This book. What can I even say to encapsulate all this book has done for me? 

I latched onto this book as a teen, finding comfort in Craig's rocky journey. I understood the pressures, the anxiety, the fear. I understood Craig's character so deeply that it terrified me. Somehow this fear also provided me with immense comfort. Comfort that I wasn't alone. If someone could write the way I felt so clearly, then surely I wasn't the only one who felt the way I did, right? 

I love the vulnerability and insecurities of this book. My copy is incredibly worn and covered in highlighter and pen, marking my various re-reads over the years. I've seen my own evolution from the scared kid like Craig to a more stable and hopeful individual. Life is still scary--that doesn't go away. We just better learn how to handle it. 

I highly encourage anyone who's ever felt scared or insecure, or struggled with fighting their own mind, or even wondered how to connect with loved ones who you've seen struggle--I encourage you all to read this book. Sometimes we need the eyes of a young person to show us how terrifying and wonderful life can really be.