It creates passion in young readers and it continues to do so every single year that I teach it. The Catcher in the Rye is the greatest book of its time because it makes students who read it, even the ones who don't like reading, want to read more. This year my classes had amazing discussions surrounding the novel.
Why is Catcher in the Rye considered a masterpiece?
Catcher in the Rye is a masterpiece of teenage angst. It was one of the first books to truly capture the isolation, confusion and blind anger of adolescence.
Why did Catcher in the Rye have such an impact?
Factors contributing to the novel's mystique and impact include its portrayal of protagonist Holden Caulfield; its tone of sincerity; its themes of familial neglect, tension between teens and society, and rebellion; its previous banned status; and Salinger's reclusiveness.