Classics · Literary
The Catcher in the Rye
Bestseller: about 65 million copies (estimate)After being expelled from his prep school, sixteen-year-old Holden Caulfield wanders New York for a few days, telling the story in a restless, sarcastic voice that hides how lost and lonely he feels.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 1951
- Pace
- Slow
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 277
- Format
- Standalone
Read this if you want a sharp, voice-driven portrait of teenage alienation and don't need much plot.
Skip this if you tire quickly of a complaining narrator or a story with no clear destination.
The feel
Content warnings
Also reported by Hardcover readers:
Quick answers about The Catcher in the Rye
- What is The Catcher in the Rye about?
- After being expelled from his prep school, sixteen-year-old Holden Caulfield wanders New York for a few days, telling the story in a restless, sarcastic voice that hides how lost and lonely he feels.
- Who should read The Catcher in the Rye?
- Read it if you want a sharp, voice-driven portrait of teenage alienation and don't need much plot. Skip it if you tire quickly of a complaining narrator or a story with no clear destination.
- How long and how fast is The Catcher in the Rye?
- It is a slow-paced, short read of about 277 pages, first published in 1951.
- Does The Catcher in the Rye have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Mental illness, Suicide.
- Can I borrow The Catcher in the Rye for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends The Catcher in the Rye; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after The Catcher in the Rye?
- Readers who liked it often move on to The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Bell Jar, Looking for Alaska.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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Because you might love it
If you loved The Catcher in the Rye
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The Perks of Being a Wallflower A more modern, warmer version of an awkward, observant teen narrator finding connection.
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The Bell Jar
Another classic first-person account of a young person struggling in a world that feels fake.
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Looking for Alaska A teen narrator, a boarding school and a search for meaning that ends in grief.
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