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Description edit
Like many ambitious New York City teenagers, Craig Gilner sees entry into Manhattan’s Executive Pre-Professional High School as the ticket to his future. Determined to succeed at life — getting into the right high school to get into the right college to get the right job — Craig studies night... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Summary edit
Craig is a 15 year old boy who is suffering from depression. At the beginning of the novel he checks himself into a hospital hoping to find a reason behind his depression or "get better." What he doesn't count on is that he'll be put in the adult ward, and that he'll meet new friends and find... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)
Characters/People edit
- Craig Gilner: Main character. Craig is a 15 year old boy who is suffering from depression. He thought he was smart, then learned he's not smart enough. He is not the best with socializing, and he loved to draw maps when he was a kid.
- Aaron: Craig Gilner's best friend, portrayed as incredibly talented and good-looking, if not a bit popular. A classic party boy.
- Noelle Hinton: Craig's first girlfriend whom he develops a relationship during his stay at the ward. She was put in the ward for self-injurous behaviors with scissors. She has healing scars on her face that cause her to be shy.
- Mister Muqtada: Craig's Egyptian roommate in the psychiatric ward who refuses to leave his room and smells very bad.
- Ebony: An african-american patient in the psychiatric ward who enjoys Craig's artwork. She likes velvet pants.
- Dr. Minerva: Craig's therapist who helps him with his depression, whom he sees regularly during the year.
- Dr. Mahmoud: Craig's therapist who he speaks with when inside the mental hospital.
- Joanie: Activities therapist in the mental hospital. She sets up the arts and crafts activities.
- Smitty: One of the nurses/assistants in the hospital who looks like a hippy.
- Neil: A guitarist who volunteers at the mental hospital doing a music therapy session. He gives Craig the opportunity to help out too.
- Nia: Aaron's girlfriend and Craig's longtime crush. She has depression, too and confides in Craig.
- Craig: Craig is a depressed, anxious, and worried 16 year old living in Brooklyn, New York. He is thin because he doesn't eat much, he is tall, and has shaggy, long, brown hair. He is an over-thinker and always makes things harder for himself. This is why he is anxious and depressed most of the time.
- Scruggs: Add a description of this character.
- Dr. Bok
- Monica
- President Armelio: A self-elected President. Plays cards all the time.
- Becca: A fat girl with blue streaks in her hair.
- Sarah
- Mr. Alfred Janowitz
- Bernard Lutz
- Johnny
- Jimmy: Limited vocabulary. Plays the guitar.
- Humble: Good sense of humor.
- Harold
- Jordan
- Mr. Reynolds
- Dr. Data
- Bobby: Leads Craig on a tour on first day.
- Julie
- Scott
- Howard
- Donna
- Rudy
- Chris
- Blue Streak
- Jennifer
- Keith
- Mrs. Gilner: Craig's overprotective mother
- Adam
- Solomon
Quotes edit
-
“Life's not about feeling better; it's about getting the job done."”
Craig's "Soldier in His Head" -
“Sometimes I just think depression's one way of coping with the world. Like, some people get drunk, some people do drugs, some people get depressed. Because there's so much stuff out there that you have to do something to deal with it.”
Craig -
“Just Live”
Craig -
“Hooray for Brooklyn scumbags!”
First Sentence edit
It's so hard to talk when you want to kill yourself.
Table of Contents edit
Part 1:Where I'm At
one
two
three
four
five
six
Part 2: How I Got There
seven
eight
nine
ten
eleven
twelve
thirteen
Part 3: Badoom
fourteen
fifteen
sixteen
Part 4:Hospital
seventeen
eighteen
Part 5: Six North, Saturday
nineteen
twenty
twenty-one
twenty-two
twenty-three
twenty-four
twenty-five
twenty-six
twenty-seven
twenty-eight
Part 6: Six North, Sunday
twenty-nine
thirty
thirty-one
thirty-two
Part 7: Six North, Monday
thirty-three
thirty-four
thirty-five
Part 8: Six North, Tuesday
thirty-six
thirty-seven
thirty-eight
thirty-nine
forty
forty-one
forty-two
Part 9: Six North, Wednesday
forty-three
forty-four
forty-five
forty-six
forty-seven
forty-eight
forty-nine
Part 10: Six North, Thursday
fifty
Glossary edit
- Tentacles: obstacles in Craig's life that stress him out and worsen his depression
- Anchors: things that keep Craig grounded and not wanting to kill himself--things that help him fight his depression
- Shift: what Craig is waiting for: his brain to shift back into place, his depression obliterated
- Fake Shift: When Craig thinks things are getting better but they go back downhill
Themes & Symbolism edit
- Mental Disorder: He often uses Psychiatirc help and admits himself into a mental hospital.
- Self-discovery: He finds himself to be better than he thought they were .
Authors & Contributors edit
- Ned Vizzini (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Miramax Books/Hyperion Books for Children
Country: United States of America
Publication Date: 2006
ISBN: 0786851961
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Miramax Books/Hyperion Books for Children
Country: United States of America
Publication Date: 2006
ISBN: 0786851961
Page Count: 448
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: PZ7.V853 It 2006
- Dewey: Add the Dewey Classification.
Subjects edit
- Books › Children's Books › Literature › Humorous
- Books › Children's Books › Issues › Illness
- Books › Teens › Social Issues
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Movie Connections edit
- It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010) (IMDb): Staring Keir Gilchrist, Zach Galifianakis, and Emma Roberts
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