"Peeled" is a young adult novel by Joan Bauer which focuses on the adventures of aspiring journalist Hildy Biddle.

Residing in upstate New York's town of Banesville, sixteen year-old Hildy is the best writer for her school's paper, The Core. The daughter of deceased reporter Mitch Biddle, Hildy aspires to be a journalist. She is a student at Banesville High, and is well aware of the ghost stories that are circulating around the old Ludlow House. Banesville is a community known for its farming, particularly its apple orchards, and many of the families are selling their land due to bad crops. Hildy and her family are religious, but Hildy also seeks the truth in things. When she meets new student Zack, who is very scientific, the two instantly develop an attraction to each other.

Meanwhile, a mid-size newspaper legend, Baker Polton, cousin of the school's athletic director, becomes the adviser for The Core. He encourages and and drives the students to better perfection in their work, and encourages them to follow up leads. Over the next few months, Hildy uncovers a major town scandal: The mayor and the head of the local paper, Pen Piedmont, are in league with Midian Associates, a Boston firm, to drive residents off their land to build a haunted-themed amusement park. Hildy's endeavors lead to the exposing of the plot, and the rallying of the community around the last few farmers who have vowed not to sell their land.

By the end of the novel, the mayor's involvement comes to light, and the townspeople reject the Bee in favor of the underground newspaper that Hildy and her friends have begun, The Peel. Midian ultimately abandons the theme park project, and Piedmont has lost all of his power. Hildy and Zack continue their relationship. Hildy's family prepares for the next year's harvest of apples.