Internment by Samira Ahmed Full Review

Warning: This book may be too difficult for just anyone- whether that be 'romance'-wise, politics, or something else. If you're under the age of thirteen, ask a parent or guardian's advice, please!

TW: Abuse, Internment Camps, Religious Discrimination

Internment by Samira Ahmed was a great book. Overall, I would rate 8/10. One of my favorite things about this book was the way the author maintained the voice of a teenager while creating the character development of a revolutionary/martyr. However, the actual execution of this difficult topic was somewhat disappointing. Layla has some great lines, but there were definitely a few that had a forced feel to them. As for maintaining the teenager outlook, Layla makes several selfish decisions regarding visiting her boyfriend. I won't get into the details here because I don't want to spoil anything, but be aware of some cringe-worthy moments.

Layla is iconic as a main character, rising to the occasion and risking her life when the situation calls for it. She dealt with a spirit-destroying circumstance and managed to keep her head up; it was inspiring to read. However, as a said before, she makes less-than-thought-out decisions several times. Risking her family's lives just to see her boyfriend for fifteen minutes left me disappointed. And, this happens several times.

My favorite character in this book was Jake. He was a guard who assisted Layla in times of need and helped her get messages to the outside world during her time at the camp. Jake did his best to protect Layla and her friends, even if it meant risking his own life. I have enormous respect for his character.

The plot of this book was solid- so realistic it was terrifying. Although this book takes place in the future, it is a sickening near future; frighteningly, maybe only ten years away. Muslims are arrested and put in internment camps, books are burned, and discriminatory government propaganda is rampant. It is eerily similar to Hitler's Germany in which Jews and many more ethnic/religious groups were arrested and persecuted, education and intelligence was punished, and simple facial characteristics could get you arrested. Layla and her parents are deported/transported to an internment camp elsewhere in the United States. Understandably, she stands up for herself and attempts several uprisings and rebellions within the camp. Although she is threatened and even tortured for a small bit, Layla never gives up on fighting for justice and rights. It is frustrating to say, but the plot made sense and I could easily see this future come to pass. Unfortunately, the actual body of the revolution seemed almost childish. It's nearly impossible to fit all of WWII in a book, which seems like how this near-civil war should be. The process of the uprising(s) was less than stellar, had little development, and was overall shallow.

This book was a necessary read for me. It was difficult and suspenseful and had all the elements of a traditional YA novel, but with the added component of educating me on what experiences being Muslim could bring in upcoming years. Unfortunately, some scenes were childish and not well thought out. Still, I would recommend this book, 8/10.

For a full summary of this book, click here.