Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger FIC SALINGER

"If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. In the first place, that stuff bores me, and in the second place, my parents would have about two hemorrhages apiece if I told anything pretty personal about them."

Holden Caulfield is 16 and has just been expelled from his Pennsylvania prep school. Instead of returning home immediately he begins a personal three day odyssey through New York City that includes walking on the seedier side of life, visiting old friends, reconnecting with his little sister, and trying to find his place in a world full of “phonies”.

J.D. Salinger recently passed away so I was inspired to read Catcher in the Rye again and I’m very glad I did. I look at Holden and the other characters so much differently now then when I was Holden's age. It’s a brilliant book about teenagers because it perfectly captures the feelings of disillusionment and isolation that can come with growing up. Holden is hilarious, edgy, and brilliant, but he’s also completely rejected the world around him. This makes him a really fascinating hero because no matter how much we like or identify with him he has already rejected us. Catcher is as fresh and controversial today as when it was first published. With the exception of the small details you could imagine everything happening exactly the same if it were written this year. A great read for older teens and adults alike. Do yourself a huge favor pick it up today.