Ned’s website

Compiled by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Ned Vizzini, 32, Dies; Wrote Teenage Novels by Ned Yardley from The New York Times (Dec. 20, 2013). Peek: “Ned Vizzini, a precocious and highly praised writer of popular young-adult novels that often dealt with themes of teenage anxiety and depression — and still made readers laugh — died on Thursday in Brooklyn.”

Ned Vizzini, author of ‘It’s Kind of a Funny Story,’ commits suicide at 32 by Faith Karim from CNN. Peek: “In his books, Vizzini openly talked about his struggle with depression… Vizzini started writing for New York media at 15, and published his memoir, Teen Angst? Naaah at age 19. The young author won accolades for his book, It’s Kind of a Funny Story, for its portrayal of teenage depression. His other novels included Be More Chill and The Other Normals.”

Ned Vizzini dies at 32; author wrote openly about his depression by David Colker and Carolyn Kellogg from The LA Times. Peek: “‘Everybody thinks that after you make it as an author, you’re set for life,’ he said in a 2006 interview with the Richmond (Va.) Times Dispatch. ‘But I had plenty of concerns about what I was going to do with the rest of my life. And there’s always pressure to do the next thing and to always be better.'”

Ned Vizzini dies at 32: Fans mourn It’s Kind of a Funny Story writer by Eun Kyung Kim from Today. Peek: “‘Ned was a preternatural talent — a brilliant, insightful writer and a dazzling storyteller who was one of the leading pioneers of YA literature as we know it,’ Alessandra Balzer, co-publisher of HarperCollins’ Balzer + Bray, said in a statement.”

It’s Kind of a Funny Story author Ned Vizzini dies at 32 by Hillary Busis from Entertainment Weekly.

“‘What I would like young adults to take away from It’s Kind of a Funny Story is that if you’re feeling suicidal, call a hotline,’ Vizzini said in an interview with Strength of Us, an online community developed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, after the film version of Funny Story was released. ‘Suicidal ideation really is a medical emergency and if more people knew to call the suicide hotline we’d have less suicides. One number, as related in the book, is 1-800-SUICIDE.’”

Note to Readers

My sympathies to Ned’s family, friends, and colleagues.

If you would like to share links to other memorial posts, please do so in the comments. The roundup above features mainstream media, but I’m sure there are more personal reflections on the Web.