This near future 'what if' story has resonance and power during a time in American politics where Muslims are targeted and scapegoated by bigots and racists. I thought that Ahmed did a good job of drawing parallels between the plot and past atrocities involving internment of minority groups, and that the escalation felt chilling and realistic. While sometimes I thought that some of the points Ahmed was trying to make were laid on pretty thick (and I know this is for a YA audience, but I think that teens can handle nuance), it wasn't so much that I was completely taken out of the story. I liked Layla as a protagonist, and while sometimes I felt that she kind of shifted between motivations, who's to say that wasn't intentional to show the stress and trauma of the situation that she was in.

Overall, INTERNMENT is a powerful and timely novel that paints a bleak picture of where our current political climate could lead. Take heed, and warning. And speak out.

While I think this is an important book, I'm disappointed at the heavy-handed messaging. Young adults are able to understand theme and lessons without being hit over the head with them. So while I will definitely recommend this book to students, I wish the author would not have simply told a good story and let the writing and plot do the teaching.

Set in a near-future US, Muslim-Americans are forced into internment camps, this book gave me chills and made my stomach churn, all while I rooted for Layla and her friends to succeed in their rebellious plans. I loved this book, in part because it made me uncomfortable and upset. It’s a fantastic examination of what can happen when people just stand by.

Layla is a delightful protagonist, finding strength from her friends and family, even as she doubts herself. I like that there were consequences to her choices, but that whenever she wavered, Layla had her friends or even her parents on occasion remind her what she was fighting for. The inclusion of lines of poetry, Star Wars quotes (“Rebellions are built on hope” anyone?), and the inspiration provided by the White Rose all came together to educate and strengthen the characters.

The hardest part of reading this was the knot in my stomach whenever the Director or other characters used the same rhetoric Trump and his supporters use. This book is terrifying because it feels entirely plausible. I loved that there were people that continued to fight despite everything happening — Layla and her friends as well as people outside the camp who mobilized once it opened. The inclusion of some guards that sympathized only helped to show that while terrible things like internment can happen, there are still good people. The guards helping Layla were some of my favorite characters.

Overall, I loved this book and I think everyone should read it. It’s a reminder of where we’ve been and a strong warning of where we might end up.

**ARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

A supremely relatable story, that could exist so easily in our current social conditions. Easy to read, and frightening to consider, very well done.

Layla is a strong protagonist and an example of courage in resisting that many teens will identify with in today's political climate. Unfortunately, the events of this story could be all too real.

Riveting! I read this book in one sitting as I literally could not put it down. The story was beautifully crafted and the characters well-drawn. The premise of the story was absolutely terrifying in how close it seems to reality. I would highly recommend this book to 8th grade to adult. Get it in your hands as soon as possible, read it, and pass it on to someone else.

Could America find itself shuttling Muslim-Americans into internment camps? Absolutely. I have no problem believing that this can happen here, and I firmly believe that this is a topic that deserves to be written about and explored in literature. We would only benefit from hearing more stories from Muslim American perspectives. That being said, I kept hoping for more from this book. It felt incomplete, in that it glossed over how society broke down to the point where people condoned (or at least did not initially protest) the building of these camps. The story would be compelling, and then seemed to retreat from that narrative direction for some reason, diverting attention from more complex issues and hiding behind the teenage protagonist's sarcasm-to-cope inner monologue. It's a relevant read worthy of discussion, but it's not the blockbuster hit people will claim as the next "The Hate U Give."

Layla and her family are sent to an internment camp for Muslim Americans. A handful of teenagers band together, determined to let the outside world know about the disappearances of anyone who speaks up, the camp conditions, and the brutal camp director.

I thought this book had an interesting premise, and teenagers will probably love it. However, I grew a bit bored with the book. Layla spends most of her time trying to sneak her boyfriend into camp and smuggle out letters to him. Of course she misses her boyfriend, but it seemed improbable that she would be able to sneak him in. The focus on the boyfriend made the book seem less than real. Overall, not a book I would reread.

Every teen, and adults for that matter, need to read this book. It is terrifying in a way that is too realistic even though it hasn't happened. It shows the worst future possible if we continue going in the direction we are going.

I feel that students will benefit from reading this semi-futuristic dystopian novel. The main character's strength and confidence is also inspiring. Some of the characters were a bit flat, while other scenes felt a little contrived. That said, I feel teens will enjoy this book (and it's beautiful cover will also entice them). I will be purchasing.

Book Review: Internment by Samira Ahmed
Publish date: March 19, 2019
Read courtesy of netgalley.com

This is an important, timely, well-written story - However, I am hesitatingly purchasing it for my high school library in spite of the poorly veiled (i.e., blatant) innuendos to Trump as a bad Nazi-type president and Obama as the underdog who persevered. Regardless of which political persuasion our author and readers are in, direct allusions to our President in this manner in a YA book is in poor taste and, I'll go as far as saying, morally irresponsible. Granted, the book is near-future historical fiction, but I honestly cannot overlook the presidential characterization in this book when the President has been identified and crudely fictionalized to match the author's political intentions. Which is a shame, really... this book deserves to be read.

I'm not the only one who identified the conspicuous negation of our government. Another NetGalley reviewer expressed similar sentiments while still giving the book high praise: "...scathing critique of our current civil environment. ...Internment will make you think twice about how the hatred and rhetoric of our current federal administration can cause real harm to people. I'm glad this one is fictional, and I hope it stays that way." One reviewer wrote, "The lack of awareness of society is what drives this story." YES! And THAT'S what the focus of the story could have been without Trump-bashing.

Damn. I'm doubting myself. I don't believe in censorship, and two of my favorite books were "scathing critique[s]" of their own times, '1984' and 'The Jungle'. So, yes, I'll be getting this for my high school library, but I sincerely hope that my YA readers are willing to discuss how much "fake news" or "biased reporting" is in this book. I don't intend to ruin the story by making it a research assignment; I would rather use the story as a way to discuss our differences and our mutual morals and ethics, not our conflicting politics. This is, after all, an important, timely, well-written story.

Phenomenal, thought provoking book! A must read alongside The Hate U Give. Internment is the powerful story of Layla and her family who live in a realistic, futuristic America where people of Islamic faith are detained into an internment camp. Feed up with the injustice, fear, and how people are treated, Layla sparks a resistance both inside and outside the camp. Past historic social injustices along with recent social injustices are interwoven into the story. Internment beautifully illustrates the awe inspiring power of community, faith, hope, and bravery over the power of hate.

Terrifying, inspiring, painful, eye-opening, and gut-wrenching, in addition to being beautifully written. This book will make you sob and break your heart, but it is a must-read for everyone.

#Internment #NetGalley
The lack of awareness of society is what drives this story. The societal injustice that the book uses is to show that we as a society cannot turn a blind eye. The rebellion of this book isn't really rebellion it's making a statement about not speaking up when we see wrong doing, but to put a light on it so that it doesn't become the norm. I think older teens and adults will relate well to this novel in today's society and news media coverage.

A necessary book that should be in all middle and high school classrooms and libraries. Characters that make the reader want to root for them, and a story that keeps the pages turning.

This is an important book that I can see changing lives. It's worth the hype it's getting. I cannot wait to see where this book goes.

Internment is a powerful, empowering story of a girl finding her way forward and a scathing critique of our current civil environment. A fantastically told story at just the perfect historical moment, Internment will make you think twice about how the hatred and rhetoric of our current federal administration can cause real harm to people. I'm glad this one is fictional, and I hope it stays that way. This should be required reading for every person over age 12 in the country.

In near-future America, Layla and her parents are sent to a Muslim American Internment Camp created by the government based on Executive Order 9066, which validated the internment and deportation of Japanese-Americans during World War II. The camp is led by a power- hungry director who delivers harsh punishment to those he believes transgress against his rules while attempting to get those in the camp to believe his rhetoric. While the adults remain silent during the mistreatment, the youth, led by Layla, decide to stand against the ill treatment received by those who have been interned. With outside support from her boyfriend, David, and a camp insider Layla and her supporters make a final stand against the legality of the internment and the director’s tyrannical rule. This is a timely novel that is much needed in today’s environment and a must read for all ages.