Peeled,
by Joan Bauer
G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 2008. 248 pages.
Hildy Biddle is a girl with an obsession. Hildy’s obsession is to report the news, to let people know the truth, to make their high school newspaper shine.
But when a scare starts at the old Ludlow house, with a death and rumors of haunting, the town newspaper only seems to want to fan people’s fears.
Can Hildy and her high school friends stand up for what’s right against the interests of powerful adults?
In many ways, this feels like the same story Joan Bauer has told in her other wonderful books, like Hope Was Here and Rules of the Road. A teenaged girl with an obsession stands up for what’s right against powerful interests. However, I can’t complain — This story Joan Bauer is telling is a good one, makes fun reading, and does stick with you.
I do think I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn’t had the vague feeling I’d read this before. However, I will still highly recommend it to young teen readers. Joan Bauer tells a good story, and Hildy Biddle joins her cast of strong young women who stand up for what’s right and entertain the reader while doing it.
This review is posted on the main site at: