It's Kind of a Funny Story

Nia begins dating Craig’s best friend, Aaron, as they start high school. Nia is “half Chinese and half Jewish; she dressed well” (67) to distract from her “lucrative body and baby-doll face” (68). Craig and Aaron are both attracted to Nia, imagining that if she wore natural clothes and makeup, “she’d make all us boys explode” (68). Nia is bubbly and outgoing compared to Craig’s shy, reserved nature.

Nia is an immature character, simultaneously encouraging and self-centered. She is the first to point out that Craig needs to connect with others more. He doesn’t realize how true this is until his stay at Six North. She also points out Craig’s assumption that his anxiety and depression are so much worse than everyone else. This assumption isolates him and delegitimizes the experience of others—something he has to grapple with at Six North.

When Craig and Nia bond over both struggling with mental illness, it seems like she will be a positive force in his life. Ultimately, Nia cannot see past her own needs and insecurities. While Craig admits that he planned suicide, Nia acts like this is a romantic compliment about her. When she visits Craig at the hospital, she makes out with him because of the novelty, not because she cares for him. While Nia’s actions are self-centered, she is more immature than malicious.

Aaron is Craig’s only friend as they enter high school. They initially bond over a mutual affinity for film trivia. They spend time at Aaron’s house where they smoke pot and try to escape the pressures of school. Aaron has a difficult family life; his parents ignore his smoking, consumed by their own issues.

While Aaron treats Craig poorly, Craig comes to realize that this is just because Aaron has growing up to do. Aaron admits that he might be depressed too and takes ownership of how he made fun of Craig, violating his trust. While Nia leaves Six North upset, Aaron seems genuinely humble, bringing an Egyptian music CD for Muqtada as an apology. Craig thinks that Aaron isn’t a bad guy; “He’s just someone who hasn’t had his stay on Six North yet” (398). Aaron is a dynamic character, transitioning from self-absorption and immaturity to a more reflective and honest state.

Craig describes his mother as “tall and skinny, looking better each year” (36). While some people wither as they age, Craig thinks that she is “more stately and confident as she gets older” (37). Craig’s mother is a static character, offering Craig unwavering support and care. She lets Craig sleep in her bed when he has a bad night. She and her husband take Craig to doctors’ appointments and therapy without mentioning the expense to him. She models reflection and introspection for Craig when he remembers that she purchased the book How to Survive the Loss of Love after a family death. While she admits that finding out about Craig’s hospitalization made her question herself, she realizes that Craig had the tools to seek help.

She is a lively force for good in Craig’s life. She insists that Craig was brave to come to the hospital, saying it was the most “life affirming thing” (169) he had ever done. At the end of the book, she even comments on how society needs to change, since wonderful people like Craig and Noelle are suffering under its pressures.

Craig says that his father is “short and wears glasses, but like he says, at least he has hair–thick, dark stuff that he passed on to me” (39). Along with Craig’s mother, his father supports him in seeking help for his depression. When Craig wants to sleep in his mother’s bed, he doesn’t ask questions or shame him.

While Craig’s mother is vocal in her support, Craig’s father is more hesitant and reserved. He doesn’t seem to know what to do with the gravity and intense emotion of his son’s situation. Like Craig, he uses humor as a coping mechanism. When he first visits Six North, he makes a few jokes like “When can I join?” (220). When Craig asks him to stop, he admits he was just trying to lighten the mood, clearly unable to cope with the solemn moment. While the novel takes place over just a few days, Craig’s father is a dynamic character. When he returns to the hospital, he doesn’t joke about Craig’s situation. He makes a point to bond with Craig by watching Blade II, and tells him that he’s proud of Craig. Mr. Gilner is hesitant toward the idea of Craig transferring schools to attend art school, but he ultimately wants what’s best for his son.

Sarah Gilner is Craig’s nine-year-old sister. Her relationship with Craig is a mixture of wise encouragement and sibling fun that remains static throughout the novel. Sarah “understands” and “reacts well” to Craig’s depression. While Craig thinks that Sarah is “smarter than me for sure” (115) and would handle school without anxiety, it’s unclear if he is just projecting his insecurity. She tells Craig that she isn’t worried about time: “I use my time how I want, so I rule it” (115). Sarah is intuitive and seems to know when Craig needs company or a hug.

These moments of wisdom are punctuated by Sarah’s childhood innocence. When she is at Six North, she loudly asks whether Charles is a “transvestite.” Nonetheless, she seems to understand Craig’s condition better than their father. She stands up for Craig when their father interrupts him and says simply, “well then, he has to be an artist” (415) when he expresses interest in transferring to an art school.

Noelle is the other teenage patient at Six North. She has blond hair and is very attractive, which seems to be connected to her anxiety. She was hospitalized after she desperately cut her face with scissors, overwhelmed by the societal pressure to be beautiful. She later reveals that she was sexually abused, likely from an authority figure in her life. Noelle is introverted compared to other residents and communicates using signs at first, first warning Craig and then proposing that they meet. Noelle is no-nonsense and down-to-earth. During their first meeting, she decides they can only ask and answer questions for five minutes. She is honest about why she is in Six North.

Bobby is the first resident that greets Craig when he arrives at Six North. He wears a Marvin the Martian sweatshirt that says, “world dominator” (191). Bobby’s physical appearance reflects the difficulties he has had, staying in Six North several times during his life. He is a “gaunt, hollow man with big circles under his eyes and a nose that looks like it’s been broken in about three places” (191). He is so established at Six North that he gets by without following the shaving policy and has gray stubble to match his “stately gray mop, combed half-heartedly” (191).

Bobby’s calm, affirming presence makes Craig feel welcome. When Craig lends him a shirt, Bobby makes a huge gesture of thanking him which gives Craig a sense of accomplishment. While Bobby is kind, he is also worn by his lifelong struggle with depression and substance abuse. While he has an adult home lined up to stay in, he doesn’t want to exchange contact information with Craig, knowing that the likelihood of something tragic happening to one of them is high.

While Craig interacts with several doctors throughout the story, Dr. Minerva has perhaps the largest impact on him. She wears “amazing outfits” such as a red sweater with matching lipstick. Dr. Minerva’s personality traits are rarely mentioned, mainly because she is reserved and professional in her role as a therapist. Craig notes her “psych-poker face” (11) which doesn’t react positively or negatively, allowing him to share what he needs to. She picks up on Craig’s terminology quickly, enabling her to challenge his assumptions, such as his laziness. Despite her helpfulness, Craig knows she’s not a “miracle worker,” she’s “a thin, tan lady from Greece with red lipstick” (17). Dr. Minerva visits with Craig when he is the hospital and suggests the idea of switching schools to alleviate his anxiety.