THE BACKUPS

Three high school juniors on summer break are chosen as backup singers for superstar Nika Nitro.

Pop enthusiast Jenni couldn’t be more excited to be on tour with one of her favorite singers. Serious cellist Lauren sees this job as a creative reset before she returns to her true love––classical music. And for die-hard heavy metal drummer Maggie, this gig is a means to bigger ends. However, the rehearsals prove more than they bargained for with Nika’s demands and critiques. On top of that, Jenni finds herself in danger of violating a tour rule: No romance on tour or you’re fired. When a night out at a rock concert turns sour, it sets off a chain of events that sees the girls engaging in a musical showdown that ends up putting Nika’s tour and career in danger. With a fast-paced plot and adorable and realistic characters, de Campi delivers an entertaining story that brings to life the wild and glamorous world of music while including positive messaging about honesty, self-acceptance, and friendship. The vibrant, colorful illustrations with a contemporary feel complement and skillfully enhance the storyline. This is particularly evident in panels depicting time jumps or concurrent events. Jenni is White, Lauren is Black, and Maggie is East Asian American in a cast filled with diverse characters.

A fun tale of fierce friendship and daring musical feats elevated by fantastic artwork.