Emotional and so very real, My Name is Zayn challenges readers to recognise the determination and courage of refugee children who find themselves in the UK completely alone. Exploring themes of loyalty, community and blossoming friendship in times of need, this and its companion novel, My Name is Samim, prove bravery is so much bigger than fear and there is always hope to be found if we push through the darkness. Zayn’s eye-opening story is a master class in empathy-building writing for young people.
After losing their family in a bombing and travelling from Afghanistan through Iran, Turkey, Greece, Italy and France, Zayn and Samim experienced even greater loss on a dingy in the English Channel. Unable to hold on to one another, they lose the only family they have left and face the process for seeking asylum on their own. In My Name is Samim, readers followed Samim’s story of being mistaken for an adult and having to prove his childhood while fighting to stay in the country. Now, we follow Zayn as he searches for Samim, tries to find his place in a refugee hotel and faces the danger of local gangs.
My Name is Zayn reveals the tragic reality that some children simply do not have an adult to care for them. Charities, teachers, social workers, carers, solicitors and the local community must step into that gap and help these children find a home. This story holds huge lessons in gratitude – to appreciate what we have and consider how we can help those who have lost it all.
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| Primary English In Action by Kate Heap will be published in August 2026. Preorder it now! |
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