My Name Is Samim

By Author / Illustrator

Fidan Meikle

Genre

Representation & Inclusion

Age range(s)

11+

Publisher

Floris Books

ISBN

9781782509301

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

22-05-2025

Synopsis

"I must make it. I will make it. And I will tell their stories." 13-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.

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Reviews

Jo

My name is Samim is a story that will broaden minds and expand hearts. Using an engaging narrative structure, Samim's life story is told through his recounts of his journey to Britain as an Afghanistan refugee following the tragic death of his parents and young sister. With no trusted adult to look out for him, Samim and his best friend Zayn embark on a perilous journey which exposes them to horrors the likes of which no child should ever experience.

Samim tells of his journey to a solicitor and a caseworker from the Home Office and he does so with honesty, enabling the reader to acknowledge the bravery and endless optimism of a young man who has had to acquire an enormity of inner strength. Samim's journey to Britain is one of loss; the loss of those upon whom he had relied and those with whom he forged new bonds and friendships. Despite all of his tragedies and traumas, Samim still maintains his kindness, his empathy, his humour and his acceptance of others.

When Samim is not spending his time being interrogated by the Home Office, he has to navigate the unknown landscape of a British secondary school. Friendship and acceptance are key themes which permeate both of Samim's worlds - his past and his present. Fortunately, Samim has a talent for chess which sees him becoming one of the school team's key players. Unfortunately, Samim has a talent for chess which sees him becoming a rival to the school bully. This allows a new thread to be woven into an already compelling story.

Readers of all ages will find the chronicles of Samim's journey to Britain to be enlightening and eye opening. Samim's tale provides an insight into the realities of life as a refugee; the true details of which children and adults alike will be unaware. Despite its horrors, Samim's tale is one of hope. He is strong, clever and kind. He is everything that he is 'because of the journey' that he has been through - and despite it.

296 pages / Ages 10+ / Reviewed by Jo Clarke, teacher