central conflict revolves around Craig's mental health conditions, including depression and suicidal thoughts, which lead him to check himself into a psychiatric hospital. Inside the hospital, he encounters a diverse group of individuals and embarks on a journey of self-discovery and healing. The novel explores mental health, resilience, friendship, and the importance of seeking help when needed.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Mental health conditions; depression; suicidal ideation; sexual content; profanity; use of drugs and alcohol; author died by suicide

Ned Vizzini, Author

• Bio: Born 1981, deceased 2013; American author known for his young adult and fiction works; often drew from his own experiences, including mental health conditions
• Other Works: Teen Angst? Naaah... (2000); Be More Chill (2004); The Other Normals (2012); House of Secrets (2013)
• Awards: ALA Best Book for Young Adults (2007)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Impact of Mental Illness
• The Importance of Human Connection
• Unique Pressures of Young Adulthood

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop an understanding of depression as a mental health condition as context to Craig’s main conflict.
• Study paired texts and other resources to make connections to the text’s themes of The Impact of Mental Illness, The Importance of Human Connection, and Unique Pressures of Young Adulthood.
• Develop a visual “map” that retells the novel, highlighting key plot points and characters.
• Analyze and evaluate the author’s craft to draw conclusions in structured essay responses regarding mental health, text structure, personal connections, and other topics.