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

Thirteen-year-old Samim is a loyal friend, a gifted chess player – and a refugee. After his family is killed in a bombing, Samim is forced to make the long, dangerous journey from his home in 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 best friend Zayn. Samim is one of the lucky ones, but has he really found a safe new home?