Reviews with content warning for Medical content - It's Kind of a Funny Story

This book was Definitely not for me. However it is a book that will resonate with many. It is a book that deals witha topic that is not talked about enough and so am glad books like this exist. I was not the audience it was likely intended for.

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abby_reads_books's review

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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quinnpjd930's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Average - decent depictions of mental illness, but an unrealistic “recovery” arc for the main character which relied heavily on him having a crush on a girl in the psych ward with him? All in all mid-tier.

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lilshelly's review

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book. What can I even say to encapsulate all this book has done for me?

I latched onto this book as a teen, finding comfort in Craig's rocky journey. I understood the pressures, the anxiety, the fear. I understood Craig's character so deeply that it terrified me. Somehow this fear also provided me with immense comfort. Comfort that I wasn't alone. If someone could write the way I felt so clearly, then surely I wasn't the only one who felt the way I did, right?

I love the vulnerability and insecurities of this book. My copy is incredibly worn and covered in highlighter and pen, marking my various re-reads over the years. I've seen my own evolution from the scared kid like Craig to a more stable and hopeful individual. Life is still scary--that doesn't go away. We just better learn how to handle it.

I highly encourage anyone who's ever felt scared or insecure, or struggled with fighting their own mind, or even wondered how to connect with loved ones who you've seen struggle--I encourage you all to read this book. Sometimes we need the eyes of a young person to show us how terrifying and wonderful life can really be.

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