Sign in with Facebook
Judah's Reviews > Peeled
Peeled
by
by
Technically this would be 2 1/2 stars, but I'm not given that option.
'Peeled' is a YA mystery appropriate for ages 12-17 according the the back of the audiobook. But from reading the book, I would say the book hugs the lower end of that range tightly.
Our lead character is a 16 year old high schooler (though you can only tell because the fact she drives) who's a feature writer for the school paper 'The Core'. Things start going strangely when the old house at the end of town starts to show signs of ghosts...or does it?
Honestly this book shattered the sense of disillusion that her world is real, or that I care. The biggest problem is the town. Bainsville is a small apple growing community in rural NY. It probably has a population of less than 5,000 but yet has a Toys-R-Us, a Polish Revolutionary immigrant who runs her own polish-themed cafe , and an OBSESSION with apples. I kid you not, the cutesy puns and references wear thin. The school paper is 'The Core', Our lead Hildy Bittle has a dog named Macintosh, there's an Apple Blossom Queen , the taxi service is 'Big Apple Taxis' , almost every meal or food item seems to have an apple ingredient (save Orange Chicken...).
It's to the point, you really start looking for them.
Secondly, the plot is a bit hard to swallow. A whole town of 5,000 get frightened to death (and reportedly spend hundreds on security systems, and personal safety devices that even the gas station stocks extra pepper spray) over unverified ghost encounters? Sure I'd be more apt to believe it in 1890... Maybe even 1932, but 2007? Really now, a refuse to think these characters that stupid. The local paper covers it like a 'Weird US' book, and a phony psychic moves to town and few if any adults seem to think reasonably. Those who do, are seemingly ignored for no reason other than it solves the plot too easily.
Honestly, the book tries to cover too much (Romance , Mystery, Slice of Life, young Journalism) and ends up satisfying none of those topics. I guessed the end 2/3 of the way in, but dragged myself through. When the mystery solving does kick in (75% the way through) it feels already too late , and it's solved way too quickly and easily.
The sad thing is, I wanted to like this book. I always have wished for a 'mature' YA mystery series (like a fleshed out ND/HB case-file). Veronica Mars without the downside of Noir and some class.
This is definitely how to do it badly.
Now someone try to get it right.
Ill be waiting over here to review it when your done.
'Peeled' is a YA mystery appropriate for ages 12-17 according the the back of the audiobook. But from reading the book, I would say the book hugs the lower end of that range tightly.
Our lead character is a 16 year old high schooler (though you can only tell because the fact she drives) who's a feature writer for the school paper 'The Core'. Things start going strangely when the old house at the end of town starts to show signs of ghosts...or does it?
Honestly this book shattered the sense of disillusion that her world is real, or that I care. The biggest problem is the town. Bainsville is a small apple growing community in rural NY. It probably has a population of less than 5,000 but yet has a Toys-R-Us, a Polish Revolutionary immigrant who runs her own polish-themed cafe , and an OBSESSION with apples. I kid you not, the cutesy puns and references wear thin. The school paper is 'The Core', Our lead Hildy Bittle has a dog named Macintosh, there's an Apple Blossom Queen , the taxi service is 'Big Apple Taxis' , almost every meal or food item seems to have an apple ingredient (save Orange Chicken...).
It's to the point, you really start looking for them.
Secondly, the plot is a bit hard to swallow. A whole town of 5,000 get frightened to death (and reportedly spend hundreds on security systems, and personal safety devices that even the gas station stocks extra pepper spray) over unverified ghost encounters? Sure I'd be more apt to believe it in 1890... Maybe even 1932, but 2007? Really now, a refuse to think these characters that stupid. The local paper covers it like a 'Weird US' book, and a phony psychic moves to town and few if any adults seem to think reasonably. Those who do, are seemingly ignored for no reason other than it solves the plot too easily.
Honestly, the book tries to cover too much (Romance , Mystery, Slice of Life, young Journalism) and ends up satisfying none of those topics. I guessed the end 2/3 of the way in, but dragged myself through. When the mystery solving does kick in (75% the way through) it feels already too late , and it's solved way too quickly and easily.
The sad thing is, I wanted to like this book. I always have wished for a 'mature' YA mystery series (like a fleshed out ND/HB case-file). Veronica Mars without the downside of Noir and some class.
This is definitely how to do it badly.
Now someone try to get it right.
Ill be waiting over here to review it when your done.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
Peeled.
Sign In »
