During the fall semester, we will read (and listen to) J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye as a whole-class novel. This coming-of-age classic follows the adventures of well-off teenage boy Holden Caulfield on a weekend out alone in New York City, illuminating the struggles of young adults with existential questions of morality, identity, meaning, and connection. We will analyze this novel through a mental health awareness lens as part of our social-emotional curriculum. With the support of our school counselors, we will teach skills to support healthy human development and relationships. Students do not need to purchase the book unless they wish to have their own copy to annotate.

Following the closing arguments in a murder trial, the 12 members of the jury must deliberate, with a guilty verdict meaning death for the accused, an inner-city teen. As the dozen men try to reach a unanimous decision while sequestered in a room, one juror casts considerable doubt on elements of the case. Personal issues soon rise to the surface, and conflict threatens to derail the delicate process that will decide one boy's fate. During the fall semester, students will be assigned roles and will read this play aloud in class. Students do not need to purchase the book unless they prefer to have their own copy to annotate.