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My Name is Zayn
Not yet published
Expected 20 Aug 26"I'll find you, Samim," I whispered again and again into the dark.
Thirteen-year-old Zayn is a loyal friend, a gifted football player -- and a refugee.
Zayn endures a long, dangerous journey from war-torn Afghanistan with his best friend Samim, only to lose him when their dinghy sinks in the English Channel. Zayn arrives in the UK, alone, but convinced Samim is alive -- somewhere.
Sent to live in a hotel with other asylum seekers, Zayn starts to find small pieces of normal life -- he goes to school, joins the football team and is making friends. Then children begin disappearing from the hotel, including Zayn's roommate. When the police struggle to find them, Zayn feels he's the only one who can.
Hounded by a local gang, as well as demons from his past, Zayn finds hope and help in unlikely places. But can he find his missing friends, old and new, as well as the safe home he's been searching for?
Readers will root for quick-witted, brave Zayn in the highly anticipated follow-up to My Name is Samim (Waterstones Children's Book Prize longlist and part of the Read for Empathy collection). This uplifting story of resilience and friendship was inspired by the real-life stories of hundreds of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children who went missing from UK hotels, until the High Court ruled it was unlawful to house them there. Fidan Meikle's writing is heartfelt, wry and evocative, allowing older middle-grade readers to see through the eyes of an often-invisible minority.
Thirteen-year-old Zayn is a loyal friend, a gifted football player -- and a refugee.
Zayn endures a long, dangerous journey from war-torn Afghanistan with his best friend Samim, only to lose him when their dinghy sinks in the English Channel. Zayn arrives in the UK, alone, but convinced Samim is alive -- somewhere.
Sent to live in a hotel with other asylum seekers, Zayn starts to find small pieces of normal life -- he goes to school, joins the football team and is making friends. Then children begin disappearing from the hotel, including Zayn's roommate. When the police struggle to find them, Zayn feels he's the only one who can.
Hounded by a local gang, as well as demons from his past, Zayn finds hope and help in unlikely places. But can he find his missing friends, old and new, as well as the safe home he's been searching for?
Readers will root for quick-witted, brave Zayn in the highly anticipated follow-up to My Name is Samim (Waterstones Children's Book Prize longlist and part of the Read for Empathy collection). This uplifting story of resilience and friendship was inspired by the real-life stories of hundreds of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children who went missing from UK hotels, until the High Court ruled it was unlawful to house them there. Fidan Meikle's writing is heartfelt, wry and evocative, allowing older middle-grade readers to see through the eyes of an often-invisible minority.
Audible Audio
Expected publication August 20, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 22, 2026
Following on from the incredible My Name is Samim, which is one of the most moving books I’ve ever read, My Name is Zayn had a hard act to follow. Trust me when I say, it did not disappoint.
After surviving the horrendous journey to the UK from Afghanistan, Zayn is separated from his best friend Samim and sent to live in a hotel housing asylum seekers. Zayn tries to rebuild his life in the UK — he goes to school, joins the football team and makes friends — but then children start to go missing from the hotel, including his friend and roommate, Musa. My Name is Zayn highlights the horrific reality facing asylum seekers in the UK and is inspired by the real-life stories of hundreds of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children who went missing from UK hotels, until the High Court ruled it was unlawful to house them there.
The characters introduced in My Name is Zayn, among them Musa, Uncle Ali, and Mr Baird, all felt so real to me, that I feel bereft of their voices now that I've finished the book.
Musa's character in particular broke my heart. I cried so much reading about how he lost his family, but the friendship that blossoms between him and Zayn was so beautiful to read. The importance of kindness, remaining true to yourself and helping others shines through the narrative, even in its darkest parts. Overall, there's so much laughter and light in this book among the sadness and cruelty. I also thought the jackal imagery was really poignant and the ending felt like a truly cathartic moment.
I would love another book in the series, as I don’t want to say goodbye to Samim and Zayn! I implore everyone to pick these books up. They represent an anecdote to the hate and ignorance infecting the world right now ♥️
After surviving the horrendous journey to the UK from Afghanistan, Zayn is separated from his best friend Samim and sent to live in a hotel housing asylum seekers. Zayn tries to rebuild his life in the UK — he goes to school, joins the football team and makes friends — but then children start to go missing from the hotel, including his friend and roommate, Musa. My Name is Zayn highlights the horrific reality facing asylum seekers in the UK and is inspired by the real-life stories of hundreds of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children who went missing from UK hotels, until the High Court ruled it was unlawful to house them there.
The characters introduced in My Name is Zayn, among them Musa, Uncle Ali, and Mr Baird, all felt so real to me, that I feel bereft of their voices now that I've finished the book.
Musa's character in particular broke my heart. I cried so much reading about how he lost his family, but the friendship that blossoms between him and Zayn was so beautiful to read. The importance of kindness, remaining true to yourself and helping others shines through the narrative, even in its darkest parts. Overall, there's so much laughter and light in this book among the sadness and cruelty. I also thought the jackal imagery was really poignant and the ending felt like a truly cathartic moment.
I would love another book in the series, as I don’t want to say goodbye to Samim and Zayn! I implore everyone to pick these books up. They represent an anecdote to the hate and ignorance infecting the world right now ♥️
May 11, 2026
🧡 As my sweet grandmother used to say: “My Name is Zayn is captivating, heart-breaking and imperative.”
💙 Wow Fidan, you have truly outdone yourself with this sequel to ‘I am Samim’. It is very rare to find a second book, which is on par with its predecessor. Once I started reading, I was enthralled and couldn’t resist the call for one more chapter. I think we all fell in love with Zayn, the donkey-loving, football obsessed and zesty character in ‘I am Samim’, but wait until you meet him again… 😍
🧡 At the end of book one, we know that Zayn is alive. This amazing story follows on from the boys’ horrific journey from Iran, to Turkey, Greece, Italy, France and the English Channel, as they seek refuge and search for Samim’s uncle. After the dinghy capsized, Samim and Zayn become separated and Zayn is presumed dead, “but hope is a stubborn thing.”
💙 Zayn finds himself in a hotel filled with other displaced people seeking asylum.
He is not safe and encounters many hostile, racist and unsavoury characters throughout. The plot has you at the end of your seat many times. The book explores many of the horrific experiences that refugees endured upon reaching the United Kingdom and sadly this is still happening today. This wonderful story develops empathy in children and adults alike as we are called to know that, “A refugee wasn’t all we were. It was what happened to us.” Fidan skilfully reminds us that these refugees are people: they are children, with dreams and aspirations, with families, with big hearts, with fierce loyalty and important stories to tell. I cried so many times reading this compelling book.
🧡 We were introduced to so many new and wonderful characters throughout the book and I love how Zayn contributed to their healing in so many ways. Some of my favourites were Musa aka SpiderMan/Grasshopper, Uncle Ali and Mr Beard/Baird.
💙 Zayn’s humour did not disappoint and his, ‘My sweet grandmother…’ quotes added so much laughter amongst the sadness. The irony of grandmother being sweet and scary at the same time also made me chuckle. I could really imagine her as I was reading.
🧡 Avoiding spoilers as much as possible because you really need to read this one for yourself… so I hope I’ve made you want to read book two.
💙 Remember: “Until we know each others’ stories, kindness should be the only language we speak.” - Fidan 💙
🧡Enjoy this wonderfully healing and heartbreaking story of “Two brothers raised by many hands”
💙Book 3 I am hoping for: My Name is Aziz 🙏🏽
🧡Thank you Discover Kelpies for this ARC. I will never forget this book and will make sure as many people read it as possible - young and old. It is also so relevant today and is needed now more than ever.
💙 Out 20th August 2026 (That’s too long to wait I know!!!)
💙 Wow Fidan, you have truly outdone yourself with this sequel to ‘I am Samim’. It is very rare to find a second book, which is on par with its predecessor. Once I started reading, I was enthralled and couldn’t resist the call for one more chapter. I think we all fell in love with Zayn, the donkey-loving, football obsessed and zesty character in ‘I am Samim’, but wait until you meet him again… 😍
🧡 At the end of book one, we know that Zayn is alive. This amazing story follows on from the boys’ horrific journey from Iran, to Turkey, Greece, Italy, France and the English Channel, as they seek refuge and search for Samim’s uncle. After the dinghy capsized, Samim and Zayn become separated and Zayn is presumed dead, “but hope is a stubborn thing.”
💙 Zayn finds himself in a hotel filled with other displaced people seeking asylum.
He is not safe and encounters many hostile, racist and unsavoury characters throughout. The plot has you at the end of your seat many times. The book explores many of the horrific experiences that refugees endured upon reaching the United Kingdom and sadly this is still happening today. This wonderful story develops empathy in children and adults alike as we are called to know that, “A refugee wasn’t all we were. It was what happened to us.” Fidan skilfully reminds us that these refugees are people: they are children, with dreams and aspirations, with families, with big hearts, with fierce loyalty and important stories to tell. I cried so many times reading this compelling book.
🧡 We were introduced to so many new and wonderful characters throughout the book and I love how Zayn contributed to their healing in so many ways. Some of my favourites were Musa aka SpiderMan/Grasshopper, Uncle Ali and Mr Beard/Baird.
💙 Zayn’s humour did not disappoint and his, ‘My sweet grandmother…’ quotes added so much laughter amongst the sadness. The irony of grandmother being sweet and scary at the same time also made me chuckle. I could really imagine her as I was reading.
🧡 Avoiding spoilers as much as possible because you really need to read this one for yourself… so I hope I’ve made you want to read book two.
💙 Remember: “Until we know each others’ stories, kindness should be the only language we speak.” - Fidan 💙
🧡Enjoy this wonderfully healing and heartbreaking story of “Two brothers raised by many hands”
💙Book 3 I am hoping for: My Name is Aziz 🙏🏽
🧡Thank you Discover Kelpies for this ARC. I will never forget this book and will make sure as many people read it as possible - young and old. It is also so relevant today and is needed now more than ever.
💙 Out 20th August 2026 (That’s too long to wait I know!!!)
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
'My name is Zayn' wow. Where to begin?
Fidan Meikle wrote 'My name is Samim' - a story that is buried under my skin. I am ashamed to admit that I didn't believe that 'My name is Zayn' would do the same.
Zayn's story buried deeper. Zayn, all the way through Samim, had such an optimism. It was infectious. I adored his 'as my grandma who' comments. In 'My name is Zayn', you see underneath the optimism. You see Zayn's vulnerability, his fierce loyalty, his desire to belong. 'It's really hard to ask to be wanted'... my goodness. I cried so many times throughout reading. My love for Zayn runs deep.
Fidan Miekle writes beautiful stories. Heart-breaking stories. Both Samim and Zayn's stories are weaved with realities of being refugees. Truly heart-breaking realities. Musa's trust and desire to make friends which in turn seen him vulnerable to such awful situations. As well as highlighting the vulnerabilities, terrifying situations and awful hate, Fidan Miekle has written the most beautiful friendships, the kindess of unexpected strangers and truly lovely heart warming moments that restore your faith in humanity.
"But now, to be a refugee feels like this world is a big warm house. With lights on. With fire burning. We can see happy people through windows." I swallowed. "But we stand outside. In the cold. We knock and knock, and promise we don't spill anything..." I paused, pulling the sleeves over my hands. "But the door stays shut. And the cold gets colder."
Fidan Meikle wrote 'My name is Samim' - a story that is buried under my skin. I am ashamed to admit that I didn't believe that 'My name is Zayn' would do the same.
Zayn's story buried deeper. Zayn, all the way through Samim, had such an optimism. It was infectious. I adored his 'as my grandma who' comments. In 'My name is Zayn', you see underneath the optimism. You see Zayn's vulnerability, his fierce loyalty, his desire to belong. 'It's really hard to ask to be wanted'... my goodness. I cried so many times throughout reading. My love for Zayn runs deep.
Fidan Miekle writes beautiful stories. Heart-breaking stories. Both Samim and Zayn's stories are weaved with realities of being refugees. Truly heart-breaking realities. Musa's trust and desire to make friends which in turn seen him vulnerable to such awful situations. As well as highlighting the vulnerabilities, terrifying situations and awful hate, Fidan Miekle has written the most beautiful friendships, the kindess of unexpected strangers and truly lovely heart warming moments that restore your faith in humanity.
"But now, to be a refugee feels like this world is a big warm house. With lights on. With fire burning. We can see happy people through windows." I swallowed. "But we stand outside. In the cold. We knock and knock, and promise we don't spill anything..." I paused, pulling the sleeves over my hands. "But the door stays shut. And the cold gets colder."
June 4, 2026
ARC READ
Firstly I would like to thank the author Fidan Meikle for allowing me to read an early copy … wow what a story!! Thank you!!
This book is an emotional read and a page turner. It is full of courage, resilience, bravery, kindness, loyalty and true friendships.
The book follows Zayn and his journey from Afghanistan to the United Kingdom with his best friend Samim, this we learnt from the previous book ‘My Name Is Samim’ but during the final leg of the journey their dinghy sunk and they were separated.
Zayn, convinced his friend is still alive and is determined that one day they will be reunited. Meanwhile, he is placed in a hotel with other refugees while he claims for asylum and during this time he tries to fit in and lead a normal life including attending school. However, outside the hotel he is met with hostility, hatred and many challenges. He makes friends easily through his love of football and his easy going nature and wit and soon becomes close to Musa his roommate. Zayn is a survivor and does not back down from a challenge, especially when it comes to finding Samim or when his friends from the hotel disappeared. He makes it his goal to find them and fight his own demons in the process.
Firstly I would like to thank the author Fidan Meikle for allowing me to read an early copy … wow what a story!! Thank you!!
This book is an emotional read and a page turner. It is full of courage, resilience, bravery, kindness, loyalty and true friendships.
The book follows Zayn and his journey from Afghanistan to the United Kingdom with his best friend Samim, this we learnt from the previous book ‘My Name Is Samim’ but during the final leg of the journey their dinghy sunk and they were separated.
Zayn, convinced his friend is still alive and is determined that one day they will be reunited. Meanwhile, he is placed in a hotel with other refugees while he claims for asylum and during this time he tries to fit in and lead a normal life including attending school. However, outside the hotel he is met with hostility, hatred and many challenges. He makes friends easily through his love of football and his easy going nature and wit and soon becomes close to Musa his roommate. Zayn is a survivor and does not back down from a challenge, especially when it comes to finding Samim or when his friends from the hotel disappeared. He makes it his goal to find them and fight his own demons in the process.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Really well dome and much needed story.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews