>>22992859J.D. Salinger's *The Catcher in the Rye* chronicles several days in the life of its 16-year-old narrator, Holden Caulfield, following his expulsion from a preparatory school. Unwilling to face his parents, Holden travels to New York City, where he navigates a series of encounters that deepen his feelings of alienation and disgust with the "phoniness" of the adult world.
The novel is an intimate character study, exploring themes of grief, identity, and the painful transition from adolescence to adulthood. Holden's cynical worldview is contrasted with his desire to protect the innocence he sees in his younger sister, Phoebe, which culminates in his fantasy of being "the catcher in the rye." The story concludes with Holden narrating from a medical institution, reflecting on his emotional breakdown.