Peeled

Redo due to corrections.

Summary

For this week I choose a book from the high school level called Peeled by Joan Bauer. This story takes place in a small farming town in Upstate New York. The protagonist, Hildy Biddle, a high school reporter for the school newspaper embarks on one of the most important stories of her life. She lost her father a couple of years ago and helps out on the apple orchard. This year things are looking up for the struggling town until a ghost starts appearing and the town becomes transfixed on a new reporter to the town. Mr. Piedmont the editor of The Bee starts spreading exaggerated events taking place in Banesville, New York. Hildy tries to make an accurate report on Mr. Piedmonts’ stories and facts for the school newspaper, The Core, when he decides to threaten to sue the school. As a result, The Core is shut down, but Jildy is determined to continue to tell the truth. Hildy and her journalist friends start an underground newspaper called The Peel to keep getting the truth out there. Turns out the reporter are in on a scheme to turn part of the town into an amusement part with the ghost part of the attraction. Eventually it is stopped and people get their land back.

Impression

I enjoyed this book a lot I would recommend this book to anyone. The mystery of the ghost was a great way to discuss what is happening in the town. I feel that middle school students would enjoy it just as well as high school students. I can see this group of students trying to make a difference and stand up for what is right, the truth. This book has a good message and I think even boys would like this story.

Reviews from Amazon.com

From Booklist

The orchard-growing community of Banesville, New York, is known as The Happiest Town in the Happy Apple Valley. But the sleepy town is stricken with hysteria and fear after a series of spooky happenings, and then a death occurs near the abandoned Ludlow House. As Pen Piedmont, the editor of the local paper publishes fear-mongering headlines, high-school reporter Hildy determines to find the true story behind the incidents and settle her community’s growing unrest. Although there are several puzzling incidents at the story’s center (Is there a plot against Banesville’s citizens? If so, who’s involved?), readers will be most drawn by Hildy’s growing excitement, relayed in her own strong, witty voice, as she learns from a cantankerous, demanding mentor what it takes to be a journalist. Hildy’s romance with a fellow student feels underdeveloped, and the object of her affection is a bit too good to be true. But Bauer’s gleeful wordplay, her sure sense of setting, the details of newspaper life, and the many colorful side characters make this a pleasurable read that may encourage teens to consider deeper questions about family farms, urban sprawl, and the many who profit from public fear. See the adjacent column for more novels about aspiring young journalists. Grades 6-9. --Gillian Engberg

Bauer introduces a feisty, funny teenage heroine who stays true to her mission and herself ... Highly entertaining. -- Kirkus Reviews

[Hildy's] crisp, declarative narration, subtly emulating a journalistic style, sings with tart humor and quixotic purpose. -- Horn Book

Lesson

I would in a classroom setting introduce this book in a book talk to my students or discuss the history and future of newspapers. With the internet are newspapers going to be obsolete someday?? We would have a group discussion then come back and talk about what each group thinks will happen in the future.