Remember the past… Imagine you were a child, what kind of life did you have? What kind of childhood did you have? Do you remember? The book The Catcher In The Rye runs through a variety of experiences that you could have experienced. It starts out with an average 15-year-old boy who is our protagonist. He gets kicked out of school. He had decided to go back home, along the way meeting a few quirky characters that you may have met. The book is aimed at teenagers of this time or people who would have had a similar childhood. Readers would be allowed to compare their childhood to this. Teenagers would be able to see the hardships of earlier years and what they could or have already experienced could be examined. The story itself has a strong alcohol and smoking influence. Parents who would want to teach their kids to act responsible with the 2 factors are advised to read the book. Teen family issues are also addressed, as the protagonist does not want the parents to know about him getting kicked out. Whether this is an issue or is relevant to teenage pride today is your own opinion. Holden has a lot of ideas on society at the time, about language and phonies. Holden says most of this directly “… With Dr Thurmer some weeks ago. They’re Grand people”. “… Grand. There’s a word I really hate. It’s a phony.” The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger runs through the basic stereotypical ideas of a teenage life. The story stars off slow, but it grows stronger in the middle till the end. It is a good read.
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The Catcher in the Rye
(1965, Fiction - Literary Fiction, Written by J. D. Salinger)
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 12, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 14. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
One of the greatest novels of the 20th century.
updated 07.04.08
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 14–15
What to watch out for
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Violence :
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Sex :
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About The Catcher in the Rye
Parents need to know that this book is chock full of mild to moderate swearing, and "f--k" is used several times. There are also lots of sexual references, and everyone smokes and drinks -- including the underage protagonist. Still, it's an American classic that everyone should read.
Read our full review by Matt Berman
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about the ways in which the content of the book, which is set in New York City in the early 1950s, might be considered dated by today's standards. How are Holden's experiences different from those of a modern teenager? If there are differences, are there also things in Holden's world that have largely stayed the same in terms of teenage life? Do you relate to Holden in any way? Do you admire him, or do you pity him? Or is it a little of both? Why do you think this book is considered so important -- and why do you think it's been one of the most frequently challenged books when it comes to censorship?
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Most Recent Reviews
Lives in MassachusettsI rate this title on for age 15 and give itNostalgia
- Lives in MassachusettsI rate this title on for age 12 and give it
A Boy's Hectic Life
If there was to be a book written for the enjoyment of young teenagers, particularly one written in a teenage boy’s point of view, it would have to be ‘The Catcher in the Rye’. Here J. D. Salinger places in words, the thoughts and feelings that run through a 15 year old boy as he encounters certain events in a fraction of his lifetime, particularly the issues that branch off adolescence, including feelings of love and infatuation, school issues and family relationships. Also to note, the book is written quite colloquially with a fair use of rude language, since it is the view of life through the eyes of a mid-teen. ‘The Catcher in the Rye comfortably suits the young teenagers who read it, since similiar perspectives are to be found throughout the work. Also throughout are sometimes found comments on life that are quite surprisingly found to be true after a little pondering. Salinger has put in the effort to include the boy’s feelings in words that invite the reader to feel sympathy for Holden Caulfield, the main character. “You know kids when they’re sore at you. They won’t laugh or anything.” He comments on his little sister. Overall ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ is found to be quite connective with the teenagers it is aimed toward, being awarded 4 out of 5 stars for its demand in common book stores and its relevance to society
Lives in FloridaI rate this title iffy for age 13 and give itYou should know your kid
I've read this book, and sure there's sex, underage abuse of alchohol and tobacco, and other bad stuff; but if you look past that part and really enjoy the book, it isn't so bad. If you as a parent think that after reading the common sense media review are completely against the book, try it for yourself. It is the best book I've read in my short lifetime. After reading it yourself, think about: your kid's maturity, how "bad" the book was, and then did I really enjoy this book? Make your choice from there. Awesome book!!:)
- Lives in New YorkI rate this title off for age 16 and give it
If you got nothing nice to say, dont say anything at all......
We read this for my senior year and the moment i read the first swear word, i was turned off- COMPLETELY. I begrudgingly read the book and was completely appauled by what i was reading. Chapter 6 has 61 swear words in it alone! in my book, that was about 6 pages averaging 10 swear words a page. Instead of getting a test on the book and all the underneathness that there is behind the book, my english teacher decides us to write a critical anaylasis paper reguarding an issue or topic of the book of our choice. i hated the book to begin with, why would i want to write a 3-5 page paper about it? i was last to come up with my thesis which took several revisions before actually getting to the approved one. Here are a few passages from my paper: " This crude display of a teenage boy from the 50’s shouldn’t be allowed for children to read about because Holden is totally inappropriate for all his swearing and all his explicit references to sex. Sure movies today that kids see do that stuff but it’s really is completely repelling and repulsive because it’s bad enough that it’s being thrown at our younger generation, there shouldn’t be a verbal idea of what Holden or his friends do, with girls. Who, if you went out and surveyed people on the streets, from all age groups, actually wants to hear about that? The best parts in the book were when you read about Holden’s childhood memories of Jane Gallagher in chapter 11, pages 76-80 and when he was with his younger sister, Phoebe—at the end of the book—chapter 21 pages 158-180! Catcher is plagued with an over abundant negativity swallowing what little positivity the book does hold in it; therefore, making the book less pleasurable to delve into and especially difficult to see what’s really happening! [...] All of Holden’s swearing and talk of sex and super pessimistic, unenthusiastic attitude can really burden a person and the text. I mean there’s just a few more really nice things to read about with Phoebe but not majorly huge if you proportioned it to the rest of awfulness resonating in Holden’s life. You miss the whole fact that Holden is going through teen depression! That’s what the whole book is showing. But it’s super easy to miss with all the putridness that’s happening in the story. Why exactly did J.D. Salinger decide for Holden’s story to be that way? That’s almost like trying to figure out if "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass" by Lewis Carroll is a book for adults, or a book for children. It really is a mystery. But you are the ultimate judge on whether this book, "Catcher in the Rye", is a good book or not. That all lies on personal opinion. I myself find it the absolute worst book I’ve ever read right up there above "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding and "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls. So is it a bad book with little good parts or a good book with lots of bad parts? " I mean my friend loved the book. I couldnt get past the swearing and sex-talk-AND IM 17!! I didnt hate the entire book tho. i really loved the jane gallagher flashback and the stuff with phoebe-but that was it. i dont see the whole hoopla about the book. i would have been suuuuuper content with a censered book to read. i myself went through depression and the lose of someone who was practically my brother, but i related nothing to Holden in the slightest. if i would have read the book on my own (which is highly doubtful after the first page) i would have missed 100% that Holden was suffering from depression. its just so hidden. this is no quick, fun, light read so if thats the kind of book you're looking for, youre in the wrong place. but if you want to find a deeper meaning in a book, and can stand sex-talk, swearing, smoking and drinking in what i would consider a fictional character who's still a child, then be my guest!
- Lives in MichiganI rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
Awe-inspiring...
This book is one of my favorite of all time. I read it in the beginning of sixth grade and it was a bit confusing but it got a lot better and very interesting. Worthy of being in the top ten of all literature of the past century. Incredible satisfying.
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