It's Kind Of A Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

Park Avenue-residing Manhattanite teenager Craig Gilner is like any other boy of his age- ambitious, carefree and bursting with energy. Determined to succeed at life- which, to him, means getting into the right high school to get into the right college to get the right job and get the right life, he aces his way through the prestigious Manhanttan Executive Pre-Professional High, only to find himself getting more and more stressed by all the workload. Craig is then prescribed daily doses of Zoloft by his therapist which he stops taking after a while, claiming he is better off without the psycho drugs. Craig tries to carry on living his miserable life until one day his burden becomes too much and nearly kills himself. By attempting to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge.

Notice I wrote 'nearly'. Which means he survived at the end.

He dials the suicide hotline and gets transported to the nearest hospital, where he checks himself in. Only, checking into the hospital was the easiest thing.

Since the teenage psychiatric ward is being renovated, Craig has no other option but to check into the adult mental ward, where hardcore druggies, transsexual sex addicts and other suicidal teens share the same roof. Despite this, Craig survives the week at the hospital, even enjoying his stay. In the hospital Craig befriends several older people with enough problems of their own, including a 15-year-old girl his own age, Noelle. While recovering, Craig rediscovers his inner artistic talents and entertains other patients in the ward with his 'brain map' drawings (like the one on the cover of the book). Together, Noelle and Craig confront the sources of his anxiety and struggle to get better. The book ends hopefully while hinting a potential relationship between the two.

It's Kind Of A Funny Story is filled with funny, twisted humor while exploring topics we tend to stay away from, including drug use, alcohol, friendships and relationships. The author himself spent time in a mental hospital, which surprised me. This book is one of self-realization, like Biff in Death of a Salesman (yay I made a link! ( : ). It's a light but also serious book which I enjoyed. I recommend this to every teen everywhere- this is a must read !

Oh and before I forget, this book is being adapted to the big screen later this year starring Emma Roberts and crew (for those of you who dont know her, she's Julia's niece- you know, the one from Nancy Drew?)- read the book before you watch the movie !