Name: Sarah Sammis's review of Internment by Samira Ahmed
Item: Internment
Rating: 5
Author: Sarah Sammis

Samira Ahmed

An instant New York Times bestseller! "Internment sets itself apart...terrifying, thrilling and urgent."--Entertainment Weekly 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 camp's Director and his guards. Heart-racing and emotional, Internment challenges readers to fight complicit silence that exists in our society today.

Internment

Nohemi Reale

Rebellions are built on hope. Set in a horrifying near-future-United States, seventeen-year-old Layla Amin is forced into an internment camp for Muslim-American citizens with her parents. 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.

Sarah Sammis

Internment by Samira Ahmed is set in the present and is built on assumptions made during the early months of Trump's administration — namely the Muslim ban. It supposes a world similar to what the Japanese experienced post Pearl Harbor.

669900 - marginalized wildlands interstate

http://pussreboots.com/blog/2019/comm...

'Samira has created a chilling, powerful, all-too-real near future that's a must-read for everyone's TBR' Karen M. McManus, author of One Of Us Is Lying 'A must-read . . . A heart-rending and all-too credible tale of sacrifice, the ugly face of authority and the courage of youth' Sunday Times' Children's Book of the Month 'A tremendous novel' the Guardian Rebellions are built on hope. Set in a horrifying 'fifteen minutes in the future' United States, seventeen-year-old Layla Amin is forced into an internment camp for Muslim-Americans along with her parents. With the help of newly-made friends also trapped within the 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 questions the imaginary boundaries that separate us and challenges readers to fight the complicit silence that exists in our society today. 'Chillingly plausible' Financial Times 'If you enjoyed The Hate U Give, this should be at the top of your TBR pile' -- Culturefly

Gracie Marsden

So horrifyingly relevant to today. Excellent writing, and be sure to read the afterword by the author. This book was not only captivating to read, but had a substantial call to action. Read it.

Kailey Rios

i really liked the beginning and ending of this book but wasn’t too crazy about the middle. 

layla’s obsession with her boyfriend definitely caused me to roll my eyes a few times and the dialogue at times felt a little too juvenile and out of place.

while i do think the premise of this book is very important, the execution just fell a little flat for me.


  3 stars

Zara Doulton

This is powerful - just the type of treatment people have to live with is definitely hidden from the media.

Amanda Rocha

Silence is Violence was the theme for this emotional book. "If we stay silent, whats next?"

This was a crazy read. It is eerily relevant and totally frightening to imagine. Set in a dystopian future where Muslims are herded into internment camps because of the racist president's Islamophobia, our main character fights for freedom using the only thing she has left: her voice. I liked so much about this book, because it was very realistic and illustrate the consequences if we as a people become complacent and stop fighting for our rights. 

The ONLY thing I didn't like about this was the undeveloped "connection" between (view spoiler)[Layla and Jake. I just felt like he came out of nowhere, and there was no actual common ground between them (other than the fact that they were both at the camp.) For a romance it was completely out of the blue and made no sense! It was just a very shallow connection and I wasn't into it. Team David all the way. (hide spoiler)]

Hannah Faure 

Caroline Lewicki

I wanted to like Internment so much more than I did. It covers so many important topics and unfortunately things that people have genuinely had to fear. I just think it could have been better.

I thought it could have benefitted from more world building. Maybe I'm too cynical but I found it hard to believe that in a world that is seemingly complacent with internment, there would be so many people on the inside willing to help, (view spoiler)[ especially toward the end when the Director tries to have Layla killed by his private security and they say "but she's a kid." In this world, I didn't think they would have cared.  (hide spoiler)] It was interesting that the book made a lot of comparisons to Japanese internment but shied away from recalling the Holocaust much, as I feel that it would have made for a dark and arguably better comparison.

I also think the book could have benefitted from character development. I liked Layla enough to stick with her but beyond that...the Director reminded me of a lame President Snow. The loose love triangle with Jake felt weird to me. Jake's motives are never really fleshed out and I would have liked to be a little more weary of him. I trusted him as the reader too quickly and he didn't let me down.

Overall, I definitely think this is worth the read to remind people how far nationalism and unfailing loyalty to government can take us. I just wanted a little more from it.

Samirah Arif

I loved this book. With some more editing, this book would have turned out perfect. 
The Story
11 minutes into America's future, fascism reigns. Muslim bans are active and the Muslim US citizens have strict curfews. Internment camps are set up and Layla's family is trapped in one. 
The Good
I love Samira Ahmed's writing style! It is very entertaining and had its funny moments. I absolutely adored the story. I wasn't able to put it down! With the exception of Layla (occasionally), all of the characters were very likable. My personal favorite was Ayesha. I definitely enjoyed this book more than the author's first book, Love, Hate and Other Filters. 
The Bad
1. Towards the first half of the beginning of the story, Layla was a little obsessed with her boyfriend it was annoying. I guess I understand this as when you really love someone, you never forget about them or something.
2. there were times when the author was telling rather than showing, but it only happened a few times so it's not a big deal.

Amy Bremner 

4.5 stars. 

I read this in a couple of sittings, whilst it was a quick read for me it wasn't an easy one. 

Brilliant book, important message and a beautiful cover. 

Thanks to netgalley for a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jelke Lenaerts

This book has content warnings for islamophobia and mention of rape.

In the beginning I wasn't really sold on this book. It just was a bit boring to me, in the beginning. I knew the subject matter was important and it was dealt with in such a good way but the plot was just lacking for me. That quickly changed though. I don't know what the exact turning point was for me but I got very quickly very invested in this story and just couldn't put it down. I think this dealt with the issue it dealt with in a very respectful and realistic way. I mean, it's definetly not far fetched and the book took me to that very real place a couple of times, without ever pulling me out of the story. I mean, that's a talent. Overall, the book just made me think A LOT about our society today and that what the intended purpose of this book. I really liked the main character, as well as just all the characters. This book was just very well written. I did have some issues with it though. Like, the beginning was just a bit slow for me, as mentioned before. I also feel like there was a bit of love triangly set up in this book and I didn't like that either. I don't know. I just felt like at certain points the romance was just too much at the centre and it took away from the importantness of those moments. The book definetly didn't feel overpowered by the romance but some important momments did, in my opinion. But oh well, still highly recommend this book though.

Britt Jansen 

Neva Davies

"The people united will never be defeated."

Internment was a hard read, but I could see it happening, even as quickly as it did. History is not a vacuum. To say otherwise is to ignore our past. 

I loved the storyline and the characters. Everything in Internment felt natural, and showed that there are various reactions to something as heinous as being taken away. Some will resist, and some will choose to follow, because survival is the most important thing. 

Even if you find that you disagree, I still think that everyone should read Internment.

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from TheNovl. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Rating: 5/5

Publication Date: March 19, 2019

Genre: Contemporary

Recommended Age: 12+ (some language and some very strong violent situations. The hint of sexual content and the knowledge that this could actually happen)

Publisher: Little, Brown

Pages: 381

Amazon Link

Synopsis: 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.

Review: Holy crap. If you are a fan of The Hate U Give then you will DEFINITELY love this book! It’s the new must read of 2019. The book does well at constructing a world in which Muslim American citizens are put in internment camps (which unfortunately isn’t that far off from the reality we live in due to some of the politicians we have). If you’re new to the term internment, it’s basically a camp that America set up in the 1940s during WW2 to keep Japanese American citizens away from the other populace. Our grandfathers imprisoned innocent men, women, and children in these camps because they feared who they were based on their skin and birth. The book combines this and other past events that evil members of society have done to create a realistic/scary future that could make Muslim American citizens the next ones to live behind bars just for their belief and skin and birth (past events being the internment of Japanese American citizens, the imprisonment and dehumanization of Jewish, Native Americans, etc.). I thought the book also did well in terms of writing and character development. The side characters are just as intriguing and heart breaking as the main character is and the pacing is well done throughout the novel. I also felt that the book had a really good message of being mindful about politics and who you vote for and that if you feel that something is wrong, then resist it. America wasn’t founded by law abiding citizens, so don’t let what the law tells you is “right” determine what you think is right.

My only complaint is that the novel kind of ended abruptly and I wanted to know more about what happened to those that were moved to a harsher camp than the one present in the novel. I wanted to see more of Layla after internment ended and I wanted to know everything is okay. But I know in my heart that even at the end of the novel, nothing will ever be the same again.

Verdict: An amazing book that’s worthy to stand next to The Hate U Give.

Vanessa Beppler

This book felt way too real.. And it scared me. Freedom isn't something anyone should have to fight for, but this story shows just how much power the people have and that your voice can make the difference. "The people united will never be defeated".

Geneviève Rouleau

"They're all terrified of a word they don't understand, scared that religious law is going to infiltrate the land, but meanwhile they support the death penalty, are anti-choice, and think creationism should be taught in schools because of.. wait for it.. religion."

I have no words for this book. I think this book is severely underrated and EVERYONE should read it. This book features Layla, a Muslim Indian American teen in a (very near and horribly possible *ahem* Donald Trump) future reality, where people are sent to internment camps because of their faith. As the author Samira Ahmed wrote : “The events in Internment are deeply rooted in our history. You are bearing witness to them now, in our present.” 

This book starts out very intense and sucked me in from the start. And it is so terrifying how nothing in this book seems far-fetched. It is all too possible. & the ending left me.. shaken. Especially the author's note, about current conditions at the U.S. Migrant Detention Centers. I had no idea people were forced to live in such horrible conditions, their dignity and basic human needs completely stripped bare. It's happening right under our noses. And like Samira Ahmed wrote... these ARE concentration camps. 

Found this article supporting her words :
https://time.com/5623148/migrant-dete...

Thank you Samira Ahmed for writing this book. For having the courage to publish these words. #ownvoices

Ana Couto

INTERNMENT by Samira Ahmed is a dystopian YA novel set in the near-future United States, and in a horrific time when Muslim American citizens are forced into internment camps. The novel ultimately focuses on the story of Layla Amin, a 17-year-old girl who is taken to one of these camps along with her family. 

Right off the bat, this book immediately caught my eye, and it quickly became one of my most anticipated releases for 2019. Nevertheless, I was left a bit disappointed. While the premise is timely and intriguing, the execution could have been better. Layla was often whiny and unlikeable, and more focused on reuniting with her boyfriend than anything else. There were definitely some notable moments, but ultimately I felt the chemistry was lacking between characters. The overall world-building was also poorly done, and left several plot holes which made for awkward and unrealistic scenes. However, this is simply my personal opinion. I’ve read several reviews from people who genuinely enjoyed this book, so if you’re curious about it I’d still recommend checking it out. I loved Ahmed’s first novel: LOVE, HATE & OTHER FILTERS — but unfortunately her latest release just wasn’t for me.

Jessica 

Blog | Twitter | Instagram


  As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via Edelweiss by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.


Review also found here at Booked J. 

Last year, I so desperately wanted to read Love, Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed, but I just never got around to reading it. At first, I was bummed by this. Today, I'm glad, because that gave me the chance to experience Samira Ahmed's writing for the first time in Internment which is arguably one of the best YA novels of the year.

Deeply moving, heartbreaking and terrifying in a "this-could-be-real" way, Internment tells the story of one girl's abrupt imprisonment and the sparks of rebellion that follow. What makes this story so horrifying is that it is set up in a way that feels realistic. You'll find yourself thinking that this could very well be the future--given our political climate, it sends a chill up your spine and proves to be a very thought-provoking piece of fiction. 

There are far too many real-to-life elements to Internment that makes it apparent that this story needed to be told. I'm not going to address everything in the book because it's not my story to tell, or talk over, and what the author has to say is highly realistic. Ahmed addresses many hard-hitting topics in Internment and gives us a startlingly compelling narrator in Layla Amin. What makes this story so breathtaking is Layla and her friends, her family, and their stories. 

While the book itself is fiction, it is very prone to tackling (again) those real-life issues. I find that a lot of the complaints towards Internment are petty and unfounded. The villain being too cartoon-ish? I didn't see this. I saw a horrifying villain that relied heavily on racism and hatred. A villain, in other words. What made him so horrifying was because of the subtle way he had conducted himself, and how it came to a boiling point in time. 

So, I don't really understand that complaint. That being said, I don't want to spoil the novel for readers because Ahmed tells a story that demands to be heard. And it's very, very important to read it for yourself. 

What I will say is (1) everything in this feels painfully real and should be noted because one, two, three, more wrongs moves and the future could be bleak. History is already repeating itself, and it would be foolish to ignore that and not speak up for those who are in the crossfires of hatred and ignorance. (2) these characters, and their stories, are special. 

In short, you need to be reading Internment. And we all need to strive to do better. There is no good to be found in standing still and staying silent. Internment is a startling and all-too-real story full of spark, hope and life.

Kate

Powerful, moving and chilling to the bone. 

A brilliantly written story of resistance, hope, the strength of teens and the power of fighting for you right to live. 

The opening chapter was like a sucker punch to the gut. I physically flinched numerous time throughout the book, which is something I rarely do but the most terrifying this about this book? It should have felt fictional, like some way of dystopian but instead, it was all too real. This kind of scenario shouldn't be happening but it is, all over the US and the world and stories like this are all the more haunting and important because of it.

Nohemi Reale &
Internment by Samira Ahmed

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