It's Kind of a Funny Story

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

Written by Ned Vizzini.

Craig, an ambitious, pot smoking teen, gets in over his head when he applies and succeeds in getting in the Executive Pre-Professional High School, and he spirals into depression and eventually suicidal thoughts. He has trouble eating and sleeping. He eventually plans to commit suicide because his life is spiraling out of his control with his best friend dating his crush and him failing school. Craig calls the suicide hotline and the rest of the story starts from there.

From there a slight suspension of reality is needed when he is put into the adult ward of a mental because the teen mental facility is being renovated. And what's more, he has to stay five days straight, minimum. Craig soon realizes that the people in here all have real problems. As you can probably see, it's kind of a funny story.

This book was made into a movie in 2010.


Tropes used in It's Kind of a Funny Story include:


  • Author Avatar: To an extent, Craig.
  • Always Someone Better: Hence why Craig starts to become depressed
  • Bowdlerise: The pot storyline is completely removed from the movie.
  • Backstory: Craig provides us a lot throughout the novel and the film
  • Born Winner: Aaron according to Craig
  • Emo Teen: Noelle
  • Fictional Counterpart: When asked where she goes to school, Noelle says, "Dulfin." Dalton is a famous elite school in NYC. Also, Executive Pre-Professional itself is one for Stuyvesant High School.
  • ~Hey, It's That Guy!~:
  • Manic Pixie Dream Girl: To a mild extent, Noelle, at least in the film. She helps Craig get in touch with his artistic side and his need for independence.
  • Parental Obliviousness: Played with as Craig's parents wish very much to help him recover ( He eventually does). Unfortunately, they are not as vigilant toward what Craig actually does when he goes "chillin" at Aaron's house.
  • Playing Against Type: Zach Galifianakis as Bobby in the movie.
  • Really Gets Around: Implied with Nia.
  • The Film of the Book: A movie, of the same name, was released in 2010, starring Keir Gilchrist as Craig and Zach Galifianakis as Bobby.
  • Transsexual: Jennifer/Charles