“If We Tell You” by Calgary Author Nicola Dahlin: A Thrilling Canadian YA Novel About Secrets, Identity, and Trust

The early teenage years are often filled with questions about identity, independence and how well we truly know the people closest to us. These experiences take a suspenseful turn in If We Tell You, a Canadian young adult thriller by Nicola Dahlin that invites readers to consider who they can trust when nothing is quite what it seems. Published by Kids Can Press, the novel was named the winner of the Forest of Reading 2026 Red Maple Award, a category featuring fiction for students in Grades 7 and 8. Keep reading for our exclusive interview with Calgary author Nicola Dahlin about the inspiration behind her debut novel, If We Tell You, and her advice for aspiring mystery and thriller writers.

The tutoring team at Teachers on Call recommends YA literature like If We Tell You because it offers an engaging way for young readers, parents and educators to explore the challenges young people face as they begin developing identities and voices separate from their families. Thrillers and suspenseful stories continue to grow in popularity in YA literature, making this an appealing choice for even reluctant readers. Through the experiences of the novel's protagonists, identical twins Cameron and Lewis, readers can consider how independence is shaped by difficult decisions, unfamiliar situations and relationships with others. The novel can also encourage meaningful conversations about resilience, sibling support, critical thinking and the importance of asking questions when appearances do not match reality.

Celebrating Young Readers Through the Forest of Reading

The Forest of Reading is Canada’s largest recreational reading program, bringing young readers together through a shared appreciation for Canadian stories. Organized by the Ontario Library Association, the program includes ten English and French award categories for readers of different ages and reading levels. One of its most meaningful features is that students across Canada read the nominated books and vote for the winners, giving them an active voice in celebrating Canadian authors and illustrators. The annual Forest of Reading Festival at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON M5J 2G8) brings students, educators, librarians and creators together for several exciting days dedicated to books and literacy. If We Tell You was announced as the 2026 Red Maple Award winner during this year’s festival, joining an impressive collection of Forest of Reading winners and Honour Books. At Teachers on Call, we are proud to celebrate programs that make reading interactive, amplify student voices and introduce young people to talented Canadian storytellers.

About the Author: Nicola Dahlin

Nicola Dahlin is a writer of young adult fiction. She grew up in a small seaside town on the west coast of Scotland, where she spent her childhood dancing, paddling and riding her bike. After studying in Glasgow, Nicola lived in the Netherlands and the Sultanate of Oman and explored several other countries along the way. She now lives near the Canadian Rockies in Calgary, Alberta, with her husband, three children and a curious rabbit. If We Tell You is her debut novel and was recognized by CBC Books as a Canadian young adult title filled with secrets, danger and suspense.

About the Book: If We Tell You

Cameron and Lewis Larsen are identical twins whose ordinary suburban lives change dramatically after a shocking incident involving their parents. Following a set of cryptic instructions, the brothers travel to a small hotel in Edinburgh, where they attempt to avoid attention by pretending to be one person and searching for clues on alternating days. As they work to uncover the truth about their family, the twins realize someone may be following them. Packed with secrets, surprising twists and questions about trust, If We Tell You is a suspenseful coming-of-age story about identity, survival and the unbreakable bond between siblings.

An Interview with Author Nicola Dahlin

Congratulations on winning the 2026 Red Maple Award for If We Tell You! What has it been like hearing from young readers who connected with Cameron and Lewis’s story?

Thank you! Attending the Forest of Reading festival in Toronto was an inspirational, memorable and humbling experience. Up until that point, discussing If We Tell You had been limited to critique partners and editors. In other words, adults who were analysing the components of the book (plot, prose, characterization etc.) rather than connecting with it as a story. When you’re deep in those discussions, it’s inevitable to begin to think of your story in the same way, to lose the spark that compelled you to write it in the first place. All this to say, that meeting young readers in person, and not one or two of them but hundreds, who connected with the book on an emotional level changed the way I felt as a writer. It’s one thing to imagine young people reading and enjoying your book, but talking to them in person, hearing the parts of the story they loved most, and which characters were their favourite was like rocket fuel for my motivation to keep writing.

If We Tell You is filled with suspense, secrets, and unexpected twists. What first inspired the idea for identical twins pretending to be one person while on the run?

The story came from two ideas. I had the first idea when one of my children was doing Shakespeare at school and I was inspired to re-read my favourite Shakespeare play, “Twelfth Night,” which tells the story of twins separated during a shipwreck. That the twins are confused for one another is one of the story’s great devices. I mulled over how to translate that story to a modern setting but eventually put the idea aside. Fast forward a couple of years and I came up with a story premise that I just kept thinking about; how well do you ever really know your parents—who were they before you were born? As I began drafting the story, I realised the two siblings should be twins!

The book explores themes of identity and survival while the twins are forced to constantly adapt to dangerous situations. Why do you think stories about resilience and self-discovery resonate so strongly with middle grade and YA readers?

Being 12 to 15 years old is an unsettling time. Not only are you changing physically and emotionally, but so are your friends and your peers. The way adults interact with you also changes. On top of all this, you’re trying to be more independent but lack the life experience and skills you need to be successful. You feel like you’re failing some invisible life test that everyone else seems to be acting. You’re adrift. Reading about young people grappling with similar issues, watching them fail, then get up and keep going, I think is a comfort and also an inspiration.

Mystery and thriller novels are becoming increasingly popular with younger readers. What do you think makes suspenseful stories so appealing for students in Grades 7 and 8?

I think mystery and thriller novels are a natural progression from the adventures and fairy tales they grew up reading. The difference is that these stories are often set in the real world (rather than an enchanted wood long, long ago) with settings and characters readers can relate to. There’s also excitement in reading mysteries and thrillers, in that the author is challenging the reader to work out what happens next; what would the reader do if it was them? Finally, these types of books lend themselves to children being separated from adult caregivers either because the adults don’t believe there is a mystery that needs solving, or because the adults can’t be trusted. This forced independence puts the children firmly in charge.

Are there any favourite places close to home in or around Calgary where you go to write, reflect, or find inspiration for your stories?

Calgary is a great city for walking which I love to do, and I’ve found the best way to solve a gnarly story problem is to go for a long walk. Ideas for stories, characters and settings tend to come to me when I’m on holiday because my brain becomes untethered from the noise of everyday life. It’s also when I experience new people and places. I’m more curious when I travel.

If We Tell You raises important questions about trust, family secrets, and making difficult choices. How do you think teachers or librarians could use the novel to spark meaningful classroom discussions?

Delving into why the characters make the decisions they do would be an interesting exercise. At various points in the story consider what drives their decisions; fear, anger, frustration, feeling homesick? Then go a level deeper and discuss why they were feeling those emotions. This route might make discussing the big issues of trust and family secrets more accessible.

For young readers who dream of writing their own mystery or thriller stories, what advice would you give about building suspense and keeping readers hooked until the very end?

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that to write an exciting story you need to be excited about writing it. If writing starts to feel like a chore then stop and consider what kind of scene would make you excited about carrying on.

Finally, what’s next for Nicola Dahlin? Are you currently working on any new mysteries, thrillers, or adventures that readers can look forward to?

I’ve just finished a new YA thriller. It’s a whole different cast, in a new setting, and I’m very excited about sharing it.

Encouraging Young Readers to Find Their Own Voice

With its fast-moving mystery, complex family relationships and thought-provoking exploration of identity, If We Tell You offers young readers a story that is both exciting and meaningful. Nicola Dahlin’s award-winning novel can serve as a valuable starting point for conversations about independence, resilience, trust and the process of discovering who you are. Don’t miss our Hooked on Books interviews featuring YA novel Songs for Ghosts with Vancouver-author Clara Kumagai. Interested in the rest of the 2026 winners and Honour picks? Check out our blog where we recap this year’s Forest of Reading Festival.