This book was the winner of my first Choose My Next Book poll. I had reviewed Ned Vizzini’s newest book, The Other Normals, and really enjoyed it. I was excited that this was one that was overwhelmingly the winner! I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to write this post, I’ve had the book finished for weeks now. I was hoping to get the movie and compare that to the book along with the review, but because of a long story involving a hit-and-run in which I was the victim (I’m fine though!) and a $500 deductible that ate up any money I could put towards the movie, that isn’t happening any time soon. SO. Here is the review, and hopefully a book-to-movie comparison will soon follow! I’ve heard mixed reviews.
Here is the synopsis from its Goodreads page:
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-which means getting into the right high school to get into the right college to get the right job-Craig studies night and day to ace the entrance exam, and does. That’s when things start to get crazy.
At his new school, Craig realizes that he isn’t brilliant compared to the other kids; he’s just average, and maybe not even that. He soon sees his once-perfect future crumbling away. The stress becomes unbearable and Craig stops eating and sleeping-until, one night, he nearly kills himself.
Craig’s suicidal episode gets him checked into a mental hospital, where his new neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio. There, isolated from the crushing pressures of school and friends, Craig is finally able to confront the sources of his anxiety.