Taming Holden Caulfield is a parody of arguably the most recognized American literary character and a satire on the ubiquitous use of antidepressants in our society. As in The Catcher in the Rye, this story begins at the hill overlooking the Pencey Prep football field. Though, that’s about as far as it stays true to the original Salinger odyssey because here Holden meets Selma Thurmer, daughter of the headmaster who just had him expelled. Believing she has exactly what’s needed to put a smile back on his face, this quintessential Goth girl starts him out on the first of many antidepressants she’ll prescribe. And now, with his own personal psychopharmacologist by his side, he begins his journey from Agerstown, PA to NYC. However, this time he’s just a little happier than before but subject to all those nasty little side effects.

And, if that wasn’t enough, along the way they run into a host of unforgettable characters including 50 Cent, Britney Spears, Nikola Tesla, and Sylvia Plath—one of them, quite literally.