SAMIRA AHMED: A Conversation About Internment, Part 2 [Ep 261]

2025-06-05

In part two of our conversation with author Samira Ahmed, we deep dive into the genre of Internment—is it dystopian, speculative, or realistic fiction?—and why that label matters in the classroom. What starts as a conversation about shelving quickly becomes an exploration of how genre influences student thinking, how we can break down subject silos in education, and why teaching through inquiry is more critical than ever. Samira shares insights on the emotional toll of teaching today, the urgency of connecting past and present injustices, and her belief that “te...

In part two of our conversation with author Samira Ahmed, we deep dive into the genre of Internment—is it dystopian, speculative, or realistic fiction?—and why that label matters in the classroom. What starts as a conversation about shelving quickly becomes an exploration of how genre influences student thinking, how we can break down subject silos in education, and why teaching through inquiry is more critical than ever. Samira shares insights on the emotional toll of teaching today, the urgency of connecting past and present injustices, and her belief that “teaching is a revolutionary act.” This episode is a reminder of the impact educators have and the power of stories to spark resistance, reflection, and change.

Resources:

Camp BNT
Internment, by Samira Ahmed
The Grace Year, by Kim Liggett
Prophet Song, by Paul Lynch

Related Episodes:

Episode 155, Powerful Female Voices in YA Lit: An Interview with Yamile Saied Mendez
Episode 171, New Dystopian Texts & Supplements for Your ELA Classroom
Episode 230, Building Trong Writers: An Interview with Author Christina Schnider of The Daring English Teacher
Episode 260, Samira Ahmed: A Conversation About Internment Part 1

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode261

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