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Teen Angst? Naaah...
The events in these stories are real. Some names have been changed so I don’t get yelled at.
Ned Vizzini writes about the weird, funny, and sometimes mortifying moments that made up his teen years. With wit, irony, and honesty, Teen Angst? Naaah . . . invites you into his world of school, parents, street people, rock bands, friends, fame, camp, sex (sort of), Cancun (almost), prom, beer, Nintendo, the cool (and almost cool), and more. A Holden Caulfield for Generation Y, Ned Vizzini is an original voice to be reckoned with, read, and enjoyed.
Ned Vizzini writes about the weird, funny, and sometimes mortifying moments that made up his teen years. With wit, irony, and honesty, Teen Angst? Naaah . . . invites you into his world of school, parents, street people, rock bands, friends, fame, camp, sex (sort of), Cancun (almost), prom, beer, Nintendo, the cool (and almost cool), and more. A Holden Caulfield for Generation Y, Ned Vizzini is an original voice to be reckoned with, read, and enjoyed.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 24, 2000
196 people are currently reading
6590 people want to read
About the author
Ned Vizzini
28 books3,007 followersVizzini grew up primarily in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City. He attended Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan, graduating in 1999. While still a teenager, he began to write articles for the New York Press, an alternative newspaper.
After he wrote an essay that got published by the New York Times Magazine, several of his essays about his young adult life ended up being combined into his first book, Teen Angst? Naaah.... Vizzini attended Hunter College, also located in Manhattan. Ned Vizzini lived in New York City. Vizzini's characters and situations are said be based upon his time spent at Stuyvesant.
After he wrote an essay that got published by the New York Times Magazine, several of his essays about his young adult life ended up being combined into his first book, Teen Angst? Naaah.... Vizzini attended Hunter College, also located in Manhattan. Ned Vizzini lived in New York City. Vizzini's characters and situations are said be based upon his time spent at Stuyvesant.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 416 reviews
November 29, 2009
It seems that a lot of adults who write books for and about teenagers try to sound 'authentically teen' by sounding brainless. For example, in the book I'm reading now, Future Missionaries of America, a high school girl writes a letter that begins like this: "Dear Kyle, I came home from school today totally bummed. I'm listening to the new Wu-Tang record and thinking that you would, like, so hate it it, because this is like totally the opposite of all that metal stuff you like, and before you know it, like, a whole hour has passed. Mom totally freaked out" (46).
What I loved about Teen Angst? Naaah... is that Ned Vizzini wrote most of it when he was a teenager, and his observations and dialogue are witty, articulate and perceptive. The footnotes that run through the book are especially funny, and each chapter has its own, often sophisticated, arc. So the next adult author who thinks that teenagers only write, speak, and think "totally like this, OMG" should probably pick up a copy of Vizinni's book, to read something truly authentically teen.
What I loved about Teen Angst? Naaah... is that Ned Vizzini wrote most of it when he was a teenager, and his observations and dialogue are witty, articulate and perceptive. The footnotes that run through the book are especially funny, and each chapter has its own, often sophisticated, arc. So the next adult author who thinks that teenagers only write, speak, and think "totally like this, OMG" should probably pick up a copy of Vizinni's book, to read something truly authentically teen.
August 17, 2022
once upon a time, a girl finished a book, and wrote "review coming soon to my blog."
then 6 years passed.
there was never a review.
and that girl...was me.
part of a series i'm doing in which i review books i read a long time ago, except in this case it's to say there will never be a review
then 6 years passed.
there was never a review.
and that girl...was me.
part of a series i'm doing in which i review books i read a long time ago, except in this case it's to say there will never be a review
February 3, 2017
Usualmente me identifico con algunos personajes, sus historias y aquello que les ocurre. Creo que esta es la primera vez que un autor resultó ser tan similar a mí. Ned Vizzini, una persona, que aunque nunca conocí físicamente —pero sí que lo hice por medio de sus palabras—, fue un joven, como tú, como yo, con sueños, deseos, y opiniones, tales como las tuyas, o las mías. Es una pena que la tristeza se lo llevara consigo. Una tremenda pena; pero la vida continua, y su legado prevalece, pues, ya saben lo que dicen de los escritores, que alcanzan la inmortalidad en sus palabras. Y este es el claro ejemplo, junto con sus otras pocas historias que llegó a escribir.
No es la primera vez que leo algo de Ned, pues, francamente, lo conocí en el verano del 2013, pocos meses antes de que atentara contra su vida y dejara atrás este mundo. Por aquél entonces yo me encontraba en una posición muy complicada de mi vida, una situación como la que muchas personas pasan, sobre todo a nuestra edad. Esa etapa en la que todos los días resultan una lucha constante y que parece nunca terminar. Esa batalla que tiene por nombre: Depresión. Y no se cansa de atentar contra nuestra generación.
Mi historia no es privada, pues muchos la conocen, pero este no es el momento, ni el lugar para hablar de ella. Tan solo pretendía que entendieran lo mucho que significan sus palabras para mí, y el porqué. Como ya se imaginaran, Ned ha tenido un impacto muy fuerte en mi vida, y me ha servido como una guía, sobre todo por el tiempo que viví antes de comenzar mis estudios preparatorianos, y durante ellos. Incluso ahora.
Ned, espero que estés en un lugar mejor.
No es la primera vez que leo algo de Ned, pues, francamente, lo conocí en el verano del 2013, pocos meses antes de que atentara contra su vida y dejara atrás este mundo. Por aquél entonces yo me encontraba en una posición muy complicada de mi vida, una situación como la que muchas personas pasan, sobre todo a nuestra edad. Esa etapa en la que todos los días resultan una lucha constante y que parece nunca terminar. Esa batalla que tiene por nombre: Depresión. Y no se cansa de atentar contra nuestra generación.
Mi historia no es privada, pues muchos la conocen, pero este no es el momento, ni el lugar para hablar de ella. Tan solo pretendía que entendieran lo mucho que significan sus palabras para mí, y el porqué. Como ya se imaginaran, Ned ha tenido un impacto muy fuerte en mi vida, y me ha servido como una guía, sobre todo por el tiempo que viví antes de comenzar mis estudios preparatorianos, y durante ellos. Incluso ahora.
Ned, espero que estés en un lugar mejor.
May 2, 2008
I've read all three Vizzini books, and this, his first, is my favorite. I laughed out loud in class, and my students got more than a little annoyed. But several were very interested in reading it next. Vizzini, as a 17-year-old, had an amazing voice and a control over his talent. His stories could be laugh-out-loud funny, and heartbreaking. I'm just sorry I waited so long to read this one. Great stuff. Teen Angst? You bet!
January 4, 2015
RIP NED. :(
Read
December 28, 2020no one escapes stuyvesant not screwed up
January 3, 2011
While I was reading the book Teen Angst? Naaaah… by Ned Vizzini I started to really think about whether or not memoirs have to be completely true. The reason I was thinking about this was because I felt that Vizzini did think they had to be true and I disagree with that. The way he wrote you could tell he couldn’t remember a lot of things. He had almost no sensory details, and hardly any feeling. There was dialogue but very little; there was no real ending; and some parts were just unnecessary. There wasn’t an exact plot or big idea. It was just about his life, which made me feel unattached and bored.
An example of one of the ways that Vizzini should have stretched the truth to make this book more exciting is in the chapter “Goofy Foot Forward” when he and his friend Owen went snowboarding, and Owen broke his wrist. He never talked about what the mountains looked like or if he was scared snowboarding for the first time, just about how much money he wasted. He wrote about that as if that was the most important thing, even though having money problems aren’t really an issue in any of the other chapters, which also goes back to how there are no real big ideas.
An example of how Vizzini didn’t put any real ending is it’s not like he’s at his high school graduation starting college or ending something. He’s just in the car with his dad and his brother driving away from a restaurant. That’s it. Nothing else. At least when the book begins it’s like a beginning on a trip on his way to high school but the end is just not really any kind of conclusion.
An example of how some parts were just unnecessary is the chapter “Fifteen Minutes” which is basically just about his commute to school every morning and what he does with it. It doesn’t pull you in at all because there is one piece of dialogue that is just an example and there is no sensory detail. It isn’t one exact moment and isn’t really like a narrative story at all because no one really cares about the fifteen minutes he travels to school every morning. It could possibly be interesting if something remotely exciting happens on one of his commutes, but that’s it. What he has now is just boring.
In conclusion, I think that you’re allowed to stretch the truth in memoirs to make the story better, and pull the reader in more. This didn’t really happen in the book Teen Angst? Naaah… by Ned Vizzini, but would have had me enjoy reading the book more. He had almost no sensory details, and hardly any feeling. There was dialogue but very little, there was no real ending and some parts were just unnecessary. This made it hard to get through it because I had no desire to read it. If I were the writer I would have taken out the boring unnecessary things and added to the interesting things. I would have put in as much as I could remember but if some details and dialogue and stuff just couldn’t come to mind, I would simply change it a little bit to make it actually worth reading. The majority of this, I’m sorry to say, wasn’t.
An example of one of the ways that Vizzini should have stretched the truth to make this book more exciting is in the chapter “Goofy Foot Forward” when he and his friend Owen went snowboarding, and Owen broke his wrist. He never talked about what the mountains looked like or if he was scared snowboarding for the first time, just about how much money he wasted. He wrote about that as if that was the most important thing, even though having money problems aren’t really an issue in any of the other chapters, which also goes back to how there are no real big ideas.
An example of how Vizzini didn’t put any real ending is it’s not like he’s at his high school graduation starting college or ending something. He’s just in the car with his dad and his brother driving away from a restaurant. That’s it. Nothing else. At least when the book begins it’s like a beginning on a trip on his way to high school but the end is just not really any kind of conclusion.
An example of how some parts were just unnecessary is the chapter “Fifteen Minutes” which is basically just about his commute to school every morning and what he does with it. It doesn’t pull you in at all because there is one piece of dialogue that is just an example and there is no sensory detail. It isn’t one exact moment and isn’t really like a narrative story at all because no one really cares about the fifteen minutes he travels to school every morning. It could possibly be interesting if something remotely exciting happens on one of his commutes, but that’s it. What he has now is just boring.
In conclusion, I think that you’re allowed to stretch the truth in memoirs to make the story better, and pull the reader in more. This didn’t really happen in the book Teen Angst? Naaah… by Ned Vizzini, but would have had me enjoy reading the book more. He had almost no sensory details, and hardly any feeling. There was dialogue but very little, there was no real ending and some parts were just unnecessary. This made it hard to get through it because I had no desire to read it. If I were the writer I would have taken out the boring unnecessary things and added to the interesting things. I would have put in as much as I could remember but if some details and dialogue and stuff just couldn’t come to mind, I would simply change it a little bit to make it actually worth reading. The majority of this, I’m sorry to say, wasn’t.
July 31, 2012
In this quirky autobiography, Ned Vizzini has a collection of essays about his teen years through high school. Vizzini, personally being a favorite author after reading It's Kind of a Funny Story in seventh grade is one reason I was very eager to pick up this book. These essays are compiled into 5 sections middle school, and each year of high school. Born in Park-Slope New York, Ned was raised out of an apartment in a typical middle class family. Showing intrest in education since he was young, Ned strived for the best high school in New York. Being an avid writer in his teens, he was published in the "New York Times" at a very young age. In these stories they envolve friends, parents, school, camp, depression, peer-pressure, girls, Nintendo, drugs, sex, rock bands, and every other enigma high school brings to the front lines of a teenagers mind. Being relatable to all teens I feel like this a great book for all high schoolers and adults to pick up at one point. I loved reading this book and could read it for hours at a time, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading any coming-of-age tale.
February 29, 2012
The characters in my book were realistic. Ned he was the curious kid who was always trying his best in school and always will to learn something new. He acted like a normal high school student by going to band concerts and staying up late to study for his big tests. He was curious by trying the illegal things as in marijuana and drinking alcohol coming home to his parents to see if he could get away with them no noticing. His parents were very realistic as well taking care of two boys fighting over the Nintendo by taking it away and making them take turns and putting them in their place not letting the children run there life.
The plot had some weird twists that kept me guessing. One example is when Ned is studying all night, I figured he was a book worm. The twist that got me wanting to read more is when he went out with friends and got drunk and walked around town then tried to come home without getting caught. The reason he got caught is because he was in the bath tub just laughing at nothing at all. The speed of the book for me was awesome because I have then attention span of a new born baby and, with it being a bunch of short chapters it was easy for me to keep reading because of the quick changes.
The style of the book was perfect for me to because he used the language that I speak basically and he also uses the term that he used in school. If it was a term that he said and figured the reader would not understand he would put some stars at the bottom of the page for the reader to get a good grasp on what they were reading. I really enjoyed reading this book because at times it was serious but yet the next chapter was humorous and gave me a good giggle.
The plot had some weird twists that kept me guessing. One example is when Ned is studying all night, I figured he was a book worm. The twist that got me wanting to read more is when he went out with friends and got drunk and walked around town then tried to come home without getting caught. The reason he got caught is because he was in the bath tub just laughing at nothing at all. The speed of the book for me was awesome because I have then attention span of a new born baby and, with it being a bunch of short chapters it was easy for me to keep reading because of the quick changes.
The style of the book was perfect for me to because he used the language that I speak basically and he also uses the term that he used in school. If it was a term that he said and figured the reader would not understand he would put some stars at the bottom of the page for the reader to get a good grasp on what they were reading. I really enjoyed reading this book because at times it was serious but yet the next chapter was humorous and gave me a good giggle.
April 17, 2011
What is so great about this book is the truthfulness in it. You can really tell that all of this stuff happened to this author. It's just on the cuff of unbelievable but yet you can see it happening to you in a moment. Everything is incredibly easy to relate to. If you've been to high school or are in high school you will be able to relate to at least one of the twenty stories .
This book is also not written like a memoir. It never feels like the author is saying "When I was your age..." because he can't. He wrote these essays when he was a teen. There is not glorification. It's all there, the ugly bits included because that is what happened.
I also really enjoyed the footnotes. At times they were unneeded but when they directed me online to watch the video which I was reading about I LOVED them. It was really exciting to see the deadly turtle movie right after reading Ned's experience with the movie.
I also really liked the normality of it. With all the books today the focus on the extremes of drug usage and drinking this all too familiar, true to life story was a welcome reprise.
If you've read any of Ned's other books, looking to find a more real book or simply want to laugh till your lungs protest check this book out.
This book is also not written like a memoir. It never feels like the author is saying "When I was your age..." because he can't. He wrote these essays when he was a teen. There is not glorification. It's all there, the ugly bits included because that is what happened.
I also really enjoyed the footnotes. At times they were unneeded but when they directed me online to watch the video which I was reading about I LOVED them. It was really exciting to see the deadly turtle movie right after reading Ned's experience with the movie.
I also really liked the normality of it. With all the books today the focus on the extremes of drug usage and drinking this all too familiar, true to life story was a welcome reprise.
If you've read any of Ned's other books, looking to find a more real book or simply want to laugh till your lungs protest check this book out.
October 8, 2014
What is so great about this book is the truthfulness in it. You can really tell that all of this stuff happened to this author. It's just on the cuff of unbelievable but yet you can see it happening to you in a moment. Everything is incredibly easy to relate to. If you've been to high school or are in high school you will be able to relate to at least one of the twenty stories .
This book is also not written like a memoir. It never feels like the author is saying "When I was your age..." because he can't. He wrote these essays when he was a teen. There is not glorification. It's all there, the ugly bits included because that is what happened.
I also really enjoyed the footnotes. At times they were unneeded but when they directed me online to watch the video which I was reading about I LOVED them. It was really exciting to see the deadly turtle movie right after reading Ned's experience with the movie.
I also really liked the normality of it. With all the books today the focus on the extremes of drug usage and drinking this all too familiar, true to life story was a welcome reprise. If you've read any of Ned's other books, looking to find a more real book or simply want to laugh till your lungs protest check this book out.
www.anibelle.blogspot.com
This book is also not written like a memoir. It never feels like the author is saying "When I was your age..." because he can't. He wrote these essays when he was a teen. There is not glorification. It's all there, the ugly bits included because that is what happened.
I also really enjoyed the footnotes. At times they were unneeded but when they directed me online to watch the video which I was reading about I LOVED them. It was really exciting to see the deadly turtle movie right after reading Ned's experience with the movie.
I also really liked the normality of it. With all the books today the focus on the extremes of drug usage and drinking this all too familiar, true to life story was a welcome reprise. If you've read any of Ned's other books, looking to find a more real book or simply want to laugh till your lungs protest check this book out.
www.anibelle.blogspot.com
June 11, 2015
Teen Angst? Naaah… was the first book of Ned Vizzini’s that I did not enjoy reading, which came as a huge surprise to me considering the fact that I’ve absolutely loved all his other books. This memoir takes you through Vizzini’s experiences throughout his teenage years. The story begins in Ned’s last months of middle school where he first is introduced to high school and life after middle school. It ends in the summer after his senior year. This novel had many characteristics typical of a memoir. He often listed things and used repetition, which is what I believe made this book so unbearable for me. He even starts off by admitting that his stories were just “boring, scary, embarrassing high school memories” but reassures the reading by saying they could be turned “into something people could read about.”(p. 2).
Vizzini’s honesty characterizes him as a reliable narrator. I for one agree with his first statement. As I was reading I constantly found myself losing my place and getting distracted, I simply found this book boring and saw that it had no real plot to catch the reader's attention. With this being said, I do believe that the novel is very funny and relatable, especially because of Vizzini’s short sentences and use of dialogue. For example most authors wouldn’t use the term “yappy little kids.” to describe little kids. Something typical with this style of writing is to try to relate to readers of the same age range. By using every day, non complex language, and writing with everyday types of dialog, he makes the book more understandable and relatable for teenager readers. This book is not a great book and it does not use many literary tools but the tools that are used are used well.
Vizzini’s honesty characterizes him as a reliable narrator. I for one agree with his first statement. As I was reading I constantly found myself losing my place and getting distracted, I simply found this book boring and saw that it had no real plot to catch the reader's attention. With this being said, I do believe that the novel is very funny and relatable, especially because of Vizzini’s short sentences and use of dialogue. For example most authors wouldn’t use the term “yappy little kids.” to describe little kids. Something typical with this style of writing is to try to relate to readers of the same age range. By using every day, non complex language, and writing with everyday types of dialog, he makes the book more understandable and relatable for teenager readers. This book is not a great book and it does not use many literary tools but the tools that are used are used well.
February 16, 2016
One word: Beautiful.
I really, really liked his short stories. I find all of them very entertaining and hilarious. This book was supposed to be a memoir, but because of the way he wrote it, it just seemed like a fiction novel - which was a good thing in this scenario. He tried to relate to the readers, and he succeeded. I love how Vizzini was very truthful in the book. And, one last thing, I'm super glad I get to read about his life before he passed...
R.I.P Ned Vizzini... <3
I really, really liked his short stories. I find all of them very entertaining and hilarious. This book was supposed to be a memoir, but because of the way he wrote it, it just seemed like a fiction novel - which was a good thing in this scenario. He tried to relate to the readers, and he succeeded. I love how Vizzini was very truthful in the book. And, one last thing, I'm super glad I get to read about his life before he passed...
R.I.P Ned Vizzini... <3
April 22, 2019
I just felt like this kid was an incredibly privileged ass. I mean, he's a teen. I try to be empathetic but the stories came off as privileged and naive. I also get a bit of misogyny and homophobia that I can forgive, to some extent, because he was young...but still. I just found the whole thing a bit frustrating and honestly had to force myself through it.
June 28, 2022
This book was the type of book that I dreaded completing, mainly due to the fact that it was so humorous and genuine! I didn't want it to end!
!!!SPOILERS!!!!!
I found myself rooting for him and wanting to be him to succeed, even in spite of his average white guy status (his words, not mine). He was, to put it simply, a dork. He was smart enough to go to Stuy, obsessively played Magic: The Gathering, was Jesus, got into Columbia, and went to Hooters with his dad. His story, as mundane and singular as it is, was incredibly charming. Vizzini wrote this book in a conversational way, and my god was he good at it. It genuinely felt like I was best friends with him by the end of the book!
!!!SPOILERS!!!!!!
It's a melancholy experience to read this book, though. Vizzini wrote this book and had no idea that he would take his own life 13 years later. I had to put the book down a few times specifically due to that fact; the fact that I was reading the retelling of a dead man's teenage years. It really impacted the experience for me. I could have had the same teenage experience as Vizzini, could have seen the same things, said the same things. And it hurts, knowing that he lived such a rich life only for it to be lost.
It saddens me that he left this world so early, and that this quasi-autobiography is just one of the few mementos of his life left behind. But I would 100% recommend this book to anyone who needs a fun and intriguing read.
!!!SPOILERS!!!!!
I found myself rooting for him and wanting to be him to succeed, even in spite of his average white guy status (his words, not mine). He was, to put it simply, a dork. He was smart enough to go to Stuy, obsessively played Magic: The Gathering, was Jesus, got into Columbia, and went to Hooters with his dad. His story, as mundane and singular as it is, was incredibly charming. Vizzini wrote this book in a conversational way, and my god was he good at it. It genuinely felt like I was best friends with him by the end of the book!
!!!SPOILERS!!!!!!
It's a melancholy experience to read this book, though. Vizzini wrote this book and had no idea that he would take his own life 13 years later. I had to put the book down a few times specifically due to that fact; the fact that I was reading the retelling of a dead man's teenage years. It really impacted the experience for me. I could have had the same teenage experience as Vizzini, could have seen the same things, said the same things. And it hurts, knowing that he lived such a rich life only for it to be lost.
It saddens me that he left this world so early, and that this quasi-autobiography is just one of the few mementos of his life left behind. But I would 100% recommend this book to anyone who needs a fun and intriguing read.
August 1, 2021
PopSugar Reading Challenge 2021: “El libro que ha estado en tu lista TBR durante más tiempo.”
No sabía que el autor había muerto, y no sabía que tenía depresión. Cuando me enteré comencé a leer el libro de otra manera, aunque ya iba más de a mitad en ese momento, pero me empecé a preguntar en qué momento se puede detectar la depresión, porque según lo que yo estaba leyendo, me parecía una persona "normal", sus gustos, su manera de ver y experimentar el mundo, me pareció "normal", pero saber que hay un momento en el que las cosas cambian y necesitas ayuda profesional para poder aguantar, es lo que me hace preguntarme en qué momento las cosas se vuelven malas.
Eso fue lo único que me gustó del libro, me pareció que las experiencias del autor son experiencias con las que cualquier adolescente se puede identificar, pero más allá de eso no me gustó el libro. Por lo mismo, siento que fue un día a día en la vida de cualquier persona, y para eso prefiero ver una película, la cual es más rápida.
Además no me gustó para nada como describía a las mujeres. Siento que las mostraba como puros objetos y eso me hizo enojar mucho.
No sabía que el autor había muerto, y no sabía que tenía depresión. Cuando me enteré comencé a leer el libro de otra manera, aunque ya iba más de a mitad en ese momento, pero me empecé a preguntar en qué momento se puede detectar la depresión, porque según lo que yo estaba leyendo, me parecía una persona "normal", sus gustos, su manera de ver y experimentar el mundo, me pareció "normal", pero saber que hay un momento en el que las cosas cambian y necesitas ayuda profesional para poder aguantar, es lo que me hace preguntarme en qué momento las cosas se vuelven malas.
Eso fue lo único que me gustó del libro, me pareció que las experiencias del autor son experiencias con las que cualquier adolescente se puede identificar, pero más allá de eso no me gustó el libro. Por lo mismo, siento que fue un día a día en la vida de cualquier persona, y para eso prefiero ver una película, la cual es más rápida.
Además no me gustó para nada como describía a las mujeres. Siento que las mostraba como puros objetos y eso me hizo enojar mucho.
February 2, 2023
Look this book was like mind numbing to read I skipped like 20 pages and it's getting 2 stars.
I'm n o t giving this book 1 star simply because of what it is. Ned's authentic teenage story written by his teenage self. That's cool! And look I did enjoy some points in book.
But I can't act like this wasn't one of the most uninteresting books I've read. I usually don't regret reading a book even if it wasn't great but I don't know if I can say the same for this. I definitely don't regret thrifting it for like 3 bucks.
The book is unique and interesting in theory but god the execution just wasn't living up.
I'm n o t giving this book 1 star simply because of what it is. Ned's authentic teenage story written by his teenage self. That's cool! And look I did enjoy some points in book.
But I can't act like this wasn't one of the most uninteresting books I've read. I usually don't regret reading a book even if it wasn't great but I don't know if I can say the same for this. I definitely don't regret thrifting it for like 3 bucks.
The book is unique and interesting in theory but god the execution just wasn't living up.
August 20, 2019
This collection of stories by Ned Vizzini were funny, genuine, and heart-felt, which just makes me even sadder that he isn't around anymore to write more stories. The last few stories in the collection I especially liked! I think my favorite was the one about his senior prom.
Also, it's W I L D to me that he published this when he was my age. I'm happy that I've spent this year reading so many of his books!
Also, it's W I L D to me that he published this when he was my age. I'm happy that I've spent this year reading so many of his books!
August 25, 2017
this wasn't exactly what I thought it would, it was only a small period of his life but his writing style once again made it entertaining nonetheless
Currently reading
January 21, 2022Found this at the bookstore last week while browsing for a meditation book and I cried before checking it out.
October 6, 2015
Full thoughts can be found on my blog, here: http://www.forwardsandbookwords.wordp...
I didn’t know quite what to expect going into this book. I read It’s Kind of a Funny Story last year and really enjoyed it. I didn’t know too much about Ned Vizzini’s life aside from the fact that It’s Kind of a Funny Story was partially based off of Ned’s experiences after checking himself in to a psychiatric hospital and I knew of the tragic way that his life came to an end.
I picked up this book, figuring that the best way to learn more about an author whose writing I really enjoy would be reading his autobiography.
I definitely did learn a lot from this autobiography. It was interesting to read about what Ned was like as a teenager while knowing that he would grow up to become an incredibly successful author. The book was filled with about 30 different short stories divided into five parts, ranging through different times in Ned’s life. The stories were quirky and funny, much like the narrative style I read in Ned’s other book.
The book also includes little asterisks and side notes throughout the work, like the ones you might find in John Green’s An Abundance of Katherines or Pseudonymous Bosch’s Secret Series. While I typically love unique touches like that in a book, I honestly felt like it was a little overdone. There was at least one every other page – if not every page – and sometimes two or three one page of narrative! While some of them were funny and added more to the story, all lot of them were just saying things like, “Guess what? The movie I made was found and can be watched at (web address)”, or references back to other short stories within the book, like, “Full details on this event can be found on (page numbers)”. It just broke up the flow of the book and eventually I stopped reading them all together.
While this read isn't something that I'd look back on and think, "Man, that book added a lot to my life," I am glad I read it. It was short and fun, and while I had some issues with it I thought it was fun to read an autobiography of an author, since an autobiography presented the perfect opportunity to experience more of his writing that I already knew I enjoyed and learn more about his life! If you have read and enjoyed Vizzini's other books then there's a pretty good chance that you'll enjoy this book as well, so maybe consider checking it out. If you haven't read his other books you probably won't get as much out of this book as you would if you had, but you still might like it! It's definitely the most hilarious yet insightful autobiography I've ever read.
I didn’t know quite what to expect going into this book. I read It’s Kind of a Funny Story last year and really enjoyed it. I didn’t know too much about Ned Vizzini’s life aside from the fact that It’s Kind of a Funny Story was partially based off of Ned’s experiences after checking himself in to a psychiatric hospital and I knew of the tragic way that his life came to an end.
I picked up this book, figuring that the best way to learn more about an author whose writing I really enjoy would be reading his autobiography.
I definitely did learn a lot from this autobiography. It was interesting to read about what Ned was like as a teenager while knowing that he would grow up to become an incredibly successful author. The book was filled with about 30 different short stories divided into five parts, ranging through different times in Ned’s life. The stories were quirky and funny, much like the narrative style I read in Ned’s other book.
The book also includes little asterisks and side notes throughout the work, like the ones you might find in John Green’s An Abundance of Katherines or Pseudonymous Bosch’s Secret Series. While I typically love unique touches like that in a book, I honestly felt like it was a little overdone. There was at least one every other page – if not every page – and sometimes two or three one page of narrative! While some of them were funny and added more to the story, all lot of them were just saying things like, “Guess what? The movie I made was found and can be watched at (web address)”, or references back to other short stories within the book, like, “Full details on this event can be found on (page numbers)”. It just broke up the flow of the book and eventually I stopped reading them all together.
While this read isn't something that I'd look back on and think, "Man, that book added a lot to my life," I am glad I read it. It was short and fun, and while I had some issues with it I thought it was fun to read an autobiography of an author, since an autobiography presented the perfect opportunity to experience more of his writing that I already knew I enjoyed and learn more about his life! If you have read and enjoyed Vizzini's other books then there's a pretty good chance that you'll enjoy this book as well, so maybe consider checking it out. If you haven't read his other books you probably won't get as much out of this book as you would if you had, but you still might like it! It's definitely the most hilarious yet insightful autobiography I've ever read.
December 21, 2008
Serack Woldehaimanot 12.18.08
901 Writing Arts
Teen Angst? Naaah…
Teen Angst? Naaah….
By Ned Vizzini
ISBN-13: 9780440237679
Price: $6.50
279pp
Age Range: Young Adult
Teen Angst? Naaah... is for anyone who has been shot down by someone of the opposite sex, been embarrassed by their parents, skipped studying to hang with friends or bascially just went to high school. Going through teenager life is pretty hard for everyone. Ned shares all of his doing when he was a teen and how he lived life out loud. He had his ups and downs and it’s difficult to see what’s right or wrong. What were the rebellious moments you’ve had towards your parents? Was it severe as Ned Vizzini rebellious moments were? Ned Vizzini tells this story in first person and we can see his thoughts and many other things.
Ned is an average teen who goes to a specialized high school called Stuyvesant. He shares funny and controversial moments from Freshmen to Senior Year. Ned tells this book in first person. It is exciting because Ned is a normal teen, and what he has been through can happen to anybody. This book is reccomended for ages thirteen and up. Readers, you can probably relate to Ned if you’re a teen. This book was so fantastic that it has changed the way that I think about my life. I now believe that everything happens for a reason. I’ve also realized that I should appreciate more in life. Reading this book shows how Ned lives his life out loud.
Ned had to face many obstacles including drugs, sex, partying, and not doing his homework. Those are things that a teen will eventually face and he is sharing moments, that will blow your mind away! So come on people stop by Barns and Nobel and get this book, it’s great! One of Ned Vizzini moment was to choose whether or not he was to go on a vacation with his friends or stay home and play Jesus for his church aren’t you interested in finding out whats going to happen? Just get the book its in every single book store because it is that great.
If you enjoy books about teen life and funny stories you should get this book Teen Angst? Naaah…. It is in any Barns and Nobles store so pick it up. Reading this book showed how Ned lived his life out loud and how other can to. This book relate to a lot of readers if they were a teen. Ned faceing his obsticles which were drugs, sex, and partying had made me more awear of what I might approch in the future. Therefore if you are near a book store or Barns and Nobel get this book its only $6.50 and it is a hilarious book.
901 Writing Arts
Teen Angst? Naaah…
Teen Angst? Naaah….
By Ned Vizzini
ISBN-13: 9780440237679
Price: $6.50
279pp
Age Range: Young Adult
Teen Angst? Naaah... is for anyone who has been shot down by someone of the opposite sex, been embarrassed by their parents, skipped studying to hang with friends or bascially just went to high school. Going through teenager life is pretty hard for everyone. Ned shares all of his doing when he was a teen and how he lived life out loud. He had his ups and downs and it’s difficult to see what’s right or wrong. What were the rebellious moments you’ve had towards your parents? Was it severe as Ned Vizzini rebellious moments were? Ned Vizzini tells this story in first person and we can see his thoughts and many other things.
Ned is an average teen who goes to a specialized high school called Stuyvesant. He shares funny and controversial moments from Freshmen to Senior Year. Ned tells this book in first person. It is exciting because Ned is a normal teen, and what he has been through can happen to anybody. This book is reccomended for ages thirteen and up. Readers, you can probably relate to Ned if you’re a teen. This book was so fantastic that it has changed the way that I think about my life. I now believe that everything happens for a reason. I’ve also realized that I should appreciate more in life. Reading this book shows how Ned lives his life out loud.
Ned had to face many obstacles including drugs, sex, partying, and not doing his homework. Those are things that a teen will eventually face and he is sharing moments, that will blow your mind away! So come on people stop by Barns and Nobel and get this book, it’s great! One of Ned Vizzini moment was to choose whether or not he was to go on a vacation with his friends or stay home and play Jesus for his church aren’t you interested in finding out whats going to happen? Just get the book its in every single book store because it is that great.
If you enjoy books about teen life and funny stories you should get this book Teen Angst? Naaah…. It is in any Barns and Nobles store so pick it up. Reading this book showed how Ned lived his life out loud and how other can to. This book relate to a lot of readers if they were a teen. Ned faceing his obsticles which were drugs, sex, and partying had made me more awear of what I might approch in the future. Therefore if you are near a book store or Barns and Nobel get this book its only $6.50 and it is a hilarious book.
Read
October 21, 2013Ned's family took cheap vacations - airplanes cost too much; cool resorts? way too many people. For vacations, Ned's family piled into a van and headed to bizarre and out of the way locations sem-close to New York. Like Binghamton NY for example - birthplace of the twilight zone creator Rod Serling. Yes, Ned had actually been to a Serling Museum.
On one of these jaunts, his family ended up at Allentown, Pennsylvania. They were supposed to go to the Poconos but at the last minute, his dad decided they needed some real culture, so they headed for "the Largest County Fair in Eastern PA."
This is how, for $5, Ned came to see the World's Largest Demolition Derby. His Dad pointed out the sign once they were on the fairgrounds, and asked Ned if he wanted to go.
Destruction can really cheer up a thirteen year old. He wasn't sure what a demolition derby was, but it sounded violent and it would give him a chance to stop walking around with his family.
Ned found out how a demolition derby really worked: some redneck with a car so screwed up that no one will buy it decides to have fun and compete for prize money. He pays about fifty bucks; his vehicle gets a paint job, and its engine is "modified" so it'll run for a few more hours. On derby day, he drives to a stadium where he slams into other cars until he totals them all, or just his own. If his is the last car running, he gets a big check.
This quasi-autobiography is Ned - the real Ned - telling real stories from when he was in high school - he even wrote them when he was in high school. It's about family, friends, staying out all night at a card game in the big city (New York). It's also cool that when he put the book together, he decided to make comments about it. They're off on the side (show page ?) like in the chapter about the demolition derby (Highway to Hell). In the story itself, shortly after telling you about rednecks and broken cars and big checks - Ned tells you how the audience boos at the girl who comes out to sing the Star Spangled Banner before the demolition starts. In the margins, he adds notes later when he's putting it together. Here's what he had to say about the singer at the demolition derby: She was much younger than me, and she was doing something better than I could ever do it - that's why I booed. I was hyper-competitive, and I loved it when other people failed. Sorry. (snicker/make very sarcastic)
Does Ned have Teen Angst?? Nah…. By Ned Vizzini.
On one of these jaunts, his family ended up at Allentown, Pennsylvania. They were supposed to go to the Poconos but at the last minute, his dad decided they needed some real culture, so they headed for "the Largest County Fair in Eastern PA."
This is how, for $5, Ned came to see the World's Largest Demolition Derby. His Dad pointed out the sign once they were on the fairgrounds, and asked Ned if he wanted to go.
Destruction can really cheer up a thirteen year old. He wasn't sure what a demolition derby was, but it sounded violent and it would give him a chance to stop walking around with his family.
Ned found out how a demolition derby really worked: some redneck with a car so screwed up that no one will buy it decides to have fun and compete for prize money. He pays about fifty bucks; his vehicle gets a paint job, and its engine is "modified" so it'll run for a few more hours. On derby day, he drives to a stadium where he slams into other cars until he totals them all, or just his own. If his is the last car running, he gets a big check.
This quasi-autobiography is Ned - the real Ned - telling real stories from when he was in high school - he even wrote them when he was in high school. It's about family, friends, staying out all night at a card game in the big city (New York). It's also cool that when he put the book together, he decided to make comments about it. They're off on the side (show page ?) like in the chapter about the demolition derby (Highway to Hell). In the story itself, shortly after telling you about rednecks and broken cars and big checks - Ned tells you how the audience boos at the girl who comes out to sing the Star Spangled Banner before the demolition starts. In the margins, he adds notes later when he's putting it together. Here's what he had to say about the singer at the demolition derby: She was much younger than me, and she was doing something better than I could ever do it - that's why I booed. I was hyper-competitive, and I loved it when other people failed. Sorry. (snicker/make very sarcastic)
Does Ned have Teen Angst?? Nah…. By Ned Vizzini.
August 22, 2014
After seing the movie It's Kind of a Funny Story, I knew that I had to pick up the book. I just didn't want to do it right when the movie was fresh in my mind, so I picked up this one instead. That seems to be a mistake.
I didn't like this book. Most of all, it felt like a bunch of high school essays. Now, that's fine if you are in highschool. When he published this book, Ned Vizzini wasn't in highschool anymore. There are essays about SATs, magic cards, a movie he and his friends made(I actually turned to youtube and saw the movie (The Attack of the Killer Turtle)), turning 18, prom etc. The thing is, I didn't really care.
I don't get why this was published. What exactly was the purpose? If I wanted to read random essays, I'm sure Google could help me with that.
So yeah, I found this book to be quite dull. I was hoping it'd be a very emotional read, or at least a real book, in terms of experiences etc., but I didn't feel like that was what I got.
The last essay, set after highschool, is just a acknowledgement essay, really.
This is supposed to be a quasi-biography, and well...it feels like diary entries, so I guess he kind of succeeded in that part.
Normally, I'd write about the characters as well, but I guess it doesn't really make any sense, since some of them are based upon people that Ned really knew, and then who am I to judge etc.? So yeah, not gonna do that.
I still want to pick up It's Kind of a Funny Story though, because really, I loved the movie.
I didn't like this book. Most of all, it felt like a bunch of high school essays. Now, that's fine if you are in highschool. When he published this book, Ned Vizzini wasn't in highschool anymore. There are essays about SATs, magic cards, a movie he and his friends made(I actually turned to youtube and saw the movie (The Attack of the Killer Turtle)), turning 18, prom etc. The thing is, I didn't really care.
I don't get why this was published. What exactly was the purpose? If I wanted to read random essays, I'm sure Google could help me with that.
So yeah, I found this book to be quite dull. I was hoping it'd be a very emotional read, or at least a real book, in terms of experiences etc., but I didn't feel like that was what I got.
The last essay, set after highschool, is just a acknowledgement essay, really.
This is supposed to be a quasi-biography, and well...it feels like diary entries, so I guess he kind of succeeded in that part.
Normally, I'd write about the characters as well, but I guess it doesn't really make any sense, since some of them are based upon people that Ned really knew, and then who am I to judge etc.? So yeah, not gonna do that.
I still want to pick up It's Kind of a Funny Story though, because really, I loved the movie.
December 14, 2011
I read Teen Angst by Ned Vizzini, and it’s an autobiography about how Ned grew up and how his life was played out. I have read one of his other books, “ It’s Kind of A Funny Story” I really like this because I can connect and kind of simulate the things he does in this book because I have done most of, well not most but some of the things he has done in his life. For say, when he was in karate. I was in karate for 5 years and earned my black belt in it but I don’t recall if he made it to that level, but anyway it made me think of my past and how much fun I had participating in those kinds of things. A couple other things I can relate to is the big test he had to take. It makes me feel like I’m about to take the ISAT but I soon realize I’m not taking it anytime soon. I feel like there are some little things that Ned exaggerates about like the drinking and getting drunk and things like that but I also thing that the rest of the story is true. Also, I love learning about other people’s life and their past, like detailed times not just things like “He ran into the sewer.” Bland statements are boring. But then again you can also learn some really good points from Ned’s book. But I’m not being offensive or anything but I lean towards the side of “this advice would most likely help people under the age of 23 ½”. Ha-ha. But if I were to recommend this book to people because most people like humor or a good laugh, and this book is full of funny jokes and pranks Ned pulls in his years growing up in his day.
April 3, 2013
This semi-autobiographical series of essays chronicling the woes of adolescence is a hilarious look at what we all endured when we were young. Each essay covers a time period that focuses on 8th grade up until Vizzini's senior year. He talks about not fitting in, dressing like an idiot, spilling things on himself at the worst times (one of my favorite stories in the book), being rejected by girls (and everyone else for that matter), acne, drinking, drugs, and sex. There's a little bit of something for everyone in this book, and it's very fun seeing how young Ned grew from each experience and maintained a sense of humor along the way. He even talks about mental health, which is an important part of the story's message because it tackles it in a way that most young adult novels fail.
I loved, loved, loved this book. So freaking funny! I felt like each essay was written about my own life (and I bet anyone that reads it would feel that way). It's witty, sweet, sad, and funny all rolled into one great collection. You end up cheering for Vizzini even if he is a total loser that makes every situation awkward and uncomfortable. I can see myself in Ned, and perhaps that's why I loved it so much. I recommend this to anyone looking for a trip down memory lane. It might not bring up the best memories (high school is a sensitive time for us, after all), but it will certainly help you find a sense of humor about those tender years. There's a little bit of language, sex talk, and drugs, but other than that, it's nothing that would offend most people.
I loved, loved, loved this book. So freaking funny! I felt like each essay was written about my own life (and I bet anyone that reads it would feel that way). It's witty, sweet, sad, and funny all rolled into one great collection. You end up cheering for Vizzini even if he is a total loser that makes every situation awkward and uncomfortable. I can see myself in Ned, and perhaps that's why I loved it so much. I recommend this to anyone looking for a trip down memory lane. It might not bring up the best memories (high school is a sensitive time for us, after all), but it will certainly help you find a sense of humor about those tender years. There's a little bit of language, sex talk, and drugs, but other than that, it's nothing that would offend most people.
December 20, 2014
Teen Angst? Naaah...
The way i came across reading this book was from the 8th grade summer reading assignment. Although i had to read it for the summer homework,, i had heard much about it before then from family and friends. they had all said that it was a great book that everyone should read as a teenager, and as i read that i found out it was true.
Plot
One very interesting an unique thing about this book is its plot. This plot takes you through all of Ned Vizzini's teenage years, unlike a traditional book which only tells of a story which happened through a short amount of time. During the book the main character ned is trying to find his place in the world and who he really wants to be. One example of this is in the beginning of the book he says "I guess its really not what family were in or where we are, but our choices in life that determine who we really are" This quote shows how the entire book is about how is about the choices he made to lead to his life today.
Characters
Another part of the book that i found interesting was the characters that ned meets over the timeline of the story. The people that he meets throughout the story are one of the big factors that shaped him into the person he is today. One very important person that shaped him was his girlfriend at the end. She would always be sure that he was making his own choices and becoming who he wanted to be not anyone else, putting him on the path to his writing career.
The way i came across reading this book was from the 8th grade summer reading assignment. Although i had to read it for the summer homework,, i had heard much about it before then from family and friends. they had all said that it was a great book that everyone should read as a teenager, and as i read that i found out it was true.
Plot
One very interesting an unique thing about this book is its plot. This plot takes you through all of Ned Vizzini's teenage years, unlike a traditional book which only tells of a story which happened through a short amount of time. During the book the main character ned is trying to find his place in the world and who he really wants to be. One example of this is in the beginning of the book he says "I guess its really not what family were in or where we are, but our choices in life that determine who we really are" This quote shows how the entire book is about how is about the choices he made to lead to his life today.
Characters
Another part of the book that i found interesting was the characters that ned meets over the timeline of the story. The people that he meets throughout the story are one of the big factors that shaped him into the person he is today. One very important person that shaped him was his girlfriend at the end. She would always be sure that he was making his own choices and becoming who he wanted to be not anyone else, putting him on the path to his writing career.
February 10, 2016
I didn't know much about Ned Vizzini before I started this book. I had heard good things of the last book he wrote, It's Kind Of a Funny Story, (Incidentally, I saw the movie before I knew it was a book) and I knew that he had committed suicide a few years ago. So, I didn't know exactly what to expect from this book. The book I'd heard about (his other book is called Just Chill) was about a kid who'd attempted suicide and then the author who had succeeded in that act had written a book about his youth and titled it Teen Angst? I assumed this book would be a sad commentary of a traumatic youth.
But it wasn't. It was a light and funny look at a regular kid's youth. There were no obvious clues to point to the turmoil going on in the author's head and heart. It was actually a little sad having read this after he took his life. There's one story near the front of the book where he imagines himself as an aging man and where he'll be and that was sad to read, knowing he never made it past his early 30's, much less old age.
The stories themselves were fun to read and well written. Even though we grew up around the same time (He was born just 4 years after me), our childhood's were rather different. Life growing up in New York is so much different than growing up in California like me. :o)
But it wasn't. It was a light and funny look at a regular kid's youth. There were no obvious clues to point to the turmoil going on in the author's head and heart. It was actually a little sad having read this after he took his life. There's one story near the front of the book where he imagines himself as an aging man and where he'll be and that was sad to read, knowing he never made it past his early 30's, much less old age.
The stories themselves were fun to read and well written. Even though we grew up around the same time (He was born just 4 years after me), our childhood's were rather different. Life growing up in New York is so much different than growing up in California like me. :o)
March 26, 2012
I thought this book was phenomenal! When I think about the Young Adult genre, this book fits perfectly in the autobiography category. Teen Angst is a collection of essays by Ned Vizzini about his experiences in high school. All of the typical high school experiences are included but this novel is written from the point of view of a dork, but a proud dork at that.
Vizzini’s book is an excellent choice and an easy read for any teacher’s classroom. I highly recommend it as a text that could be used in the classroom as a leisure read for students that could lead to some pretty exciting assignments. Because the book is a collection of personal essays, this could help introduce students to the idea of writing a personal essay and not the typical straightforward academic essay.
Teen Angst is a fun read because there are doodles and footnotes throughout the book and the narrator has an incredible sense of humor. The footnotes sometimes lead to other sources which is another excellent way to connect the reading to the classroom. Perhaps after the students complete their nightly reading, in class they can watch the videos that Vizzini directs the readers to. This book is sure to keep the reader laughing at the turn of every page.
Vizzini’s book is an excellent choice and an easy read for any teacher’s classroom. I highly recommend it as a text that could be used in the classroom as a leisure read for students that could lead to some pretty exciting assignments. Because the book is a collection of personal essays, this could help introduce students to the idea of writing a personal essay and not the typical straightforward academic essay.
Teen Angst is a fun read because there are doodles and footnotes throughout the book and the narrator has an incredible sense of humor. The footnotes sometimes lead to other sources which is another excellent way to connect the reading to the classroom. Perhaps after the students complete their nightly reading, in class they can watch the videos that Vizzini directs the readers to. This book is sure to keep the reader laughing at the turn of every page.
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