Meet Samira Ahmed, Author of Internment

Click to Enlarge +Meet Samira Ahmed, Author of Internment

Samira Ahmed understands that the past is not just a series of dates in a history textbook: it is a living record of human triumphs and horrors that continue to shape who we are today. Recognizing our capacity for both good and evil empowers us to work toward a brighter future, and this is a lesson Ahmed imparts with searing intensity in her latest novel, Internment. Internment is set in a near-future dystopian United States, in which an autocratic ruler has ordered the internment of all Muslim American citizens. Readers are invited to experience this gritty reality through the eyes of Layla, an interned Muslim American teenager. However, Layla is anything but a passive witness in this story; she responds to the injustices she sees taking place around her by organizing resistance and fighting back. This plot line delivers a message of social and political empowerment and will appeal to YA readers interested in current events and politics. You can read SLC's review of the book, which includes a "highly recommended" rating, here. For a deeper dive into the mind of the author, read my interview with Samira Ahmed below.

When I hear the word "internment," my brain automatically jumps to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. But Internment is actually set in the future, not the past. Is Japanese internment a useful parallel for thinking about this book?

Japanese American internment and the history of America stripping away civil rights from its own citizens was absolutely an inspiration for my novel. No moment exists in a vacuum, and where we are today is very much influenced by where we have been. Even now, America has refugee children at border camps who have been stripped from their parents' arms, housed in tent cities or barracks, behind fences. That is internment. Pay attention to the news and you'll see internment camps exist, right now, the world over. Internment was part of our past, it is part of our present. I wrote INTERNMENT because, together, we can raise our voices and stop this wrongful imprisonment of human beings from being part of our future.

I was wondering if you could tell us a little bit about Internment's protagonist, Layla. What does she stand for, and who does she represent?

Layla is a girl like all the other girls—a young woman going to high school, planning for her future, forming her politics. But that all changes because of hatred, bigotry, and the horrifying choices of so-called leaders. Too often, young people are forced into positions where they have to find their courage—situations that arise because of politics and policies rooted in prejudice. Layla is that girl—one whose life is shattered by something utterly beyond her control. Like so many other kids, she finds herself breaking but not broken. She digs deep, builds her community, and finds her voice to speak out against the horrors that are being visited upon her and others.

Click to Enlarge +Meet Samira Ahmed, Author of Internment

You have a unique background as an educator, working both within the public school system and for education non-profits. How did those experiences compare? Is there a "best" way to support students and learning?

My years in the classroom taught me the power and importance of differentiated learning. All people learn in different ways and absorb ideas and concepts via different avenues. We all form our politics and identities and ideas and make sense of the world in ways that are uniquely our own. This is why we need diverse books—our shelves should reflect our world and allow students a chance to see themselves as heroes on the page.

What is your favorite thing about school visits?

I love meeting students and readers! My favorite thing is just talking to students about my books—but also about stories that are important to them. I taught high school because I love that age—one that is on the cusp of adulthood, when kids are really becoming who they want to be. So I truly enjoy the opportunity to meet students and hear their observations and answer their astute questions and to have a dialogue about the role of stories in our lives.

Politics and world events can often feel out of one's control. What would you say to someone who feels powerless to effect change?

I think imagining that you need to wake up and change the world is absolutely overwhelming. So I encourage people to think about change in small ways—in the microcosms of our own homes and schools and communities. Big changes and revolutions begin with small steps. Maybe you've never voted and you realize you need to register to vote and then you do. Maybe you convince three friends to register to vote. Maybe you take someone to the polls. Maybe you volunteer for a local campaign you believe in. Maybe you raise money for an organization in your community helping kids in need. Maybe you call your elected officials to voice your opinion. Maybe you join a group that visits your state representative to ask them to vote for policies you believe in. Maybe you go to a phone bank to make calls to Get Out The Vote in the next election. Maybe you join a march for civil rights or gun control. Maybe you organize folks to go to a national march. Maybe you speak at it. Maybe you decide to run for office. Every one of these things is important. Every one begins with a single step. And every single one begins with a single voice—your own—joining a chorus of other voices, demanding a better world. You're not alone. Speak up and act in the ways that you are able. And if you feel alone, if you need a hand, look up and reach out—you'll find others reaching back, helping to raise you up.