"The Catcher in the Rye" is one of the most controversial novels of the past fifty years. While many see the novel’s main character, Holden Caulfield, as a spoiled brat, many teenagers have found themselves attracted to the character’s angst. One such teen is 14-year-old Zach Willow, who has idolized the character.
“I just, like, think that some people just don’t get it, you know?” says Zach, “Holden Caulfield just embodies the spirit of youth.” Zach is a high school freshman from small-town Nebraska who has become fed up with his parent’s leadership. “Like, my mom won't even buy me a vape pen, bro.”
Although Nebraska temperatures have been reaching well into the eighties, Willow still proudly displays the red hunting hat he stole from Bass Pro Shop. “I don’t wear it for comfort. I wear it for what it represents, which is the free spirit.” Willow was unable to elaborate on what this meant, but instead opted to change the subject. “I think it looks really good with my Twenty-One Pilots t-shirt.”
Willow proudly advocates independence and individuality, but he’s not alone. He and his friends are referred to by the other students in his school as "Edge Lords." The Edge Lords aren’t happy with their label, however. Willow says, “You shouldn’t really put labels on those seeking to define a generation. In ten years, when everybody sees our view of the world, we won’t be called ‘Edge Lords,’ we’ll be called pioneers.”
Willow’s friend, who goes by the name Xavier, explains, “We hang out and stuff, but like, we’re not a group. That would go against everything we, like, represent.” Xavier quickly became heated and fell into a rant. “Like, we all wear the same hat, but it’s not because we’re a group,” he shouted. “We’re individuals! I’m a special snowflake; I don’t have to take this from a phony! I’m going to go smoke in the bathroom.”
Willow’s mother, Patty, says, “He’ll grow out of it. Everybody has the right to be a moron at that age.” She also expressed that she is “so happy the internet wasn’t around when I was 14. I would hate to have ‘Valley Girl Patty’ plastered all over MySpace and Friendster.”
Willow responded with, “My parents just don’t get me. They think I’m still a kid. I’m 14 now, Dad, I can do what I want!” Willow’s father heard him in the other room, and promptly grounded his angst-filled son.
“He’s not a bad kid,” Willow’s father states, “He’s just very impressionable. Before this, he wanted to be the real Slim Shady. Before that, he wanted to be the red Power Ranger.”
Willow’s classmate, Destiny Johnson says, “Yea, I told Zach over the summer that 'Catcher in the Rye' was my favorite book. I think he just sort of ran with it.” She continued with, “He’s cute, I guess, but maybe I should have told him my favorite book was 'The Fault in Our Stars.'"
