The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Author: J.D. Salinger

Published: 1951

Novel.

Holden is at Pencey Preparatory is an exclusive private school in Agertown, Pennsylvania, on the Saturday afternoon of the traditional football game with rival school Saxon Hall. Holden ends up missing the game. 

He is the manager of the fencing team and loses their equipment on a New York City subway train, resulting on the cancellation of a match. Holden is expelled and isn't to return home until after Christmas break, so he goes to his history teacher's home, Mr. Spencer. 

Shortly, Holden returns to his dorm, realizing most of the students are still at the football game. He begins to re-read a book, but his distraction is temporary; first Ackley, his dorm neighbor disturbs him; later Holden argues with Stradlater, his roommate, who fails to appreciate a composition that Holden wrote for him about the baseball glove of Holden's late brother Allie. Stradlater, a womanizer, has just returned form a date with Holden's old friend Jane Gallagher. Holden is distressed that Stradlater might have taken advantage of Jane, because he doesn't appreciate her in the manner Holden does; he even refers to her as Jean. The boys fight and Holden catches a train to New York City, where he plans to stay in a hotel until Wednesday, when his parents expect him home for New Years vacation. 

He checks into the Edmont Hotel. After observing the behavior of the perverts in the hotel room facing his, he struggles with his own sexuality. He spends an evening dancing with three tourist women in their 30s, from Seattle, in the hotel lounge and enjoys dancing with one, but ends up with only the check, the women seem unable to carry a conversation. 

Holden agrees to have a prostitute named Sunny visit his room, but his attitude changes when she enters the room; she seems about the same age as he, and he becomes uncomfortable with the situation.

Holden visits his former and admired English teacher, Mr. Antolini, who offers advice on life along with a place to sleep for the night. 

Characters: 

Holden Caulfield

Stradlater

Mr. Antolini

Maurice

Sally Hayes

Sunny

Jane Gallagher

Phoebe Caufield

Allie