Fidan Meikle is a multi-award-winning Azerbaijani-British writer, linguist and translator.
Her debut middle-grade novel, My Name Is Samim, won the Jhalak Children's & YA Prize, the Federation of Children's Book Groups Award, several regional awards and was included in the 2026 Read for Empathy Collection.
My Name Is Samim and the companion novel, My Name Is Zayn, are inspired by the real-life stories of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in the UK. Fidan lives in West Lothian, Scotland.
The companion book to the Jhalak Prize winning My Name is Samim (part of the 2026 Read for Empathy Collection)
Fans of Fidan Meikle's astonishing debut novel will be gripped to hear wise-cracking Zayn's side of the story
Follow's Zayn's journey from when he and Samim were separated through the highs and lows of his own fight to build a life in the UK
'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
'Told in the first person, changing chapter by chapter between Samim's journey and his new life in the UK, this is an incredibly moving story... An assured, compelling debut.' - BookTrust
