"I must make it. I will make it. And I will tell their stories."
Thirteen-year-old Samim is a loyal friend, a gifted chess player -- and a refugee. After his family is killed in a bombing, Samim makes a long, dangerous journey from Afghanistan to the UK. But even then his safety isn't guaranteed: Samim must tell his story to convince the authorities to let him stay for good.
Samim relives the perils he faced and remembers the many friends he made and lost -- the intrepid girl who dressed as a boy for safety, the courageous grandmother seeking a new home for her nine grandchildren, and especially his funny, spirited best friend Zayn.
With his past never forgotten, Samim begins to build a new life in the UK: starting school and making new friends. But he also faces bigoted bullies and an uncertain future. Will Samim be granted asylum and allowed to stay in his new home?
My Name is Samim is a heartbreaking yet hopeful story of courage, resilience and friendship. Highlighting the experiences of young refugees and asylum-seekers, readers will empathise with Samim as he strives for a safe home and a better future. Fidan Meikle is a stunning new voice in middle-grade fiction. Her wry, heartfelt and immersive writing will draw readers into Samim's world.
My Name is Samim
'An emotional but ultimately hopeful portrayal of a young refugee's life in the UK; shining a light on the challenges that face so many.' - Amnesty International UK
'Meikle's debut is a powerful 10+ story of resilience, adaptability and hope' - The Guardian
'This touching, hopeful and inspiring read is an asset to any class (or home) library' - Bookzilla's Book of the Month, Scottish Book Trust
'A book that should be available in every school.' - Lisa Thompson, author of Goldfish Boy
'There aren’t really the words to do proper justice to My Name Is Samim. It’s one of those books I want to put into the hands of teachers so that they can share it with their classes. It tackles big issues around refugees in an accessible way to make you think about the injustices they face and empathise with their experience.' - Norfolk Children's Book Centre
'This remarkable and deeply moving story conveys the reality of the experience of refugees and provides the reader with the opportunity to learn, to understand and to empathise... My Name is Samim is an impressive debut. I was completely immersed in Samim's story as I read and his determination, quiet courage and his loyalty to others ensures that this young boy is a character who stays with the reader long after you turn the last page. There are subjects covered within the storyline such as refugee trafficking, gender identity and bullying that require a degree of emotional maturity yet despite the subject matter and sometimes harrowing incidents there is hope and great kindness conveyed.' - Library Lady
'Extraordinary! Explores many layered threads of loss, memories, friendships and immigration. Highly recommended.' - Teresa Cremin, Professor of Education, Open University
'Moving, insightful and well-researched, this is an exciting debut.' - The Literacy Tree
‘A hopeful testament to the human spirit, this novel tells a powerful and important story, giving the reader a great insight into the harrowing reality faced by refugees... Beautifully descriptive as well as tightly paced, this novel is emotive and utterly engrossing, with striking and often harrowing imagery. Moving, heart-breaking and ultimately uplifting, this is a topical, timely novel with a very important message.’ - Children’s Books Ireland
'I read it and loved it. It gripped me from page one because it is so well-written, but also because it felt authentic.' - Tom Palmer, author of Armistice Runner
'A really stunning, powerful debut that I hope will make its way into schools and the hands of many many young (and old!) readers' - Emily Ilett, the author of "The Girl Who Lost Her Shadows"
'Compelling and powerful, sitting alongside Welcome to Nowhere by Elizabeth Laird or Boy, Everywhere by A. M. Dassu.' - Books for Topics
'Honest, engaging and thought-provoking... a powerful story encouraging empathy by providing readers with a clearer idea of what being a refugee really means. It's a must-have for secondary school libraries.' - Kate Heap, Author and Literacy Leader
'Strikingly written and beautifully told, Fidan Meikle's debut novel 'My Name is Samim' is a modern masterpiece that will not be forgotten. In a land of death and destruction, Meikle finds kindness, meaning and love in every chapter. And that, we need more of.' - Sam Bailie
