I Dare You

By Author / Illustrator

Tamsin Winter

Genre

Friends and family

Age range(s)

14+

Publisher

Usborne

ISBN

9781805075721

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

08-05-2025

Synopsis

"How far would you go for a friend? A shocking, poignant, powerful read with a message all young teens need to hear." Cathy Cassidy

Willow and Alma are best friends, sharing a love of the spotlight. All they want is fame and fortune, and Willow is determined that the best way to get it is to go viral. So they start filming dares. Okay, so getting stuck in a basketball hoop doesn't get them the sort of attention they were hoping for, but as their challenges get more extreme, their fan base grows. Duct-taping themselves to a wall? No-brainer. Eating super-hot chillis? Of course! Waxing an eyebrow off? Super funny! And if they get in a bit of trouble, it's worth it.

But if they really want to prove themselves, they have to go all-out. So they come up with the perfect idea. An idea that causes more than just a bit of trouble. An idea that might destroy not just their ambitions but their entire friendship for good.

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Reviews

Sue

Best friends, Willow and Alma, crave the attention which filming dares brings them. They might get into a little trouble, but it's completely worth it as the likes keep clocking up. However, when they come up with the perfect prank which they are sure will go viral, things go horribly wrong.

I Dare You is a really powerful story, exploring the lure of fame and the negative power of social media. Although from very different backgrounds, Willow and Alma formed a firm friendship the day they met. Willow never means to get into trouble, but always seems to find herself there and although slightly more cautious, Alma is determined not to let her friend down. They egg each other on to plan and film more and more risky, dangerous stunts until they finally hit on one which goes horrendously wrong, threatening to destroy more than just their friendship.

Both girls are thoroughly likeable and alternating chapters allow the reader to see events from each viewpoint. Some readers may relate to their overwhelming desire for likes and followers and yet, as they steadily up the ante, you feel a sense of impending doom at the risks they are taking. Without wishing to spoil the story for anyone who hasn't read it yet, Tamsin Winter offers a far happier final outcome to the girls' prank than the one which might have happened, allowing the story an optimistic conclusion whilst still being thought-provoking and cautionary.

The girls' obsession with on-line popularity and their poor decision-making make this an excellent book to provoke discussions. The girls are extremely relatable and sympathetic, neither are perfect, making this a poignant and important read.

368 pages / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher