Episode Details

Holden goes back to Phoebe's school and sees something on the wall that drives him crazy. Then he sees it again. And again. He visits the museum, plays tour guide for two kids who want to see mummies, passes out in the bathroom, and then Phoebe shows up wearing his hunting hat and dragging a suitcase. She packed her bags. She's coming with him. And what happens next might be the most important moment in the entire book.

Banned Camp is a comedy podcast where we read banned books chapter by chapter — we don't read ahead, so you're discovering the story with us.

Things To Listen For:

• Dan connecting the graffiti directly to Moms for Liberty's strategy of pretending things don't exist
• Dan and Jennifer's split on why Holden is so cruel to Phoebe — and why they're both right

Why was The Catcher in the Rye banned? The thought custodians will point to this chapter's language — the word on the walls, the word in the tomb, the word Holden imagines carved on his own tombstone. They'll miss what Salinger actually wrote underneath it: you can't rub out every ugly thing in the world, but you can change your mind on a sidewalk when a ten year old shows up with a suitcase and won't let you leave.

If this is your first episode, you're fine starting here. Our fact-checking Robot catches you up fast, then we read the next chapter (spoilers).

Banworthy to Bingeworthy If you liked Banned Camp, check out these podcasts we think you'll enjoy:

• Here's the Scoop: Supreme Court Edition — NBC News senior legal correspondent Laura Jarrett talks to legal experts about the biggest Supreme Court cases still left to be decided this term, from citizenship to presidential power. New episodes every Saturday from NBC News.
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Disclaimer Banned Camp features readings and discussions of banned books for the purpose of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment, in accordance with fair use guidelines.

The material used from the book The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is shared under these principles, with the intent of provoking thought and discussion about literature, censorship, and societal issues. The original work remains fully owned by its copyright hold