Common Sense Media Review
By Joe Applegate
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Brilliant, edgy story about suicide best for mature teens.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Based on 13 kid reviews
Kids say that this book offers a deep and insightful exploration of mental illness, portraying both the realistic struggles and the moments of humor that can arise amidst hardship. Many readers found it relatable and transformative, appreciating how it accurately depicts the experiences of depression and encourages understanding for both those who suffer and those who wish to learn more.
- authentic portrayal
- relatable characters
- humor amid struggle
- transformative read
- encourages understanding
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Craig Gilner, who loved to doodle as a child, gets serious about preparing for the entrance exam to the prestigious Executive Pre-Professional High School in Manhattan. Opening the fat acceptance envelope is the happiest moment in Craig's young life, and it's downhill from there. Nine months later, unable to compete with his classmates, unable to accept his best friend's relationship with a sexy girlfriend, unable even to hold down his food, 15-year-old Craig rises early one morning with a plan to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge. Instead, he walks into the emergency room of a nearby hospital ... and into the adult psychiatric unit, where he faces his anxieties and his art flourishes.
Is It Any Good?
There are a few cliched characters, such as Craig's adoring younger sibling and bumbling dad, but what sets this book apart is the quality of writing. The pain of having an endless to-do list for school, of trying to keep one step ahead on the good-grades, good-college, good-job track, of trying to please parents who mean well but also keep a sharp eye on their bright child's "amazing journey" -- this is the pain that IT'S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY compellingly describes, and that many kids can relate to.
Craig describes the accessory-heavy style of his dreamgirl classmate this way: "I think her accessories were a courtesy meant to distract from her small, lucrative body and baby-doll face." A parent-free teen party in a Manhattan apartment is rendered in wild, sensational detail, and so is a poker game played by a cast of mentally stricken patients. If your teen is ready for the graphic (but not lewd) descriptions of petting and the pervasive use of drugs, this will be a dazzling read.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about depression. Describe the lowest point in your life. What made it better?
What other book about depression or mental illness have you read?
Can you relate to feeling pressure to be a high achiever? How do you cope with competitiveness at your school?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Arts , Friendship , School ( High School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publication date : April 2, 2006
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 448
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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