Holden Caulfield, a 16-year-old boy, is expelled from his prep school and spends a few days alone in New York City. During this time, he feels lost, lonely, and strongly critical of the adult world, which he considers “phony.”
He meets different people but struggles to form real connections and becomes increasingly emotionally unstable. The only person he truly feels close to is his younger sister, Phoebe, who represents innocence and honesty.
By the end of the story, after a mental and emotional breakdown, Holden begins to accept that he cannot stop children from growing up, marking a small step toward maturity.