Catcher Craze

Catcher Craze - Should it be read or not?

Catcher In The Rye. Although these are only four words, it kindled the interest of many, some positively, some negatively. Written by JD Salinger in 1951, it seemed everyone had caught the 'Catcher Craze'; some worked feverishly to get the book banned even making it one of the most frequently censored schools (Chasan 2) and some gave it to their classes to read, supporting it. In my opinion, the book has more than earned its right to be read by grades if past the age or turning the age 13.

My opinion on this matter is this way because of a few reasons. For one, the book was based off of the author's personal experience from the private schools he went to. So the book isn't about someone going on and on because from what the author thinks would happen; the events or disposition of many in the book actually happened, meaning the experiences Holden faces in the book are very close to real life events Salinger had to face. And if the stuff in his book has occurred in real life, who are we to degrade him and judge his life? Decide whether or not his life story should be told or not? That’s just it; we don’t have that liberty.

Another point is that the events and problems which Holden faces aren't just for that period of time or that generation, many of the coming of age issues Holden, the main character and narrator, faces can be applied to teenagers even now, in this day of time. For example, in the book, Holden feels like he's the misfit, he doesn't belong among his peers, and who can say they have honestly never felt like that? Even today, millions of kids must feel that way; Holden does not have the best relationship with either of his parents, where he feels they don't care about him as much as he wishes them to, and parent drama? Typical teenage drama 101.   

Even though I believe the book should not be restricted, I do understand why some parents would like to restrict their children from reading the book. Getting drunk, drugs and alcohol, having sex, an opposing view of everything; really, that's in almost every book now, so although it may not seem like a big deal anymore, it was a big deal back then. A book that used bad language, talked in length and detail about sex and hookers, and alcohol was definitely not what people were expecting, because in the time the book was written, most authors did not use such subjects in their book, so it was definitely a shock to many parents and schools districts, and as expected, many got together to stop the change that would ultimately, in my opinion, lead to many books being written in the new type of, almost daring type of manner as many are now.  

But despite the protests, I insist that Catcher in the Rye should be a book taught in, if not every, then most schools. If parents are still upset, perhaps permission slips should be sent out, just to please both sides, but at the end of the day, I think the book should be read because it offers valuable life lessons to students all over. And besides, if children learn from the book, that’s what parents send their children to school for, right? To learn? And teachers have degrees in teaching, do they not? So why don’t we just leave the final decision up to the teacher which book they would like to assign to their students to read? I’m sure in the end, despite the arguments of others, the teacher will know best.