My Name Is Samim

by Fidan Meikle

"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 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 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, listeners 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 listeners into Samim's world.

Genres: Middle Grade, Childrens, Chapter Books, Realistic Fiction

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 27, 2025

Reviews

[em]

4.5 stars
A timely book, perhaps now more than ever. I finished this in one sitting because I needed to know what was going to happen to Samim. My heart broke as he recounted his story, and then broke again when I remembered that this is life for so many refugees. Samim represents so many children who are orphaned and forgotten, and turned away at every door. This book shines a light on such an important topic and does so with no hidden meanings or agendas. While it might be aimed at younger audiences, I think some adults could do with reading a book that forces you to have humanity. Beautiful and heartbreaking.

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #MyNameIsSamim #Edelweiss. All opinions are my own.

[Emily Norton]

Read this for work.

4.5 stars. Beautiful and heartbreaking and such a timely read. My heart broke for Samim as he recounted his story as an orphaned refugee, making the harrowing journey to seek asylum in the UK. I would have given it 5 stars but i had to knock a half off for the ghost Zayn character which I just couldn't get on with (although I understand why from the ending). An important read for anyone right now especially those that think that coming to the UK is the easy option. Be prepared to cry but also be hugely moved by this.

[Nix Lee]

I have no experience of refugees, but this story felt totally authentic. Samim is safe in the UK but tells his story through interviews for his asylum application. It is a totally engrossing story of a child losing everything he loved and embarking on a dangerous journey to safety. There is the whole gamut of humanity on display, from generosity and kindness to ruthless exploitation. There is no sentimentality, but it is full of hope. You will be rooting for Samim.

[Rachael Salmon]

A beautiful book exploring themes of equality, prejudice, racism, friendship, hope and love. It had me laughing out loud and weeping in turn.

[Natalie]

Beautiful book, exploring so many important issues

[Leesdromen]

This book, I …. , I’m lost for words, this book is SO good, and with all that’s going on in the world I wished that this book would be read by everyone and anyone in the world!


If theirs one book you read, make it this one, I can’t CANT find enough words to describe its importance and need for it!

“ Maths and grammar don’t stop these men from starting wars. Maybe they should teach kindness in schools, teach people how to love together and get along instead of tearing each other apart”

[Sam Buxton]

I read this book as part of my son's new book club (he is 9). It is a book about kindness above all else, and a humbling and important reminder that differences between us are not dividers. I love that my son has read this book at his age, and I cannot wait til our book club meeting to discuss it - he has already told me his favourite character was Zayn too!

[Taylor Culley]

Heartbreaking. Harrowing. Absolutely necessary to share. The curriculum I teach has a book focused on refugees. This will be crucial in aiding their understanding even more.

[Christeyn Fremont]

“Nobody’s children are everybody’s children.” 😭😭😭😭

[Foghorn]

The first page was painful. And the last one was pure happiness! A beautifully poignant and hopeful story. A must read for all: young and old.

[Reader]

A Light in the Dark: Samim’s Story Will Stay With You Forever

In a world where values like humanity, kindness, and empathy are too often pushed aside, “My Name is Samim” shines like a lighthouse in the dark—a story that calls us back to what truly matters.

Samim is a refugee. A child forced to leave everything behind—his home, his safety, even the people he loves most—because war gave him no choice. And yet, what stays with you most isn’t just what he’s lost, but what he holds onto: hope, humour, loyalty, and a heart wide enough to carry others.
If you want your children to grow up with open hearts and strong values, get them this book. Let them walk in Samim’s shoes, even for just a few pages. Let them learn that bravery isn't always loud—it’s sometimes a quiet boy carrying hope across a continent. Let them see that kindness can come in the form of a shared blanket, a held hand, a voice that says, “You’re not alone.”
And if you're reading for yourself, prepare to be changed. This book made me laugh out loud, and then weep with the kind of tears that come not just from sadness, but from awe. Awe at the strength of a child who has lost almost everything—but still manages to smile, still chooses to care, still believes in the goodness of people.
There’s a moment in the book—just a few lines—that broke me. It reminded me how often we overlook the quiet suffering of others, and how desperately the world needs more tenderness. Samim’s journey is not just one of survival, but of extraordinary love—for his friends, his family and for life itself.
This is more than a story. It’s a mirror. It’s a call. And it’s a gift I’ll carry with me for a long, long time.

[Kirin]

It has been a minute since I have read a refugee story, and was glad to see a new middle grade title published as the timeliness of immigrants and empathy is as critical as ever. I will admit though I was skeptical upon starting when I saw it is not OWN voice, and while grateful that a photojournalist source is named in the backmatter, through the lens of an Muslim book reviewer though, I can't help but feel like the richness of having lived experiences reflected in the narrative or child immigrants researched to draw upon, left the Islam nonexistent and the cultural details and specifics weak. That is not to say that I wasn't cheering for Samim, or that the craft of the book as a whole was not well done, it was. I was invested, emotional at the end, and Samim will stay with me for a while, but the protagonist is positioned as being a Shia Hazara, and for much of the story why he believes his family was killed, and yet even as he is facing repeated horrors and challenges, there are no Bismillahs, or crying out to Allah swt during a horrific series of events, no acts of worship, or relationship to faith. Nearly every time religion was mentioned I took a picture, so what you see is the religious rep nearly in its entirety not a sample. Similarly, there is some cultural foods dropped in, and awareness of gender differences once he is in the West, but honestly aside from the countries he passes through along the way, it could be a refugee from any war ravished country fleeing. Perhaps that is the point, if so it isn't a terrible one, I just feel inclined to point it out. It is also worth nothing that this isn't a juxtaposition story of life in Afghanistan to life in the United Kingdom, or political commentary aside from the initial premise of the Taliban wanting Shias out, it is really just a spotlight on Samim and his journey and what he, and so many go through when home is no longer safe. There is hardship, abuse, death, violence, transgender rep, bullying, human rights abuses, assault, drowning, persecution, stereotypes, bombings, displacement, theft, cruelty, violent death, loss, guilt, regret, etc. The book is not overly graphic, but the subject matter and commentary about Samim's journey and the characters along the way may not be suitable for all children.

SYNOPSIS:

Samim is forced to leave Afghanistan when his entire family, save one uncle, are killed at the hands of the Taliban. With his uncle, and his best friend, Zayn, who has also lost everyone, a perilous journey to the United Kingdom is taken.  Once he arrives, alone, the story of how he got to the UK is shared with the readers as he seeks asylum and makes his case to stay.  His retelling of the journey is interspersed with him starting school and dealing with the stresses of uncertainty, bullies, grief, and anger.  Samim is shaped by his experiences and the people he meets, those whose stories he wants to ensure live on, and those that he longs to forget.  He is a wiz at chess, he knows 230 digits of pi, and he is carrying more, and been through more, than any child ever should.  

WHY I LIKE IT:
I love that there is a map, that a source is named and that the book has a lot of heart, you really can't help but feel for Samim. I would have liked more Hazara rep, or Shia rep, their plight is under represented in children's literature, but I recognize I'm looking at that with adult eyes, and the target audience is probably not as critical.  I also would have liked to see more raw emotion regarding the loss of his family, and stories tying him to them.  I didn't feel the weight of who this lone uncle was, and what his loss meant other than on the journey at hand.  Some backstory and fleshing out of family and connection would go a long way to showing additional heart and humanity for those dealing with grief and loss that would hopefully connect with young readers. And yes, I think it could have been stronger without changing the direction and purpose of the story.

While some of the exploration of themes is subtle, the commentary on gender and gender identity is not.  The reader is introduced to to a female refugee character dressing as a boy on the journey for safety, and highlights how Samim and Zayn grapple with that reveal.  And then Samim meets Rence, a trans character in the UK, who becomes a close friend, and thus shows the continuation of that normalization while also highlighting stereotypes about women and identity in both the Afghan and Western cultures.  The author also seems to be quite deliberate in showing good and bad, kind and manipulative, cruel and generous people throughout so as not to have a single character's religion, or culture, or gender, or ethnicity shoulder the stereotype of more than just themselves in that moment.  It keeps the book from perpetuating assumptions as Samim meets and interacts with such diversity on his journey.

TOOLS FOR LEADING THE DISCUSSION:

As I searched to see how authentic the book is, I did find a good article about the author's research and expertise in the area:

https://www.thebookseller.com/trade-i...

I think if you know your audience, this book could work for a class or book club read, but I think with the triggers and some of the commentary, one would need to be confident that it is a good fit.  I would be ok to shelve it on a library or classroom shelf for upper middle grade, as I think the book is clear about the contents within and readers drawn to it, should hopefully be aware that refugees endure a lot of hardships, and thus the story may be difficult at times.

[Sam Baillie]

Strikingly written and beautifully told, Fidan Meikle’s debut novel ‘My Name is Samim’ is a modern masterpiece that will not be forgotten.

For all that Samim sets out to achieve, my most immediate learnings come from aspects of the refugee experience that I was completely unaware of. Whilst the heartbreaking coverage of the Calais-Dover crossing has been prominently reported in the UK, and sadly gawked at by reporters (“I wondered how many hopefully souls it oversaw drowning here.” p.24), other aspects introduced to the book were entirely new to me. Early in the story, protagonist Samim and other fellow Afghans are sold into modern slavery early on in their refugee journey. The group need a safe, hidden area and is thus exploited with the threat of starvation held above their head in exchange for their labour. As Meikle writes: “It was a crooked deal for the Afghans, but the thirsty camel will drink from a puddle” (p.50)

One particularly haunting section of the book sees a group of refugees, including an old woman, rolled into carpets in order to reach the French coast incognito via lorry - a thought which has stuck with me like the sweat to their shirts as they pass out from exhaustion. Samim is understandably a dark read, as Samim opines in the second sentence of the book, “The dead have nothing to worry about. The worst thing that can happen to them has already happened” (p.7). These reflections are important to understand the sacrifices that refugees make to reach the promised land, but Meikle’s keen to use this horror to emphasize their bravery and resilience, rather than it becoming misery porn. One character, whose fate is all but sealed due to circumstance, tells the group, “And just like stars, we shine brightest in the darkness” (p. 60)

I enjoyed Fidan Meikle’s observations around death and sacrifice in particular. Characters in Samim are often faced with having to achieve spiritual contentment as their physical bodies are corroded by circumstance. In a world where happiness and safety are not an opinion, characters reach out to find meaning when faced with the bottom of the abyss. “Those who have no choice walk a different path from everyone else.” (p. 108). Again, this makes us feel respectful of their sacrifice rather than simply sorry for them, although I also shed a few tears.

The novel is so tightly edited, too, with not a single sentence going to waste. An approach Fidan uses to achieve this is by stating only what needs to be known. Samim entering a room “smelling of wet clothes”, for instance, is a much more effective means of immersing the reader into the environment, while also putting us in the mind of a child, than simply stating there was damp. A brief comment about the ‘foolish yellow sponge’ on TV reinforces that Samim feels like they’re in an unfamiliar world, while respecting the reader enough to understand clearly what is referred to. When reading a book ostensibly for younger adults and children, there’s a fear that the author will spell everything out to you, on most occasions, wasting your time. Fidan avoids these pitfalls by respecting the reader’s ability to connect the dots, while also making a point about the characters themselves.

Fidan draws out a few moral hypocracies but stops short of outright judgment at times. For example, the novel opens with Samim observing the tattoo of an angel on the shoulder of a home office guard. This subtle observation asks us: do people on the other side of oppression simply ignore their moral qualms, or do they feel forced into their situation due to circumstance? Do they, potentially, even think what they’re doing is good? Meikle invites the reader to make their own judgements.

If I had to find a flaw in this masterpiece, I would say that the occasional crude joke didn’t land for me. Even as a child, I cringed at anything related to toilet humour, and so these occasional references in the book - undoubtedly inserted with a nod to an audience less decrepit than me - did cause an eye-roll. I may need to reluctantly concede that younger children are allowed to poke fun at these parts of life, regardless of what I think.

‘My Name is Samim’ is written to near perfection. I was hanging from every word, and great pacing made it the fastest book I’ve ever read (for those of us with busy lives, thanks for the short chapters!). In a land of death and destruction, Meikle finds kindness, meaning and love in every chapter. And that, we need more of.

“It’s not new, but has plenty of life left in it,” she says about the bag. I liked the phrase. It makes the backpack sound alive and very much like me. A little worn, but with plenty of life left inside.” (p. 40)

[Ms. Yingling]

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

In 2019, Samim is ten and living in Ghanzni Province, Afghanistan. His father is a pharmacist, and his mother is a teacher. The family, who are Hazara Muslims, are worried about both the Taliban and the US bombings. When Samim's house is destroyed in a bombing and his family is killed, he is left with only his best friend Zayn and his Uncle Roshan. In alternating timelines, we see how Samim leaves Afghanistan, but also how he is settling in to life in the UK under the care of Miss Brown in a foster home. We find out early in the book that Zayn has died en route, and that Samim takes great comfort in talking to his ghost. While life in the UK is difficult, and Samim must recount his journey for Mr. Higgins to help with his asylum petition, it is nothing compared to the rigors of his trek out of Afghanistan. After working in a factory with his uncle, the trio sets off for the UK because another uncle lives there. Samim finds out that his family was targeted because his parents were helping the US, but got no protections. Zayn and Samim lose contact with Uncle Roshan, but end up in a good situation in Italy, where they are welcome to stay with Auntie Amina, who has helped them get there along with many of her grandchildren, although Darya (who has been masquerading as a boy) drowns on the voyage, devastating the boys. Zayn wants to stay, but Samim feels he needs to find his uncle and honor Darya's memory. The boys are put on the bus to Paris as art students, and make it to Calais. Things go badly wrong, but Samim eventually reaches the UK, and after a long time in a displacement facility (he is mistaken for being older because he is tall), ends up in foster care. There, he does well at playing chess, and is invited to play in the London Jr. Championships, which puts him in a position to be badly bullied by Max, who hates immigrants. Samim's asylum is denied, but fellow foster kids Rita and Ayan plan a protest at school. Samim rescues Max from nearly drowning, and eventually wins his appeal and is able to stay. There is also a sweet surprise at the end of the book concerning the fate of one of Samim's friends which might lead to another book.

The format of Samim having to give an interview about his experiencing works well, and the reader is able to digest his horrible experience in smaller chunks, which are interspersed with what life is like for Samim in his new home. While life in the UK has its problems, they pale in comparison to the horrible treatment he experiences on his treacherous journey. Children like Max, who might not understand why refugees are in their country and the journeys they had to get there, will benefit from seeing the sorts of situations that their classmates might have lived through, and be more empathetic as a result.

Kelpies is a Scottish press that has turned out such interesting titles as Ice Cream Boy. Their books are available in the US, but are generally only in paperback or e book editions.

I wish all of my students would read books about the refugee experience in order to be more understanding of people who don't have the same background that they do. My Name is Samim is a great book to add to a list of books about different immigrant experiences like Athaide's Wings to Soar, Dassu's Boy Everywhere, Jamieson and Mohamed's When Stars are Scattered, Anta and Salcedo's Frontera, Senzai's Escape from Aleppo, and Dobbs' The Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna.

[Nic]

A very emotional book, showing the worst and best of humanity. A vital story to be told.

Samim’s life is upended in a terrible way by the Taliban and he must embark upon a journey full of terror and loss on the off-chance of survival. His tale is devastating and representative of the experiences of so many (child) refugees.

It is incredibly important to tell the stories of refugees, to build understanding and empathy and to challenge other unfair politically-motivated narratives. These stories are often full of danger, violence and tragedy. The challenge in middle grade is, therefore, how do you share these stories? How do you put across the real, lived sadness, loss and peril in a way that’s appropriate for the young audience.

Fidan Meikle has got this just right. For starters, it is the child, Samim, telling the story- in the current day, and as a series of flashbacks in his Home Office testimony and to his friends. To hear his voice is so important, in line with the themes of the story.

The author shows from the very beginning that there is no illusion of happy-ever-after for everyone: from page 1, Samim is communicating with his best friend in ghost form. Expectations are set. But the use of gentle humour and strong characterisation helps temper the horrors of Samim’s experience. Meikle also includes kind characters along the way, sometimes in the most unexpected moments, whose kindness shines even brighter in the adversity many of them are themselves facing. Interestingly, the opposite of this phenomenon, makes Max, Samim’s bully in a UK school, seem all the more petty, mean and detestable. On the surface, Max has everything and he chooses hate.

It was interesting to watch Samim adapt to life in the UK. To adapt and become used to new cultural norms. Samim remarks upon his observations, shows empathy and flexibility. This is especially interesting given that Max , in his role of antagonist, and representing the xenophobic contingent in the British public, attempts to other Samim at every opportunity. And ultimately, Max is the one who sticks out the most.

[YSBR]

This book opens with Samim in a detention center for refugee adults in England; he is tall for his age but finally convinces the authorities that he is actually a 13-year-old boy. Samim is anxious and has a habit of reciting the digits of pi in his head to calm himself down. He is not alone, however; his constant companion is his best friend Zayn who the reader soon realizes is not alive anymore. Samim is placed into a foster home and given a chance to tell his story and apply for asylum. The story continues on two timelines – present day as Samim adjusts to his new school and the past as he details how he migrated from Afghanistan to England with his best friend Zayn. In the present day, Samim proves he is a math whiz in school and he joins the chess club where he excels. He is also bullied by a white boy, Max, who is threatened by Samim’s chess skills. In the other timeline, readers learn the tragic circumstances of how and why he left his beloved home and family in Afghanistan and the dangerous journey he had to endure across land and sea. 

The book is moving, emotional, and paced perfectly. Both timelines are compelling and heartbreaking. Along his journey and in his current life in England, Samim encounters both kindness and cruelty. Meikle has written an accessible, hopeful account of one refugee’s experience that will promote both empathy and understanding. 

The pages have images in the corner that indicate the time frame of the story, which prevents reader confusion. Present day scenes have a black and white sketch of chess pieces and scenes from the past have a black and white illustration of constellations. Characters are from countries all over the world including Afghanistan, Eritrea, England, etc. The author is Azerbaijan British and uses a couple phrases that will be unfamiliar to American readers such as solicitor instead of lawyer. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Laura Gardner]

The book begins when Samim is in a detention center for refugee adults in England; he is tall for his age but finally convinces the authorities that he is actually a 13 year old boy. Samim is anxious and has a habit of reciting the digits of Pi in his head to calm himself down. He is not alone, however; his constant companion is his best friend Zayn who the reader soon realizes is not alive anymore. Samim is placed into a foster home and given a chance to tell his story and apply for asylum. The story continues on two timelines – present day as Samim adjusts to his new school and the past as he details how he migrated from Afghanistan to England with his best friend Zayn. In the present day, Samim proves he is a math whiz in school and he joins the chess club where he excels. He is also bullied by a white boy, Max, who is threatened by Samim’s chess skills. In the other timeline, readers learn the tragic circumstances of how and why he left his beloved home and family in Afghanistan and the dangerous journey he had to endure across land and sea.
The book is moving, emotional, and paced perfectly. Both timelines are compelling and heartbreaking. Along his journey and in his current life in England, Samim encounters both kindness and cruelty. Meikle has written an accessible, hopeful account of one refugee’s experience that will promote both empathy and understanding.
The pages have images in the corner that indicate the time frame of the story, which prevents reader confusion. Present day scenes have a black and white sketch of chess pieces and scenes from the past have a black and white illustration of constellations. Characters are from countries all over the world including Afghanistan, Eritrea, England, etc. The author is Azerbaijan British and uses a couple phrases that will be unfamiliar to American readers such as solicitor instead of lawyer.

[Katy Kelly]

Eye-opening refugee story, incredibly sad but hopeful.

Cried my way through this. I don't think kids will react the same way (they aren't hormone-filled mums) but it does have very sad content. Nothing graphic but sensitive children may be upset.

Samim is in the UK, we know he's in a detention centre for asylum seekers. At first treated as an adult because of his height, when it's realised that he's only 13, he's brought to a foster home housing several other children from all around the world. Clearly traumatised by his experiences, Samim takes refuge of his own - in numbers, reciting digits of Pi to keep calm.

Asked to tell his story for his immigration hearing, readers then hear of Samim's home and family, and the reason he's travelled partway round the world to seek safety.

Set partly in Samim's present, he also starts at school where we watch the different reactions of the community to a refugee, and the teen's experiences as he timidly tries to set down roots, join the chess club, form tentative friendships, faces anger and hostility.

The two stories progress together, and my heart was breaking at both, though I had to take a big breath each time we plunged into Samim's travels, knowing that the best friend who he talks to constantly is imaginary, and died somewhere along the route.

It's very much a narrative that young people do need an awareness of, and is told very sympathetically and engagingly. Punches aren't pulled - while Samim meets many kind people, there are also those who are cruel and manipulative. This isn't sunshine and rainbows, though just to give you the skinny - there is hope here, these is some joy and it is, ultimately, a satisfying children's book.

For ages 9 and above. Possibly older if parents judge it best.

[Laura]

When we catch up with Samim, he has already escaped to the UK, and is seeking asylum. He has lost everything. His parents, his uncle, his best friend, friends he made along the journey. He only wants to find a home.

We learn of how he got to the UK, through a series of stories that he tells to the person in charge of approving or disapproving his asylum. I wouldn’t say that it starts out slowly, after all the thing that sent him on his way was his house being deliberately burned down with his whole family inside. From there, it only gets worse, a little better, than worse again.

It is a harrowing story. The author said she based it on a young asylum seeker that she read about, and it got her thinking, and so she started interviewing people about what was involved in coming from Afghanistan to the UK.

Besides the harrowing story, that had me in tears for the last eighth of the book, at least, there were some beautiful bon mots.

“It’s winter and the naked trees line the street like upside-down crow’s feet, their branches dusted with white, as if sprinkled with salt.”

And

“She deserved to live more than anyone I’ve ever known. But just like us. She was nobody’s child, and this world is a beast to nobody’s children.”

The author set out to make refugees a story that children could relate to, that they could understand what they had been through, and I think she succeeded. I would highly recommend this book for children to read, and understand what happens to children left alone in the world.

Thanks to Edelweiss for making this book available for an honest review. This book will be published on the 10th of February 2026.

[Annaleise Byrd]

Fidan Meikle is an Azerbaijani-British writer and linguist based in Scotland. My Name is Samim, her debut novel, was inspired by the true story of an Afghan refugee boy. The author worked with Afghan photojournalist Aryan Musleh to add authenticity and depth to the story.

The story follows thirteen-year-old Samim, a chess-loving maths whiz forced to flee Afghanistan after a bomb takes his home and his loving family from him. He escapes with his best friend Zayn, enduring a perilous journey via bus, truck, foot, car, dinghy, ferry and train, and suffering more loss along the way. This well-written and heart-wrenching novel introduces tween and young teen readers to the realities faced by refugees with honesty and compassion.

Now, as Samim navigates an unfamiliar culture, racist school bullies, and the looming outcome of his asylum application in the UK, he shares his story in a series of interviews with his caseworker. These flashbacks, told in past tense, are woven into the current-day, present-tense story, and explain Samim’s struggles with anxiety, anger and trust. While the subject matter is intense, there is humour and lightness too – primarily through Samim and Zayn’s brother-like, good-naturedly-insult-filled friendship. In the end, found family and people power come through for Samim, with a hopeful, tearjerker type of ending synonymous with middle grade.

There is currently a campaign underway by American school librarians clamouring for more books featuring thirteen-, fourteen- and fifteen-year-old protagonists, a category between middle grade and true young adult material that they have dubbed Young Teen Lit. This book fits several of the young teen lit criteria and is an excellent candidate for inclusion in this category. It would be a suitable Reader’s Cup title or class novel for Years 7/8, and there are comprehensive teaching notes available on the author’s website.

This review was first shared on StoryLinks Australia.

[Amy]

🛟 My Name is Samim 🛟

💪🏽 “Sometimes, to survive, we must not just run but rise.”

🙌🏽 What a statement and what a lady, I absolutely adored Auntie Amina. To endure such an ordeal, but remain so strong and hopeful is truly inspiring. Her heart was so big and she is definitely a top character.

💔Fidan, in 293 pages, you shattered my heart, pieced it back together again, smashed it some more and now I am in that weird book limbo where you can’t start another book, because this one was so impactful.

📚I’ve read a lot of books about refugees and this one was up there with the best of them. The depth you created with so many characters was incredible. It’s hard to choose a favourite character because each played such a vital role. From Zayn, Ayan and Darya, to the snotty kid with one shoe and Jabbar .. all of them so important.

🥺When you truly let yourself imagine the horrific ordeal that these refugees face today, it really does make you realise how lucky you are and how broken the world is.

✍️ Amazing writing, with themes of family, kindness, compassion, bullying, fear, grief, loss, trauma and friendship. A book that all adults and children should read.

📚 I cannot wait for My Name is Zayn… I’d love to hear Jabbar’s story too. 😍

[Heather W]

My Name is Samim is a powerful and deeply humane middle grade novel that gives voice to the lived experiences of young refugees with clarity, compassion, and emotional truth. Through Samim a gifted chess player, loyal friend, and survivor Fidan Meikle crafts a story that is both heartbreaking and hopeful, illuminating the cost of displacement while honoring resilience and memory.

Samim’s journey from Afghanistan to the UK is rendered with striking immediacy, weaving moments of fear and loss with tenderness, humor, and connection. The people he meets along the way especially his best friend Zayn form a constellation of courage that stays with the reader long after the final page. Equally affecting is the novel’s exploration of life after arrival: the challenges of school, prejudice, uncertainty, and the fragile hope of belonging.

Written with restraint and emotional intelligence, My Name is Samim invites empathy without sensationalism. It is an essential story for young readers, educators, and families one that fosters understanding, compassion, and a deeper awareness of the human realities behind the word “refugee.”

[Laura Moon]

'My name is Samim' is the sort of story that gets under your skin. It is so beautifully written that it feels as though you know these characters. I felt like at points I was sat in the room with Mr Higgins listening to Samim's journey. I felt the devastating of different destinations. I felt the loneliness that Fidan Meikle wrote on to the page. I felt it right up until the last couple of chapters. I loved the side stories of the people Samim met along the way. I adored Aunt Amina with her heart big enough for all the children. I loved the mountain man and his hidden kindness and the love for his dog. I loved Ayan and his honesty, Rita and her optimism, Rence and his bravery. I loved Darya and her ability to shine light and strength in desperate situations. I cannot imagine a day where this book does not sit on my shelf. I feel it is one that I shall read every few years so I can keep these wonderful characters close.

[Siobhan Wilford]

I adored this book. I didn't want it to end. You really step into Samim's world, head and heart. The sense of resilience, courage, bravery, sadness, loneliness, compassion, vulnerability, friendship, family, survival, suppport, love, fear, uncertainty, humour and acceptance are all in this one book. Such emotions can only open our hearts and know that we are all one.
There were so many moments throughout the book that made me stop and reflect, one that still does, last paragraph on page 107, very relevant to today's world.
Fidan has written this book with such humanity, tenderness, respect, and honour for all the children that found themselves caught in a world that they did not chose but are doing all they can to survive, be accepted and loved

[Ulya]

First of all- dear author, I'm desperately waiting for the continuation of the story!!!!!

"My name is Samim" is a heart breaking story that takes readers into the life of a refugee child facing the struggles of immigration. Through the child’s eyes, readers experience the pain of saying goodbye to family and the challenges of starting a new life in an unfamiliar place. As the child struggles to fit in, small acts of kindness and a new friendship bring light to their journey. The story shows how understanding and empathy from others can make all the difference. The reading is suitable for a wide audience including young readers and adults. Be prepared to cry, but also to be moved and inspired by the resilience and courage of the characters. A must-read!!!!!

[Fiona]

A powerful, well written middle grade novel following the plight of a young Afghanistan refugee. The back story of Samim is told through a series of interviews as he battles to be given asylum in the UK. This is intermingled with his daily life, school, friendships and prejudices and the author achieves this balance so well. At times heartbreaking, this story is a timely reminder of how the innocents suffer during wars, but also that some semblance of a normal life is possible through the darkest of times. There is a warmth and humour running through it and the friendship between Samim and Zayn is the same as any between two boys, loyalty, love, arguments and sacrifice.
I loved this book and I look forward to the sequel. Shortlisted for the Children's Book Award.

[Sabinabay]

This book touched me deeply.
The story of Samim is both gentle and powerful, filled with emotion and honesty.
I especially loved how the author showed a child’s point of view in such a real and sensitive way.
Even though the story is short, it carries a lot of meaning.
It made me think about identity, family, and how important it is to feel that you belong.
Fidan Meikle writes with a soft but strong voice.
This book is not only for children — adults will feel it too.
I truly recommend it to anyone who wants to read something honest, emotional, and inspiring.

[Olga VS]

I’ll be honest — I’m extra chuffed because a friend of mine wrote My Name Is Samim but I can honestly say I would have loved it anyway

It’s such a powerful and beautifully told story that brings a real human side to the refugee experience — honest moving and full of quiet strength. I cried more than once and kept thinking about it long after I finished

It’s an important book but more than that it’s just a really really good read. I’m so proud of my friend and so glad this story is out in the world

Highly recommend

[Raydene]

A lesson in empathy and kindness. I'm not embarrassed to say I was a blubbering wreck reading this. Beautifully written, poignant and powerful the story of Samim should be a lesson to us all, and children encouraged to read it (as well as adults) to get an insight into the horrors and cruelty of child refugees. An emotive and eye opening read.

[Jennybeast]

Heartbreaking and all too current. Samim's voice is beautifully written -- hopeful, angry, sad and full of love for his family and friends. While it is hardest to hear about these journeys made by children, it is terrible to think of all the people on these dangerous paths, looking for safety and kindness and a peaceful life.