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Type of bind: Hardcover
EAN num: 9780399234750
ISBN number: 0399234756
Label: Putnam Juvenile
Manufacturer: Putnam Juvenile
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 256
Printing Date: May 01, 2008
Publishing house: Putnam Juvenile
Age index: Young Adult
Sale Popularity Level: 20447
Studio: Putnam Juvenile
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Product Description:
Something’s rotten in the heart of apple country!
Hildy Biddle dreams of being a journalist. A reporter for her high school newspaper, The Core, she’s just waiting for a chance to prove herself. Not content to just cover school issues, Hildy’s drawn to the town’s big story—the haunted old Ludlow house. On the surface, Banesville, USA, seems like such a happy place, but lately, eerie happenings and ghostly sightings are making Hildy take a deeper look.
Her efforts to find out who is really haunting Banesville isn’t making her popular, and she starts wondering if she’s cut out to be a journalist after all. But she refuses to give up, because, hopefully, the truth will set a few ghosts free.
Peeled is classic Joan Bauer, featuring a strong heroine, and filled with her trademark witty dialogue, and problems and people worth standing up to.
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Rated by buyers 
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Joan Bauer's PEELED tells of a high school reporter eager to stand up for the truth - even when a ghost is involved. A host of ghostly sightings involves Hildy in a run to discover what's really going on, uncovering a dangerous plot in the process.
Rated by buyers 
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Rumors of a haunted house ignite the curiosity of teen reporter Hildy Biddle. She starts investigating the story only to have her school newspaper shut down. What Hildy uncovers and how she overcomes the obstacles that would have her silenced are at the core of Joan Bauer's new book, PEELED.
Bauer regularly writes about adolescents who work. Her Newbery Honor book HOPE WAS HERE is about a teen waitress. RULES OF THE ROAD features a young shoe salesperson. PEELED ambitiously takes on the subject of investigative reporting and responsible journalism.
The book is set in the community of Banesville, which has an economy almost entirely dependent on apple growers. Several bad harvests have the farmers and the town struggling. The mayor keeps promising a community redevelopment project without providing any details. The ensuing conflict --- pitting town farmers against the forces of commerce with an inevitable showdown against a bulldozer --- has a hint of melodrama some readers may have encountered before.
The story's villains --- a turban-wearing psychic, a muckraking journalist who goes by the name of Pen Piedmont, and an unscrupulous mayor --- are also stock characters from melodrama, as is the mysterious "haunted" house at the center of the controversy.
It is the other characters in the novel --- the "good guys" --- who make PEELED worth reading. Hildy's plucky heroism puts her in the company of other teenage sleuths. What makes her unique is her methods of investigation and reporting. Her extensive research and interviewing techniques provide excellent models for effective and responsible investigative journalism. Her journalism teacher --- a man who is clearly far more experienced and talented than his work as an advisor for a school newspaper would indicate --- is also an intriguing, original character.
But Hildy's biggest supporter is Minska, a Polish immigrant who grew up under Poland's repressive Communist regime. Minska tells her about Poland's solidarity movement and the prominent role female journalists played in the underground press:
"'They called the women in the underground press the Dark Circles,' she said. 'because they didn't get enough sleep; they wrote night and day. When you have something so important, something that you'll stay awake for, something you know that you were designed to do, well, it's worth getting a few dark circles, don't you think?'"
Drawing inspiration from Minska's stories about Poland's solidarity movement, Hildy and the rest of her school newspaper's staff run their underground newspaper from the back room of Minska's restaurant. Together they provide the momentum to get other members of the community to stand up for themselves.
PEELED works best as a fable about a community facing a campaign of fear-mongering to influence their behavior to the advantage of those who would control them. The book takes the often tedious work of investigative reporting and makes it interesting and relevant to the experience of young people. It is also a reminder that teens are an important part of every community and that the work they do matters.
--- Reviewed by Sarah A. Wood
Rated by buyers -
As of finishing Peeled, I have to say, without a doubt, it's getting some big smiles la Steph. It appealed to me tremendously to begin with, because of the journalism element and the fact it's set in the country. No need to say more--I love tranquil stories and nothing like a little country haze to get effect.
Onward. I'm going to try this new thing where I'll say the bad things before the positive, so I can end this review on a good note. (After all, I'd hate to go the other way and have a bittersweet ending; this is supposed to be a positive review.)
The character development was a little off. I'm not one to get all judgmental about showing and telling and all those perceived be-all-and-end-all writing rules1 but I do think Joan Bauer could've expanded some scenes in order to achieve a cast filled with defined, distinct voices. (This is especially true with Zack--I'd love to know some more about him.) Consequently, because of the shift between drawing on some traits instead of letting the characters grow into them, their interaction also suffered.
That said, I really loved Hildy. She was strong and knew the true feeling that often accompanies bravery is uncertainty, not confidence. She was interesting by her own virtue and her own conviction, because of what was inside of her. It was refreshing to see a character who didn't curse, who didn't drink, who didn't smoke or snort up crap. A character who, when presented with a social problem that threatened her entire town, did not turn unto herself and cause internal damage but rather fought for the values and life she was given.
Which brings me to the plot. Could this be any more pertinent to us teens? I would love to see some more thoughtful and thought-provoking stories such as this one. I won't give away any of the setup--the book description says enough. All I'm saying is: If you're looking for something that touches on politics and social dilemmas, this book = perfect for you.
Rated by buyers -
Reviewed by Avery Largent (9) for Reader Views (5/08)
"Peeled" by Joan Bauer is an enjoyable tale of a high-school girl who is trying to solve a ghostly mystery in her hometown. The main character, Hildy Biddle, is a newspaper writer in her school assigned to write about the mystery of the Ludlow house. While investigating the strange happenings, Hildy still leads a normal life quite like any average teenager. She goes to school, she spends time with her friends and family, and she even develops a crush on the new boy at school.
Because Hildy is so like your average teen, you can really relate to her character. It is almost as if she is your best friend, or even yourself, within the pages. Although the life Hildy leads is just the same as any average teenager's on the outside, she really becomes a great heroine. Not just because she was smart enough to figure out the clues to the mystery, she seems to have an inner courage, tenacity, and a kind heart. Hildy is intelligent, kind, and a good character.
Author Joan Bauer describes her characters in very little physical detail which makes them hard to "see" at first. Hildy's looks aren't described until around thirty to forty pages in. Although it was a challenge at first, I grew accustomed to the author's style and actually really liked it. I enjoyed making my own details about the characters in my imagination. It's almost like reading a newspaper article, because the facts are more important that the details.
Joan Bauer used this journalistic style throughout the book. She carefully crafted the characters and the plot, never getting bogged down in detail and only slowly divulging information. It is almost as if the author was holding a slanted quill, slowly dropping ink. A few droplets tell you a few things. Then a couple more, building it up, answering questions and creating more. It never, ever, comes in a thick, constant stream of information. This is a perfect way to write a mystery. It allows time for the reader to figure out some of the clues, but there are so many twists and turns in the plot that the reader never feels bored.
Overall, "Peeled" by Joan Bauer, was a very good book. I would recommend this book to my friends, telling them how good it was with a grin. Readers who like Nancy Drew will love "Peeled." This book is a definite page turner that keeps you excited and on your toes all the way through.
Rated by buyers -
Peeled, the latest from Newbery Honor winner Joan Bauer, has a most enticing cover. As soon as I saw it, I wanted to read this book.
Hildy lives in a small town in upstate New York with an apple-based economy. Hildy fits in her ambitions to be a journalist between her duties on the family farm- baking, picking and giving tours to elementary school kids. The big festival every year is around harvest time. She is the best writer for her high school newspaper, "The Core" (see the theme here?). When freaky things start happening at the old Ludlow house in town, Hildy knows it's bunk, but isn't sure how to prove it.
Hildy always uses the 5 W's in her questioning (who? what? when? where? why?) and her friends (including cute science geek Zack) to arrive at the truth, and doesn't skip over the hard parts. She's determined and gutsy, and doesn't even back down when the articles she prints start to make some grownups angry. Hildy is a strong female protagonist and this book would be great for kids interested in journalism or creative writing. There's nothing offensive or romantic in here, so this would work for even upper elementary readers.
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