Who would have thought that good reading could come from depression and personal insecurity? I wouldn't, but this author gave new impetus to thinking. For my junior project, the author I chose is Ned Vizzini. Vizzini was able to contribute to the world of literature by giving honesty to youth. Vizzini's greatest strength is empowering people suffering from depression and difficult lives, giving them courage, etc. Vizzini wrote about his life to show that we are all human, stating that we must be honest and strong, so that we as people do not appear vulnerable to what is said in a negative reference since he was suffering. -even depression. Growing up, he was a good kid, got good grades and almost felt pressured. This led him to develop an eating disorder at the age of seventeen, which later led to his depression. Ned Vizzini's style, including his use of imagery, similes, and numerous allusions, allows readers to see the significance of his life and the personal issues that occurred during his life, and which led to writing on the important topic of combating depression. Ned Vizzini was born in New York on April 4, 1981 and committed suicide on December 19, 2013. He was born Edison Price Vizzini on April 4, 1981 in Manhattan. Mr. Vizzini legally changed his first name to his nickname, Ned. After his family moved to Brooklyn, he attended the highly competitive Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan. While there, he began reading the weekly New York Press. At fifteen, he began writing for the newspaper about adolescent issues. Two years later, his first article in The Times was published. Vizzini's novels were based solely on depression. All of Vizzini's novels were about his past... middle of paper ......ngthofus.org/blog/view/16724/author-ned-vizzini-talks-about-depression-suicide-and-writing>« It's a pretty funny story” bookrags.com May 1, 2014 “Touching a chord” Yareview.net May 1, 2014 “Depression Facts and Statistics” http://www.cdc.gov/nch May 1, 2014 http: //laurathomascommunications.com/interview-ned-vizzini/ http://www.tottenvillereview.com/ned-vizzini/ www.thenervousbreakdown.com/tag/ned-vizzini-interview/ http://scallywagandvagabond.com/2013/ 12/ned-vizzini-commit-suicide/“Ned Vizzini commits suicide” http://www.dailymail.co.uk May 1 2014