We keep reading tributes to Salinger by famous authors or, more worth noting, written by adults.  But what about teenagers, the main readership of Catcher in the Rye?

Over at The New York Times’ Room for Debate a discussion panel recently focused on the role of Cather in the Rye with young audiences today. They asked writers and teachers: “Does Catcher in the Rye resonate with teenagers today? Does the Holden Caulfield version of alienation speak to a generation connected on Facebook?”

In what was not the smartest editorial move, the NYT didn’t have a young adult on the panel. Luckily, and true to form, teenagers showed up in full force in the comments section to weigh in on the discussion.

A lovely morsel from one young reader: “Well, I am sixteen and find it shocking how cynical all of you adults are about our generation. We just read this book a few months ago and each and everyone of us loved it and felt a deep connection between ourselves and Holden. Times have not changed as much as you think. We are not as shallow as you think. Salinger’s novel is as universal as it is timeless. But I’m beginning to think that maybe Holden was right about all of you.”