Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger
ISBN-13: 978-0316769174
Back Bay Books,
288 p.

GENRE: General Fiction

TEASER: This is the classic tale of growing up and the fears and emotions we face along the way.

SUMMARY: Sixteen-year-old Holden Caulfield has just been expelled from prep school. He decides to head to New York City earlier than his family expects him and stay in a hotel. This story follows his journey around the city and his quest to find his place.

CRITIQUE: The story is set around the 1950s and is told through the eyes of Holden in first-person perspective. Holden seems like a pretty typical confused teen. He is angry and sick of the adult world. This book is the classic tale of the teenage boy coming of age. Holden Caulfield is someone that many people can relate to. He is unsure how to handle is moods and emotions. he sees the adult world as phony and wishes to preserve the innocence of childhood.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: J. D. Salinger was an American author born in New York in 1919. he dropped out of several schools before he decided to enroll in writing classes at Columbia University. His best known work was Catcher in the Rye. Other novels her wrote were Franny and Zooey, Nine Stories, and Raise High the Roof Beam, and Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction. He was known to be somewhat of a recluse. He served in world War II. Salinger died on January 27, 2010 of natural causes at the age of 91.

WEBSITE: N/A

READING LEVEL: General Adult

CHALLENGE ISSUES: Catcher in the Rye has faced multiple challenges for profanity, sexual content, and violence.

DEFENSE: I would suggest looking at the ALA’s support page for challenged materials.

CURRICULUM TIES: American Literature

BOOKTALKING IDEAS: Discuss the fears teens face on becoming an adult. Do you see any of yourself in Holden?

WHY INCLUDED: Catcher in the Rye is the quintessential coming of age novel of teenage boys.