Scans unwrapped Kipling novel (3)
I believe the answer is:
kim
'kipling novel' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'scans unwrapped' is the wordplay.
'scans' becomes 'skims' ('skim' can be a synonym of 'scan').
'unwrapped' indicates the central letters (the letters which wrap the word are removed).
The middle of 'skims' is 'KIM'.
(Other definitions for kim that I've seen before include "Girl" , "Book" , "-- Basinger, US actress" , "Boy's or (now usually) girl's name" , "Rudyard Kipling novel" .)