Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in It’s Kind of a Funny Story, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Mental Health
Art and Self-Discovery
Peer Pressure vs. Self-Empowerment
Friendship and Romance
Summary
Analysis
In eighth grade, Craig got accepted to the prestigious high school. Aaron did too, even though he barely studied. They have a party, where Aaron invites girls and Craig steals some alcohol from his parents. At Aaron’s house before the party, he teaches Craig how to smoke pot. Nia, a half-Chinese, half-Jewish girl in their class who is also headed to the same high school, is the first to arrive.
This passage shows the effect that peer pressure can have on Craig. Although Aaron doesn’t necessarily intend to brag about how little he studies, Craig can’t help but feel inadequate compared to Aaron. This passage suggests that perhaps schools like Craig’s favor a certain type of person, leaving those who don’t fit in, like Craig, feeling lost and out of place.
Themes
Craig, Aaron, and Nia play a version of Scrabble where they’re allowed to make up words. Craig like Nia but thinks he senses Aaron and Nia flirting. Nia’s friend Cookie arrives with beer, and they eventually put Scrabble away before anyone wins. Craig smokes pot as more people arrive, and it feels like a movie to him.
The process of making up words in Scrabble is similar to how Craig makes up words to describe the symptoms of his depression. This shows how creativity is one of the things that brings Craig joy, connects him to other people, and helps him to deal with his depression.
Themes
