The Catcher in the Rye is commonly classified as what type of fiction?

The Catcher in the Rye is commonly classified as coming-of-age fiction.

The novel follows 16-year-old Holden Caulfield during a troubled period between adolescence and adulthood. After being expelled from Pencey Preparatory Academy, Holden spends several days in New York City, encountering old friends, strangers, teachers, and family members while struggling with grief, isolation, identity, and the expectations of adult society.

Coming-of-age fiction, sometimes called a Bildungsroman, centers on a character’s psychological or moral development. The classification fits even though critics disagree about how much Holden truly changes. Some interpretations emphasize his growing recognition of vulnerability and connection; others argue that his outlook remains largely unchanged by the ending.

The book is also described as realistic fiction and is frequently discussed as young adult literature, although Salinger originally wrote it for adults. It is not science fiction, historical romance, or detective fiction: its central subject is Holden’s difficult movement toward maturity, framed through his unreliable first-person narration and his fierce resistance to what he sees as adult phoniness.