Confessions of a Back-Up Dancer

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable, but not memorable
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Lots of fun!
Review: With all of the subtle digs at "today's young pop divas", this book is hysterical....and a great summer read