Reviewed by Grandma Bev for TeensReadToo.com
Banesville's newspaper, The Bee, has been printing stories about the town's old haunted house and stirring up fear in the town. Hildy Biddle, a reporter for the high school newspaper, The Core, wants to know just who, or what, is haunting Banesville.
Banesville is a quiet little town where the whole economy revolves around producing and selling apples...it's a whole way of life. It seems that because of the old haunted house and the sensationalism that The Bee has stirred up, a very large company wants to build a haunted amusement park revolving around the old Ludlow house. Hildy thinks the editor of The Bee is more interested in sensationalism and selling papers than he is in telling the truth, and now someone is trying to make the apple farmers sell out at below market price to make room for the proposed amusement park.
It's true that there have been reports of eerie, strange happenings and ghostly sightings, but Hildy and her friends at The Core are out to disprove the rumors and save the farmers. Their conflict with the editor of the rival newspaper causes the school to shut down publication of The Core, but Hildy isn't going to let that stop her. Together, can the kids figure out some way to keep the amusement park out and keep the apple country intact?
Bauer specializes in warm, funny, but strong characters, with witty dialogue, and is a genius at plotting exciting, very entertaining stories. PEELED is one of her best. Hildy stays true to her commitment to the town and her dream to be a great journalist as she struggles to overcome obstacles and expose the truth. Her leadership is inspirational as she confronts the established newspaper and its editor to try to save a way of life.
Banesville's newspaper, The Bee, has been printing stories about the town's old haunted house and stirring up fear in the town. Hildy Biddle, a reporter for the high school newspaper, The Core, wants to know just who, or what, is haunting Banesville.
Banesville is a quiet little town where the whole economy revolves around producing and selling apples...it's a whole way of life. It seems that because of the old haunted house and the sensationalism that The Bee has stirred up, a very large company wants to build a haunted amusement park revolving around the old Ludlow house. Hildy thinks the editor of The Bee is more interested in sensationalism and selling papers than he is in telling the truth, and now someone is trying to make the apple farmers sell out at below market price to make room for the proposed amusement park.
It's true that there have been reports of eerie, strange happenings and ghostly sightings, but Hildy and her friends at The Core are out to disprove the rumors and save the farmers. Their conflict with the editor of the rival newspaper causes the school to shut down publication of The Core, but Hildy isn't going to let that stop her. Together, can the kids figure out some way to keep the amusement park out and keep the apple country intact?
Bauer specializes in warm, funny, but strong characters, with witty dialogue, and is a genius at plotting exciting, very entertaining stories. PEELED is one of her best. Hildy stays true to her commitment to the town and her dream to be a great journalist as she struggles to overcome obstacles and expose the truth. Her leadership is inspirational as she confronts the established newspaper and its editor to try to save a way of life.
