Coming of Age

Although it takes place over a short period of time, It's Kind of a Funny Story is a coming-of-age novel in which a young person has experiences that move him or her from childhood to adulthood or into a greater sense of maturity.

In the case of this book, the protagonist is Craig Ginter. At age 15, he is struggling with many of the things typical boys his age face -- awkwardness with girls, curiosity about his sexuality, struggles with school, concerns about his future, peer pressure, etc. However, Craig faces an additional challenge -- a growing depression that is consuming his life and making him suicidal. For the most part, he is able to hide his increasing distress from his friends, but his school work suffers and his parents worry terribly as they struggle to find ways to help him.

Craig's transition comes after...