Is 10 Too Young to Read The Catcher in the Rye?

When I was in fifth grade, my dad gave me a big stack of classic books that, in retrospect, I was probably too young to read. On Christmas morning I ripped open Watership Down, Billy Budd, Moby Dick, and The Catcher In The Rye, a book I ended up reading voraciously, albeit with a bit of confusion. I couldn’t possibly have understood the complexities of Holden Caulfield, and surely some of Holden’s adventures, like calling a prostitute, went over my head. It was certainly the first book I read with The F Word: I specifically remember the part where Holden is shocked after his prostitute says, “Like fun,” and I remember wondering what was wrong with that. What a cool saying! Like fun!

I will never forget opening those books—it was the catalyst of my loving relationship with reading. I’m glad I was exposed to The Catcher in the Rye at such a young age. It’s one of those books that’s worthy of a good read every few years, at different stages in your life. The last time I read it, at age 27, I was struck by how young and immature Holden seemed. When I read the same book as an elementary school student, he seemed old and wise.

I’m not sure all parents would invite their 10-year-old to read Salinger’s classic work. I can remember the surprise on my teachers’ faces when they heard what I got for Christmas, and now, as I’m older, I start wondering at what age I would buy my kids the book. Maybe we’d read it together as a bedtime story. Maybe I’d wait until they were teenagers. Maybe I’d follow suit and gift my 10-year-old a stack of mature classics, kind of like a Welcome To Reading! introductory package. Some parents might never consider buying it for their kids, and for some, 10 might not be soon enough.

What do you think is the best age to buy someone The Catcher In The Rye?