My Name is Samim wins Jhalak Children’s & YA Prize
My Name is Samim by Fidan Meikle is the winner of the Jhalak Children’s & YA Prize. First awarded in March 2017, the Jhalak Prize awards seek to celebrate books by writers of colour in the UK and Ireland.
On winning the award, author Fidan Meikle said, ‘Despite the heartbreak, Samim’s story is a story of hope. It is my hope that someday soon we move closer to a world where refugee is not what someone is; refugee is what any of us could become, and every person in this world is entitled to safety.’
Following thirteen-year-old Samim as he flees Afghanistan and embarks on a long and perilous journey to safety, the story offers a child’s perspective on the refugee experience in a way that is both accessible to its audience and realistically addresses an important topic. In striking this perfect balance, Meikle gives young readers the chance to understand, empathise and be seen.
Sally Polson, Commissioning Editor at Floris Books immediately recognised the story’s potential when Fidan pitched the opening chapters at the Scottish BPOC Writers Network conference and secured a two-book deal. The eagerly-anticipated follow-up, My Name Is Zayn, will publish in August 2026.
Six books made up the shortlist for the Jhalak Children’s and YA Prize 2026:
Augmented, Kenechi Udogu (Faber)
How to Catch an Idea, Forest Xiao (Orchard Books)
My Name is Samim, Fidan Meikle (Kelpies)
Roar, Manjeet Mann (Penguin Books)
Supa Nova, Chanté Timothy (Nosy Crow)
The Shell Keepers, Truly Johnston (Chicken House)
