76 pages • 2 hours read
Ned VizziniIt's Kind of a Funny Story
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2006A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Part 6Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Part 6: “Six North, Sunday”
Part 6, Chapter 29 Summary
Craig wakes up to a man in scrubs asking to take his blood. He showers, finding it “searing and wonderful” (263). In the main area, Armelio checks in on Craig, reassuring him that “we all need shots once in a while” (264). Armelio shouts down the hall, waking everyone up for their vitals to be taken. Craig is reminded to fill out his menus with what he wants for meals. Craig is mesmerized, wishing the world was like that. He thinks, “I’m asking for simplicity, for purity and ease of choice and no pressure” (266). This embarrasses Craig, since he realizes nothing is like that apart from preschool. Johnny and Bobby tease Craig about his first omelet, which they say is a” rite of passage” (266). Bobby is anxious for his interview at an adult home the next day. Bobby needs to find somewhere to go, since his insurance coverage won’t pay for him to be at Six North much longer. Craig volunteers to have his mother bring a dress shirt for Bobby to wear for the interview.
Part 6, Chapter 30 Summary
Craig has a short interview with Nurse Monica, and he tells her about the night before. She asks if maybe Aaron and the others “aren’t your friends” (271) since they joked about Craig’s mental health. Craig feels good about telling Aaron, “screw you,” and is happy to have been making new friends in Six North. Nurse Monica advises him not to become so close with other patients that he loses focus on his own healing. Craig realizes he doesn’t have any hobbies apart from being anxious about work, so she puts him in the activities group. He warns her that he will be late for the seven o’ clock meeting, since he is meeting Noelle.
Part 6, Chapter 31 Summary
Craig waits for Noelle at the end of the hall. He had met his parents there a few hours before, and Bobby thanked them for the shirt. Craig and his father agreed to watch Blade II at the hospital on Wednesday. Craig’s mom was relieved that he broke off his friendship with Aaron and company since they were “probably a bad influence” (277). Noelle arrives at seven o’ clock exactly, explaining that they will play a game where all they can do is ask and answer questions. Noelle has been in Six North for 21 days after being discovered with the cuts on her face. When she mentions surgery for her scars, Craig asks, “Why hide what you’ve been through?” (283). Noelle’s father died when she was younger. Both she and Craig are familiar with the DSM, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual used in the psychological field, and exchange comments about their therapists and antidepressants. As they leave for arts and crafts, Noelle says that Craig can’t kiss her but shares with him that she is also leaving on Thursday.
Part 6, Chapter 32 Summary
An energetic woman named Joanie leads the arts and crafts group. Army Guy tells Craig, “You wanted preschool, soldier, you got preschool” (287). When Noelle and Craig arrive, Harold loudly makes fun of them for “kissing.” Craig is embarrassed, not knowing what to draw. The others loudly give him ideas, which escalates into Humble making a rude comment about Ebony and leaving the room. When Joanie suggests that Craig draw something from childhood, something overtakes him. He starts drawing a map. This comes naturally, “flowing out of me” (292). Ebony comments that it looks like a brain, so Craig draws a head around it. He grabs paper and keeps drawing maps for the rest of the session. As he leaves, Craig finds a note from Noelle saying that they can’t meet until Tuesday. She doesn’t want to get too attached. Armelio invites him to their card tournament the next night. Back in his room, Craig encourages Muqtada to go outside.
Part 6 Analysis
In this section, Craig’s character develops as he becomes more connected to his own experience and to other people. At the beginning of this section, Craig volunteers to give Bobby one of his shirts for an interview. This small act shows that Craig can pay attention to the needs of others, now that his baseline is becoming more secure. When conversing with Noelle, he helps her process her own life. He tells her, “I thought I’d be happier in a really tough high school, and I ended up here?” (283). Craig sees Muqtada living but not doing anything and encourages him to get out more. The more secure that Craig becomes, the more he can reach out to others, which in turn creates a space where they can connect with him. This is most obvious in the end of the section when he begins drawing brain maps. The brain maps are not just an expression of Craig’s reality or emotions but a way that he is able to connect to others and communicate without having speak to explain himself.
The Importance of Human Connection becomes an even more explicit theme at this point in the story. The connection that he finds with others at Six North gives Craig a sense of belonging that has nothing to do with his external achievements or the pressure he puts on himself. Even small things like experiencing a nasty omelet on his first morning are bonding experiences that signify he’s one of the group; Johnny tells him, “It’s like a rite of passage” (266). However, Craig realizes the importance of balancing connection and reliance on others. It’s easy for him to go from the extreme of cutting of Aaron and Nia to embracing Noelle. Nurse Minerva warns him against this, pointing out that “Friends are wonderful, but this place is about you and making you feel better” (273). Meeting Noelle is a source of connection. They both have been on and off medication and share their knowledge of the DSM, exclaiming “I thought I was the only one who knew about this” (281). However, Noelle points out that they shouldn’t see each other immediately the next day—it is important not to become so connected that they aren’t able to focus on their healing. They are both still painfully aware of their respective trust issues.
Craig’s experience further highlights the theme of the unique pressures of young adulthood. When Craig realizes how soothing the daily routine at Six North is, he realizes that his life doesn’t have the same pressure anymore. He thinks “I’m asking for simplicity, for purity and ease of choice and no pressure. I’m asking for something that no politics is going to provide, something that probably you only get in preschool. I’m asking for preschool” (266). Nurse Monica is surprised that he doesn’t have any hobbies; Craig jokes that his only hobbies are being anxious about school. He begins to experience how important it is to create a life that includes things he enjoys; if his life is nothing but stress, his mind also holds nothing but stress. While there is nothing wrong with an academic challenge, It’s Kind of a Funny Story highlights the effect of unwanted pressure on mental and emotional well-being.
