Samira Ahmed: A Conversation About Internment Part 1 [S7 EP. 260]

Listen to the full episode below:

This episode kicks off year three of Camp BNT—and it’s a good one! We sat down with bestselling author Samira Ahmed. You probably know her from Internment and Love, Hate, & Other Filters, but did you know she’s also a former high school English teacher? From chalkboards to the New York Times bestseller list, Samira is here to share her journey.

Not only does Samira reflect on her years in the classroom, but she also explains how teaching played a monumental role in preparing her to become an author. Her appreciation for the teenage experience runs deep, and it’s clear how much her time as a teacher continues to influence her writing. We know you’ll love hearing her stories and insights—they’ll make you feel seen and inspired.

You’ll hear how Internment came to life and get ideas for using it in your classroom. Of course, we dig into essential questions that pair well with the novel and talk about ways to connect it to other texts and media to spark meaningful discussions. Plus, Samira gives us a sneak peek at her upcoming projects (and trust us, you’ll want to hear about them!). 

This is the kind of conversation that will light up your teacher soul—and this is only part one! After listening, don’t forget to join us in Camp BNT. We’ll send you a free workbook (doodle pages included!) and a link to our Facebook group, where we’re continuing the conversation.

topics discussed:

  • Details of Samira’s teaching experience and how it prepared her to be an author

  • How Samira made the transition from teacher to writer

  • Why she loves writing YA

  • The three strands that come together when Samira gets an idea for a story

  • The story behind writing Internment

  • Suggestions for big questions that could be asked alongside Internment

  • A sneak peek into Samira’s next book

  • The power of graphic novels, especially with EL students and students on the autism spectrum

resources:

Meet Samira:

Samira Ahmed is the bestselling author of Love, Hate & Other Filters, Internment, Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know, Hollow Fires, and the Amira & Hamza middle-grade duology, as well as a Ms. Marvel comic book mini-series.  Her poetry, essays, and short stories have appeared in numerous publications and anthologies including the New York Times, Take the Mic, Color Outside the Lines, Vampires Never Get Old and A Universe of Wishes.

She was born in Bombay, India, and grew up in Batavia, Illinois, in a house that smelled like fried onions, spices, and potpourri. A graduate of the University of Chicago, Samira has taught high school English in both the suburbs of Chicago and New York City, worked in education non-profits, and spent time on the road for political campaigns.

Samira currently lives in the Midwest. When she’s not reading or writing, she can be found on her lifelong quest for the perfect pastry.

Connect with Samira:

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More about Brave New Teaching:

Join hosts Amanda Cardenas (Mud & Ink Teaching) and Marie Morris (The Caffeinated Classroom) in discussions about being brave, trying new things, and all things teaching! As seasoned classroom teachers, Amanda and Marie bring their experience, insight, energy, and oh, so many opinions and ideas... It's time for all teachers to take their classroom and teaching practice into their own hands!

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