“It's impossible not to be moved by this heart-wrenching novel based on the true story of Samia Omar . . . the voice of Samia packs an achingly topical punch, shouting out as an enduring witness to crimes committed by those trafficking in misery and despair.”—Mail on Sunday

“Based on the devastating true story of Somalian athlete Samia Omar, this award-winning Italian novel offers a timely and unforgettable insight into the refugee experience.”– Sam Baker, The Pool

“The first-person narrative … gives the story a spirit and urgency that readers won't easily forget. Catozzella's novel is both an intimate portrait of a heroic young woman and a disturbing look at the horrors many migrants face today.”—Kirkus Reviews

“[Don’t Tell Me You’re Afraid] serves as a sobering reminder of the life-threatening challenges many migrants face in the pursuit of freedom.”—Publishers Weekly

"Catozzella constructs a world. You read about it, witness it, are assailed by it. But when you realize that you too are in that world, that’s when you get the feeling that its pages have changed you.” 
- Roberto Saviano

"Catozzella has managed to convey a close understanding of a harsh, unfamiliar reality. This is a novel that I salute for its ability to recount a great heroic epic of our time."
- Erri De Luca

"I will carry the memory of Samia with me for a long time – her childhood in a Mogadishu ravaged by civil strife, her hopes of becoming an Olympic champion, her journey to Europe tragically cut short in the sea of Lampedusa, in our sea. A story that is entirely true, that moved me… And that made me feel ashamed, once again, of what Italy, what Europe, has now become."
- Goffredo Fofi