It is an ironic fact that The Catcher in the Rye holds the distinctions of being both one of the most

frequently taught and most frequently challenged books in American schools. Any reader can see why the book would be challenged. As the narrator, Holden Caulfield frequently uses of profanity, discusses sexuality, and disparages religion. Why the book is taught is a much less simple question. What is it about the seemingly aimless, wandering thoughts of a sixteen year old boy that so many teachers deem important enough to teach to their students? The themes Salinger present in his novel, however, reach a much broader audience, and have more meaning than they seem to on the surface. One of the main reasons The Catcher in the Rye is taught in high schools is the age of the narrator. As teenagers, it is believed that high school students will be able connect with Holden, and the themes he explores are relevant to all people of his age. Holden, however, is very mature for his age, yet, at the same time, very childish. In some aspects, Holden is an adult. He drinks, smokes, has mature conversations with adults, and knows quite a bit more than his peers. Yet, at same time he acts immature, and is obsessed with maintaining youth and innocence in himself, children, and the world around him. It is this struggle between the youthful and adult world that creates the novel's main conflict. The movement into adulthood from childhood is one of very few themes that applies universally to all teenage readers, making the novel an ideal one to teach in high school. The lessons Holden learns through the course of the novel are applicable to many students. While wandering through New York he feels intense sadness, loneliness, and is surrounded by phonies. These feelings are very common among young people, making the novel have a universal appeal and connection to students. The other issue Holden wrestles with is his struggle with sexuality. Like a large percentage of teenagers, understanding and adapting to changes in his relationships with his peers is a terrifying concept to Holden which he rejects entirely. Holden's experiences with many of the issues that frequently trouble teenage students allow them to connect with him and the novel as a whole. The Catcher in the Rye is also taught due to its writing style. As the narrator, Holden places his own inflection on the events in the novel. He will often digress from the story to explain flaws he sees in people or society as a whole or to remember past events in his life. This focus on exploring his surroundings makes the novel more character-driven than plot-driven. Salinger himself said that the weight of the book is in the narrator's voice, the nonstop peculiarities of it. Holden's thoughts about people and his surroundings are the novel more so than the events of his time in New York.

The Catcher in the Rye is taught so widely in high school due to its subject matter, relatable material to students, and literary significance. Due to this, the novel has earned a place as a classic and a teaching tool for students. The novel has become so widely recognized that it is very commonly referenced in popular culture. If for no other reason, The Catcher in the Rye should be taught so students will understand references to the book for the rest of their lives.