Holden Caulfield, a native New Yorker and a dreamer, is expelled from his Pennsylvania prep school. He travels back to his family's New York apartment, but spends three days time underground in the city before returning to his family. He struggles with growing up and finding meaning in his own life, spending much time in an alcohol-fueled daze to dull his pain. This is a classic coming of age story of an angst-ridden youngster, feeling misunderstood by the adults around him.