The Catcher in the Rye

Sixteen-year-old Holden Caulfield, a native New Yorker, narrates J. D. Salinger's 1951 coming-of-age novel in his own voice. Knowing he is about to be expelled from his Pennsylvania prep school, Holden leaves early and spends three days on his own in New York City, and he recounts what happened to him there. Along the way he gives his opinion on a wide range of subjects, and the novel takes up alienation, innocence, identity and loss. Originally meant for adults, it is often read by teenagers. Total sales have passed 65 million copies, and in 2005 Time named it among the 100 best novels written in English since 1923.

Software developer Cory Zue said that in high school his favorite book was probably either it or Ender's Game, and Jessica Lauria of By Karen and Jess valued its characters and its picture of a special time in New York history.