What’s special about Backstories is that shocking, spine-tingling moment when you realize who’s head you’ve been living in for the past 15 minutes.

They say there’s a famous person hidden in every story, but that doesn’t quite capture it. More like after each fraught journey, there’s that magical moment when you realize whose eyes you’ve been seeing the world through.

The stories are so varied, from the greatest heroes to the nastiest villains. They left me excited and scared to turn the page. It’s pretty unsettling to be really rooting for someone, only to find out they’re a monster –makes you think, too.

I read most of them twice because once I knew who the characters were then the second read was like a whole new story. Those subtle clues I missed the first time around came jumping out at me, echoing that first shiver of realization.

Gave me a whole new insight into these famous people. The perfect book for fans of music, nostalgia, and anyone who cares about what makes us human. ( )