This novel has been banned for it's swear words (continiued use of "godd**m" - I suppose that's a bad word for 1945 when it was written (I think)- and the "F" word), as well as it's portrayal of a boy without a good relationship with his parents. Also, it's seen as distasteful that there really isn't a happy ending. Although many books written now don't have happy endings and are seen as valuable, back in "the day" this was written, books were meant to have happy endings and wrap things up nicely, as way to show adolescents, "see? now, don't fuss!" There is also the scene with homosexual overtones that would make a lot of people uncomfortable.

There are a lot of books that are censored that are a suprise. Even "Peter Rabbit" has been banned because it portrays middle class ideals and a child who is disobedient. I personally think censorship is much more damaging than helpful, but don't get me started - this is a subject I could go on and on about and I'm very passionate about, because I want to be an English teacher, and because I wasn't censored as a child from any book.

Oh, and I did a search through the "Alan Review" about CITR - one parent "counted "over 700 obscenities and over 100 profane uses of the name of God" in The Catcher in the Rye" ".. censors make it their full time job to rob people of opportunity, and it comes out of fear that one day, they might actually have to answer an uncomfortable question But that's just my opinion.