Tamsin Winter on I Dare You and contemporary real-world novels for early teens

 

How far would you go to go viral? That's the central question of I Dare You, a contemporary real-world drama for tweens and early teens that is funny and moving in equal measure. Tamsin Winter navigates some tricky issues with warmth and humour but above all empathy in this powerful and unflinching depiction of contemporary teen life. There's an important message at the heart of the book that made this an easy pick for our Macaw boxes. Here Tamsin tells us about what inspired the story and which other contemporary real-world novels for early teens she recommends you read next.

 

What inspired you to write I Dare You?

 

I am always inspired by real life stories and I Dare You is no different. I heard a news item on the radio about the fire brigade having to rescue a young person who had got stuck in a basketball hoop. They had been filming it as a challenge for social media and a fire officer was being interviewed about how this had become a “trend” in the area. It got me researching online pranks and challenges and I was drawn to write I Dare You to explore the lure of these kind of challenges to young people. The character of Willow came to me first – a 13-year-old girl who craves a more exciting life than the one she has in her village. She dreams of something bigger and better, and craves fame and fortune, something that seems possible through social media. I thought the idea of exploring this from two perspectives would make this even more interesting, and so I came up with Alma’s character. She’s just as keen for fame as Willow, but less daring and less willing to take risks, but for many reasons she feels obliged to take part, even when the challenges become even more risky and she feels deeply uncomfortable.

 

Are any of the characters or events based on real people and their experiences?

 

I always research my books very thoroughly. As a writer of realism, I always try to write characters and plot lines that are authentic but engaging and dramatic at the same time. I suppose all of my characters have a small dose of myself in them. I grew up in a tiny village and always dreamed of a bigger and more exciting life like Willow. And like Alma I would often go along with dares or pranks. (Not online thankfully! I was a teenager in the 1990s!)

 

Which of the characters in the story do you have the most empathy for and why?

 

That’s a bit like asking me to pick my favourite child! But okay, if I had to choose, it’s probably Alma I have the most empathy for. She’s the one who’s constantly battling between doing what she knows is right and the fear of missing out and letting her best friend down. She’s not naturally daring or wild, but she feels that she “owes” Willow because of her audition. I think that’s something a lot of us can relate to – wanting to fit in, not wanting to be the “boring one” even when our gut is screaming “DON'T DO IT!” and feeling like we owe something to our friends. Plus, Alma has a sharp sense of humour, brilliant improv skills and a huge amount of courage – even if she doesn’t always realise it. However, Willow holds a very special place in my heart. She wants a better life for herself, she has big dreams, but she gets swept along with the buzz and attention of online likes and then finds it virtually impossible to tell the truth about what happens.

 

What do you hope young readers will take away from the story?

 

That it’s okay to say no to your friends. That it’s okay to step away when something feels wrong, even if your friends or people you admire are saying it’s cool, or fun, or going viral. We live in a world where being “liked” can feel more important than being safe or true to yourself – and that’s not only tough, but damaging and dangerous. I hope readers will see that while it’s tempting to chase likes and followers, the people who matter are the ones who care about your well-being, not your follower count. Also: don’t climb into a basketball hoop. Ever.

 

Can you tell us anything about what the future holds for Willow and Alma?

 

I don’t want to fill in the next steps for Willow and Alma, as I think it's important for readers to do that for themselves. Where do you think their story goes? But I hope readers know that Willow still has a lot to learn about the different value of fame and friendship, and that Alma will appreciate how strong she can be if she listens to her heart. I often think about what the future looks like for my characters; it's one of the things I love most about writing the kind of endings I do – leaving it wide open for all kinds of possibilities. Just like we all have in real life.

 

Why did you choose to write books for this age group?

 

Probably because I found my early teenage years THE most embarrassingly awkward, anxiety-inducing, socially confusing, self-conscious, time of my life! But I had a lot of fun too. You’re still figuring out who you are and can sometimes be afraid of showing the person you truly are inside – what you care about, what makes you laugh, what makes you angry, what makes you feel most authentic. So, writing for young teens is kind of my way of saying: You’re not alone. This stuff is hard. Social media tells us all kind of things, but a lot of the time it tells us we're not good enough just as we are. That we need this product or this filter or need to do this or that to be better. It distracts us from ourselves. I hope my books remind readers that you have exactly what you need inside you already. We are the ancestors of survivors. We got this.

 

Do you have a favourite place to write?

 

I have a writing room at home which is my little sanctuary from the real world. I have prints of my book covers on the walls to remind me that I can do it. Some people think writers find their job very easy. But actually it takes a lot of courage, confidence (that I don't always have!) and we have to dig deep into, sometimes very difficult and painful, places in our past to really connect with our characters. If you laugh or cry at I Dare You, please know that's probably because that is exactly what I was doing while I wrote it! I could not write stories I didn't pour my heart and soul into, because that's just not the kind of person I am. I also have quite an impressive collection of motivational quotes and stationery. I firmly believe there is very little I cannot do if I have the right notebook.

 

Which other contemporary real-world stories for young people would you recommend our subscribers read next?

 

Great question! If you enjoyed I Dare You, I think you’d love The Disconnect by Keren David – it’s about a group of teens who give up their phones for six weeks for the chance of winning a thousand pounds and, of course, the chaos that follows. I'm also currently obsessed with Nathanael Lessore's books. They are hilarious and explore the complexities of the online world and friendships with warmth and power. Fallout by Lesley Parr is a gripping coming-of-age book set in the 1980s about loyalty and trying to escape a bad reputation. Us in the Before and After by one of my favourite contemporary YA authors, Jenny Valentine, is a beautiful story about the unbreakable bonds of friendship told in a deeply moving and inspiring way. I mean, I could be here for years recommending books! I absolutely LOVE the teen book scene at the moment. There is so much choice and so many wonderful stories out there for you to discover. Including mine, of course!

 

Copies of our I Dare You pack, including a copy of the book and loads of fun activities to go with it, are now available for individual purchase. Grab a copy while stocks last!

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