By Norah Jewett ’25
Internment is a book written by Samira Ahmed, and it appeared on the high school summer reading list as an option for the summer reading project. The book explores a horrifically-near future of Muslim-Americans being locked into camps just as Japanese-Americans were during World War Two.
The main character, Layia Amin, as well as her parents, get sent to a camp called Mobus in the desert of California. The camp has a motto that’s always been repeated, and “strived for”: Unity. Security. Prosperity. Layia just wants her freedom back, but people are scared to protest inside the camp’s walls, as the people who do end up disappearing. But Layia knows that if she doesn’t take a stand, then who knows when they will be released. Through a twisted plot, unlikely allies, and important sacrifices, Ahmed illustrates how much of an impact one person can have on others. With the help from other intermentes, Layia is ready to put her own life on the line to have a shot at freedom, but the consequences of getting caught are deadly.
Internment shows just how much power someone can have over us, and the importance of speaking up for the right thing.
