Ned Vizzini facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ned Vizzini
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Vizzini in 2010
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| Born | Edison Price Vizzini April 4, 1981 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | December 19, 2013 (aged 32) New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Author |
| Education | Stuyvesant High School |
| Alma mater | Hunter College |
| Period | 1996–2013 |
| Genre | Young adult fiction |
| Notable works |
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| Spouse | Sabra Embury |
| Children | 1 |
Edison Price Vizzini (born April 4, 1981 – died December 19, 2013) was an American author. He wrote many popular books for young adults. One of his most famous books was It's Kind of a Funny Story (2006). This book was even made into a movie! It was also named one of the "100 Best-Ever Teen Novels" by NPR.
Ned Vizzini openly shared his experiences with depression. He spent some time in a hospital for mental health when he was in his early 20s. He wrote several books that talked about mental health. Ned Vizzini died in Brooklyn, New York, when he was 32 years old.
Contents
Growing Up and School
Ned Vizzini grew up in a neighborhood called Park Slope in Brooklyn, New York City. He went to Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan. He graduated from high school in 1999. Many of the characters and stories in Vizzini's books are based on his own experiences from high school.
After high school, Vizzini attended Hunter College in Manhattan.
Ned Vizzini's Writing Career
Ned Vizzini started writing very early. His first published work was an essay he sent to the New York Press. This was an alternative newspaper. He wrote about winning an award at the 1996 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. He became a freelance writer for the paper, writing about many different topics.
His writing was so good that he was asked to write an article for teens for The New York Times Magazine. In May 1998, his essay "Teen Angst? Nah!" was published in The New York Times.
His First Book: Teen Angst? Naaah....
After his success with newspaper articles, Ned Vizzini used many of his New York Press columns to create his first book. This book was called Teen Angst? Naaah..... It was a memoir, which means it was a collection of true stories about his own teenage years. The book shared short stories from his junior high and high school days.
Popular Novels for Young Adults
In 2004, Ned Vizzini's first novel, Be More Chill, was published. This book is about a high school student named Jeremy Heere. Jeremy gets a special computer pill in his brain that helps him become popular. A review in The New York Times Book Review said the book was "so accurate that it should come with a warning." They also said that if it wasn't so funny, it might be too difficult to read.
Be More Chill later became a musical in 2015. Joe Iconis wrote the music and lyrics. The musical first opened in New Jersey. Later, it moved to Off-Broadway in New York and then to Broadway.
In 2006, Vizzini's second novel, It's Kind of a Funny Story, came out. This book is based on his own experience. He spent five days in a hospital's mental health ward in Brooklyn. The story follows a fifteen-year-old named Craig Gilner. Craig struggles with depression because of a tough school year. A review in the Los Angeles Times called the novel "impressive."
His third novel, The Other Normals, was published in 2012. This book is an "alternative fantasy" story. It's about a teenager who finds himself in a fantasy world. This world is the basis of his favorite role-playing game. A review said that Ned Vizzini's "sharp wit" was clear in this book.
Writing for TV and Other Books
Ned Vizzini also wrote for television. With Nick Antosca, he wrote two episodes of the MTV show Teen Wolf in 2012. This was a supernatural drama series.
In 2013, Ned Vizzini worked with filmmaker Chris Columbus on a new book. They wrote House of Secrets. This was the first book in a fantasy series for middle schoolers. It quickly became a New York Times bestseller and stayed on the list for four weeks. Entertainment Weekly gave the book a great review.
Vizzini also wrote essays and reviews for other publications. These included The New York Times, The Los Angeles Review of Books, and Salon.
Ned Vizzini traveled to schools and libraries around the world. He talked about mental health and writing. He taught students how writing can help with mental health. He spoke at many places, including UCLA, The Dalton School, and several public libraries. He also spoke at Yale University.
Vizzini and Nick Antosca also worked as story editors for the ABC drama series Last Resort in 2013. They wrote the episode called "Nuke It Out."
From 2006 to 2012, Ned Vizzini led a writing workshop for local teenagers. These workshops happened once a month at a Barnes & Noble store in Park Slope. The teens who attended could have their work published on a blog called "Give Us Money."
Later Life and Passing
Ned Vizzini died on December 19, 2013. He was in Brooklyn, New York, and was 32 years old.
