If We Tell You

by Nicola Dahlin

Overview

If you can’t trust your parents, who can you trust?

Cameron and Lewis Larsen are identical twins living normal, suburban lives … until their mom and dad kill two uninvited guests at a neighborhood barbecue and then disappear. Following cryptic instructions their parents left behind, the twins make their way to a small hotel in Edinburgh. Too conspicuous as twins, they hide by pretending to be one person, each gathering clues on alternate days. The closer they get to the truth, only one thing is clear: Someone is following them. Will they uncover their parents’ secrets before their own is discovered?

With no idea who’s after them, or why, the twins race to discover the truth about their parents. And, in the process, they learn a lot about themselves – and the unbreakable bond they share.

Readers will be obsessed with finding out what happens next in this highly suspenseful coming-of-age story with a deadly twist.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781525311475
Publisher:	Kids Can Press
Publication date:	10/01/2024
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	5.75(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)
Lexile:	HL630L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 15 Years

About the Author

Nicola Dahlin grew up in a Scottish seaside town before moving to the Netherlands, the Sultanate of Oman and finally Canada. She lives in Calgary with her husband, children and a curious rabbit.

Editorial Reviews

2024-07-19
After a dramatic brush with death, twin brothers from small-town Alberta flee home, sent by their parents on a flight to Scotland.

Fifteen-year-olds Cameron and Lewis Larsen are overwhelmed with fear and uncertainty after their parents kill two strangers to protect them—and then send them away. They make an uneasy trek to the home of Margaret “Maggs” Ross in Edinburgh, where they begin to search for answers while still trying to maintain cover. Following their dad’s advice—he warned that identical twins are memorable—the boys interact separately with Maggs’ neighbors as well as the visitors staying at her guesthouse. They appear one at a time and pretend they’re a single person named Will, which results in some funny situations. Some of these people—including fellow teens Aisha, Ruby, and Jamie—also become enmeshed in the mystery, and a sprawling, intricate backstory unfolds involving mobsters, MI6, secret passwords, art heists, underground tunnels, and more. While at times the story can feel a bit overstuffed, the first-person narration, which alternates between the brothers, works well to ground the novel: Lewis’ nervous internal monologues contrast with Cameron’s more self-assured but still vulnerable voice. The abrupt ending leaves things wide open for a sequel. Most central characters present white. Brown-skinned Aisha wears hijab, and there’s additional diversity among the supporting cast. Lewis is bisexual.

An expansive thriller with two likable characters at its heart.(Thriller. 12-17)

Kirkus Reviews