The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)

"The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger is a novel narrated by Holden Caulfield, a disillusioned teenage boy recently expelled from prep school. Through his eyes, readers explore his feelings of alienation, confusion, and longing for authenticity in a phony adult world. The story captures Holden’s internal struggles with grief, identity, and the desire to protect innocence—symbolized by his obsession with being "the catcher in the rye," saving children from losing their innocence. The novel offers a candid, introspective look at adolescence and the difficulties of growing up, resonating as a timeless exploration of modern discontent.