Customer Reviews

Confessions of a Backup Dancer

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Oh my gosh! I loved this book so much! It was a great story and I, being a dancer and singer, was immediatley drawned to such a strong lead character. Kelly (or KK) was an amazing person and I loved how Tucker Shaw dove into her character and gave her such realism. I'm only fifteen but I love to read, to much my friends and family say, and I just got into these type of teen novels this summer but this was the first one (out of ten) I read and it was my favorite. KK and Tito are characters you feel like you know and I hope that there's a second book because when I was done I felt like I was saying goodbye to my close friends. I was also impressed that a man (Mr. Shaw) was so accurate to how a girl in Darcy's place would act. Oh yeah, to the person who said they couldn't tell if it was real or not, if you just looked at the inside cover you would've seen it say FICTION! And lastly, I loved the way it was written, the diary form was awesome.

Confessions of a Backup Dancer
By: Tucker Shaw

Confessions of a Backup Dancer is a nonfiction book about a girl, Kelly, who lives in San Diego and goes to an audition to later find herself going on a summer tour with the world's biggest pop star, Darcy Barnes. She gets all the insider secrets, and the real story behind all of the gossip. After getting in trouble with Darla Barnes, Darcy's control freak of a mother, Kelly is fired and then hired again by Darcy's rival, Pashmina. Over this hectic summer there are many true tests of friendship, loyalty, and "realness." I like how the characters are very real and put into real situations. Over the course of the book, there was not a character I didn't except for Darla.
This was a great book. It was unlike any book I have ever read. This book gets inside Kelly's head and actually tells the situations for what they are from her point of view. I felt like I was actually inside of her world throughout the story and I really got to know what pop stars really acted like behind all of that entourage and press. I would recommend this book to older teens around age fifteen and older. The whole book talks about realness and how important this is, and Kelly struggled with staying real all summer without letting anything spin out of control. I really loved this out-of-control, wacky, and real-life story and any teenage girl would enjoy reading Confessions of a Backup Dancer.
S. C.

Confessions of a Back-Up Dancer
By Tucker Shaw

Confessions of a Back-Up Dancer is a story that cradles you along the life of Kelly Kimball. Kelly is a 17-year-old girl whose passion was dancing. When she landed a gig on the tour for Darcy Barns', a very popular singer, Kelly was ecstatic, but what she didn't know was how far the rumors and the scandals truly went. Kelly was tested beyond what she could ever imagine physically and mentally. Kelly was given a new name, K.K., and had to hide from Darcy's frightening mother, Darla. Kelly only longed to return to her simple life in San Diego. The only thing that kept her from quitting was the thought of the money that she would receive so she could get her brother's school tuition paid. Darcy was child-like and naïve. She claimed that Kelly was her best friend but Kelly was left with nothing but utter astonishment, she wasn't even aware that they had such a close relationship.
This story is written in an odd form of a diary. It's sloppy and wasn't descriptive. I give this book two out of five stars. The message of being your self was a good one but it was just good. It was enjoyable, but not memorable. If you picked up this book, looked at it and read it, five minutes later after setting it down I would not be surprised if you already forgot this book's strange title.

I got this book on Saturday afternoon and finished it Saturday night. It was FANTASTIC! If you love other teen books, then you'll love this. And now I really wanna know who in the heck are "Kelly Kimball" and "Darcy Barnes"!

With all of the subtle digs at "today's young pop divas", this book is hysterical....and a great summer read

This book was so funny and so full of juicy tidbits about pop stars. The money they spend, the crazy stuff they ask for in their contracts, how spoiled they can be. But also how nice.

I think my favorite part of the book is the way it's written. Kind of exactly the way people talk. I read it in one night, and I think I might even read it again. I wish there was a sequel.

Confessions of a Backup Dancer is a must read. Starting out in San Diego, where Kelly Kimball, an inspiring 17 year old dancer who claims to have been dancing for "350" years. Her best friend makes her audition for a all girl pop star group, however Kelly's moves don't quite groove with the judges. They need it more "real." However when Darcey Barnes manager sees her audition tape she thinks she has found the perfect person to fill in the dancer who got hurt. Darcey travles with the group and claims to be "Darcey's Best Friend." Kelly gets a nickname to be K.K. Kelly dances her way to the top of the group however after one night of showing off the audience when Darceys Pants rip, Kelly takes center stage. Darceys over protcetive mom get angry with Kelly and fires her from the tour. What happens next? Read to find out.

Confessions Of A Backup Dancer is one of the best books I have ever read and trust me, I love to read. I read this book attracted to the cover (yes I am aware of the saying, "Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover). However after I read the first computer diary entry I could not put the book down. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what is going to happen next. Has a great lesson in the end to it, but very realisitc and has incidents that teens face nowadays. Absoutley a must read.

Who doesn't want to be a teenage girl for just a few hours? This is a hilarious description of what it's like to be in the right place at the right time, and find yourself advancing faster than expected -- as a backup dancer for a major pop star. The backstage antics and pop star politics are funny and entertaining.

VOYA - Rachelle Bilz
Seventeen-year-old Kelly Kimball works at Beatz Beachside Dance Studio in San Diego and has taken dance lessons for "350 years" (actually twelve years). Via her personal diary software and e-mails to and from her best friend, Tito, Kelly relates the story of the summer of 2003 and her experiences as a backup dancer for a pop star. Since Kelly's father died eight years ago, her mother has been married twice and seems unable to navigate life without a man. Kelly lives with her fifteen-year-old brother, Evan, who is chronically in trouble with the law; her mother; her nasty stepfather, Carl; and his twin daughters, Staci and Traci. Kelly is close to her brother, worries about him, and tries to help Evan when she can. Kelly loves to dance and also sings well. Tito thinks she is a terrific dancer, and he encourages Kelly to try out for an all-girl pop group. After surviving a harrowing audition, Kelly is not selected but is tapped to be a backup dancer for Darcy Barnes, a pop star a la Britney Spears. Kelly's grueling rehearsal schedule and life on the road destroy any illusions that this life is one of glamour and riches. Popular culture references and Kelly's wit and candor keep the story fresh and real, while Shaw, author of Flavor of the Week (Hyperion, 2004/VOYA February 2004), creates plot twists to keep the reader guessing about the ending. Breezy and fun, this novel should appeal to older teens interested in dance. VOYA CODES: 3Q 2P S (Readable without serious defects; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2004, Simon Pulse/S & S, 256p., pb. Ages 15 to 18.

KLIATT - Stephanie Squicciarini
The confessions are those of Kelly Kimball, a 17-year-old dance instructor with a dysfunctional family and a best friend who convinces her to try out for a new pop girl-band. Kelly does not make the cut for the band, but is offered a dream job as a backup dancer for a huge pop star. Told through journal entries, e-mails, news articles, and IMs, Confessions is a quick read. Kelly, renamed K.K. for the concert tour, is excited about the money and the chance to dance. What starts out as a dream gig quickly turns into a fight with the reality of life on the road with a pop star (Darcy), her overbearing mother (Darla) who hates Kelly, unfriendly and cliquish fellow dancers, and the press that follows it all. Kelly finds herself in the middle of Darcy and Darla, Darcy and her not-to-be-made-public boyfriend, Jesse Nixon (MTV VJ), and eventually Darcy and her rival pop star, Pashmina. There is an underlying story of Kelly's relationship with her troubled brother and her mother's impending divorce that adds to the stress that Kelly experiences. There is little character development that does not seem to fluctuate between what seems to be real and what might be fake depending on the motivation of the character, but that interpretation can be left up to the reader. Fans of any gossipy pop star/celebrity magazine will surely enjoy this book. With the lives of real pop stars seemingly newsworthy on a daily basis, the story is believable and readers will find themselves rooting for Kelly and her success as a dancer. There is some mature content and language, so this is recommended for older teens. Fans of the Gossip Girl series and stories told through the use of different mechanisms (e-mail,IM, diary, etc.) will find this book and share it with their friends. KLIATT Codes: S-Recommended for senior high school students. 2004, Simon & Schuster, 265p., Ages 15 to 18.

I really enjoyed this book, which was a great easy read, written in true form of a 17-year-old girl, where the use of proper grammar and capitalization is optional. It left me wondering, though, how much of it was true... and wanting to know more about the real Kelly Kimball, (or at least the girl who inspired her)!!! I'd love to know more about the story behind the book! Oh well, fun summer read. Fast paced, in diary, IM and email form, funny, good story.