There are few fictional characters that are more familiar than Holden Caulfield, the 16-year-old protagonist of THE CATCHER IN THE RYE whose signature voice (“phony,” anyone?) and wry observations of the city around him have captured the minds of readers since 1951.

Although the novel has been praised time and time again (it was named one of the 100 best English-Language Novels of the 20^th century by Modern Library in 2003), it has also gotten its fair share of push-back. It has been banned in schools time and time again, most often for vulgar language, and was the 10^th most challenged book from 1990 to 1999.

Below, WHIPPOORWILL author Joseph Monninger and Teen Board member Yasemin B. talk about why they love the book, and exactly what they’d tell those who were trying to ban it.

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