The Catcher in the Rye

The Catcher in the Rye – J. D. Salinger
Series: Standalone
Genre: Classic Literature • Coming-of-Age • Psychological Fiction
 
Tropes:
Disillusioned, unreliable teenage narrator
Journey of self-discovery
Alienation and rebellion against societal norms
 
Summary:
Holden Caulfield, a cynical and emotionally adrift sixteen-year-old, has just been expelled from yet another prep school. Instead of going home, he flees to New York City, wandering the streets for several days as he wrestles with grief, identity, loneliness, and his deep disdain for what he calls “phoniness.”
Through his sharp wit and raw vulnerability, Holden recounts encounters both painful and tender—from fleeting connections with old acquaintances to moments of genuine affection for his younger sister, Phoebe. As his mental state unravels, he struggles to find meaning and innocence in a world he feels alienated from.
A defining work of American literature, The Catcher in the Rye captures the turbulence of adolescence with honesty, humor, and aching introspection.