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DALLAS PUBLIC LIBRARY Texas Center for the Book Letters About Literature Contest 2006 Level 3 Winner Esperanza (Hope) Cantú, Edcouch-Elsa High School, Edcouch, Texas

Dear Mr. J.D. Salinger,

When my brother, Edward, was required to read The Catcher in the Rye last year, I wasn’t aware what it beheld. I honest felt that, because Edward is so indifferent to things, someone would have to tell him what the book was about. But I couldn’t help being intrigued when I noticed his nose buried in the book. What was so special about
this book? Why couldn’t he put it down? I had to read it – to find out. I never guessed that after he finished that book his new nickname for me would, in perpetuity, be Holden Caulfield.

In the world we live in today, integrity is lost within the ideas of superficiality. I cannot tell you how much it sickened me – the ostentation of people surrounding me at this time of my life. Adolescence exasperate me, because I felt there were two entirely different people trapped within me, desperate for attention: the child waiting to grow up and the adult not wanting to abandon her childhood. I couldn’t express the way I felt about my perception of life; the pain I experienced in trying to understand that life wasn’t meant to be perfect; it was something I never wanted to face eye to eye. I constantly over-analyzed every single little thing that took place in my life – from meals at home to construction on the roadside. From why somebody would even think about painting that building across the street that tacky yellow color, to criticizing my insincerity when trying to decide what my stance was on abortion. I looked too closely at the painting that wanted to be appreciated as a whole for its beauty. I feared people I knew could see right through me. I didn’t like who I was becoming – someone who censored what she thought or felt.

I never imagined, however, that once I opened your book and read the first page that I, along with Holden Caulfield, would discover, what kind of person I actually was. Self-realization was the first step. After reading your book, I felt the gray clouds of confusion were lifted and reduced my anxiety about life. For once, I had the courage to say what was on my mind. I wasn’t that spoiled perfectionist or that Drama Queen, desperate for attention. I could be brave and honest with the way I felt about others – my family, friends, and most importantly, myself. I no longer felt I had to hide what I was thinking or feeling. Here was somebody who was dealing with the same confusion as I was, and it didn’t matter that he was just some boy created in a book. He was my hero.

I didn’t write this letter with the intentions of becoming your Number One Fan, or winning this contest. I wrote it to thank you for introducing me to myself. To mean what I say, to say what I wasn’t afraid to, to be random, to like variety, to have an opinion, to be above the influence, to be who I was meant to be. Every time Holden said or thought something that originated from his heart or mind, I felt it strike a bell within me. I knew that even though his situation was far worse that mine would ever be, everything would be okay in the end. Him opening up was something I knew would help me at long last.

I opened up to family and friends. I wasn’t dramatic and I didn’t embellish a truth that would defeat my purpose. I simply began talking. About anything – about everything. I didn’t hold back. I just wanted to be listened to. And I was fortunate to have wonderful people in my life that not only heard my words, but paid attention, gave thought, and most importantly, gave me their love.

Mr. Salinger, you’ve inspired me. This time of my life, adolescence, should not be looked at in disgust. It’s a season of life filled with joy tht hardly anybody notices, forming the person we are all meant to be.

Recently, I’ve started keeping a personal journal of things that happen to me everyday; I don’t keep anything out. I might publish it and add to the genre of books you have started. I want to be someone’s Catcher in the Rye, the way Holden is to me.

With gratitude,

Experanza Cantú
Age 16

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