Internment

By: Samira Ahmed

Narrated by: Soneela Nankani

Rebellions are built on hope.
Set in a horrifying near-future United States, seventeen-year-old Layla Amin and her parents are forced into an internment camp for Muslim American citizens.
With the help of newly made friends also trapped within the internment camp, her boyfriend on the outside, and an unexpected alliance, Layla begins a journey to fight for freedom, leading a revolution against the internment camp's Director and his guards.
Heart-racing and emotional, Internment challenges readers to fight complicit silence that exists in our society today.

Critic reviews

*Taking on Islamophobia and racism in a Trump-like America, Ahmed's magnetic, gripping narrative written in a deeply humane and authentic tone, is attentive to the richness and complexity of the social ills at the heart of the book.—Kirkus, starred review

*"...a poignant, necessary story that paints a very real, very frank picture of hatred and ignorance, while also giving readers and marginalized individuals hope."—Booklist, starred review

*"An unsettling and important book for our times."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

*"By the end of the first two pages of this title the reader will be breathless with the anticipation and excitement of what's to come."—School Library Connection, starred review

*"...Sensitive and stirring. For all collections."—School Library Journal, starred review

"Internment sets itself apart...terrifying, thrilling and urgent."—Entertainment Weekly

"A riveting and cautionary tale. Internment urges us to speak up and speak out, to ask questions and demand answers, and when those answers prove unsatisfactory, to resist."—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Times}span.s1 {font-kerning: none; background-color: #ffffff}Stacey Lee, award-winning author of Outrun the Moon

"Internment is a visceral, essential book, both horrifying and hopeful. Ahmed deserves a spot on every book shelf in America."—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times}span.s1 {font-kerning: none}Kiersten White, New York Times Bestselling author of And I Darken and The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein

"A testament to what girls are capable of when they are overlooked, Internment is a masterwork of dignity and grit."—E.K. Johnston, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Exit, Pursued by a Bear

"Internment is a scathing indictment of our current political times. Ahmed has gifted us Layla, a courageous young revolutionary who fights against all boundaries of hate and ignorance. A must read for activists who continue to push back against the big What-Ifs."—National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi, author of American Street and Pride

"A powerful and poignant exploration of a nightmare made real. It's a testament to Ahmed's writing then, that the heart of the story is one of hope. Read INTERNMENT. Raise a fist."—David Arnold, New York Times bestselling author of Moquitoland and Kids of Appetite

"Terrifying, inspiring, heart-pounding, and incredibly timely. With an ultimately hopeful voice, Samira Ahmed shows how one person and small acts of bravery can spark a flame of resistance and inspire others to bring change."—Lauren Nopenz Fairley, Curious Iguana, Frederick, MD

shakes you to the core.

this book is eery and horrifying...why? because we're 15 minutes from this in the future. #resist #standup

The audio made this for me!

Wow, this was so intense. I was enraged and despondent and had all the feels while listening to this. It was so real and scary because I think we are kind of on the path to this now. It's a call to do more, pay more attention, and don't stay silent when you see something wrong happening. Layla was scared, who wouldn't be, but knew what was happening was not right and spoke up. I saw some reviews that said she made too many waves and should have kept quiet. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! No way should she have just followed the rules, even if there were harsh consequences. Layla had to speak up for what was right and gave others the courage to do the same. That's the entire point of the book.
The narrator was amazing, she totally embodied the voice of Layla to me and added an extra impact that made me love listening to this. Definitely recommend listening to this one!

Politically bias, perpetuates hate

If this book had been clearly hypothetical with no reference to current politicians than perhaps it would have been a better read, but the authors intent was clearly to bash the Trump administration and the way the American government works by missing using sound bites, exaggerating policies, and placing a greater stereotype on those with conservative views than is factual, thus creating unnecessary fear of where America is headed. I was offended that the soldiers were all white males as if to imply that our military is not represented by persons of every gender, faith, race, and nationalities. I also was disturbed by the blanket view that people who still hold fast to traditional values are filled with hate towards those who are different. The fact that the story is told from a teenage girls perspective, whose mouth is excessively foul, adds to the dismay that his is the type of future our country has seeing as she is painted as the hero despite her foolish and boy crazy coincidentally lead her to be the leader. I feel this book also misrepresents Muslim people as the girl shows little evidence of her faith, but rather Islam as a culture.

Absolutely amazing

This book was beautiful. I don't know how to out my feelings into words for this book, but I want everyone to read it.

Heart wrenching

This book is such a window into what is possible if we do not take a stand, as well as what people in the past experienced. I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone. I really believe that this book has the power to change the hearts and minds of Americans far and wide.