Author Ned Vizzini Dies At Age 32

Author Ned Vizzini has died at the age of 32. The New York medical examiner confirmed the best-selling author committed suicide yesterday in Brooklyn, New York. Vizzini was a well-respected and talented author of young adult novels.

Vizzini got his big break at the age of 15 as a writer for the New York Press. At the age of 17, he was invited to write an article for New York Times Magazine. The resulting article, Teen Angst? Naaah…, was an autobiographical piece chronicling the teen’s experiences as a student at Stuyvesant High School.

The teen went on to publish his debut novel, titled Be More Chill. The novel caught the attention of iconic Author Judy Blume, who chose the book for the Today Show Book Club. Vizzini’s second novel, It’s Kind of a Funny Story saw similar success.

As reported by Harper Collins, the book was chosen by NPR as “one of the 100 Best-Ever Teen Novels.” It was later adapted into a film starring Zach Galifianakis.

Although the novel won critical acclaim, the story was quite dark. It’s Kind of a Funny Story chronicled a teen’s struggle with depression, suicidal tendencies, and an eventual stay in a mental hospital.

In a 2012 interview with The L Magazine, Ned Vizzini discussed his fantasy novel The Other Normals, which also had a serious undertone:

“It’s about addiction to something that takes you away from your real life… I think we get addicted to things because we can control them… once you have whatever it is you’re addicted to, you’re in total control… It’s real life that is hard to control… sometimes the only way out of an addiction is to give in to it hardcore. Sometimes the only way out is through.”

Vizzini’s most recent novel, the House of Secrets, was co-authored with Chris Columbus. His novels have been translated into 25 languages.

The bestselling author’s work was featured in the New Yorker, Daily Beast, Salon, New York Times, and New York Press. He also wrote fort MTV’s Teen Wolf and was currently writing for NBC’s Believe, which was set to debut in March 2014.

Ned Vizzini is survived by his wife and son.

[Image via Facebook]