My Summer Reading Book: Room

This summer I read a book called Room by Emma Donoghue. It was about a girl in college who was abducted and kept in a shed for seven years. In that time, she had a son, named Jack. This book is in his point of view as a little kid. Since Jack was born in Room, he never experienced the outside world. In fact, he thought it was all fake. Ma told him the things he saw in TV, such as stores, were fake in order to protect him. She kept this facade going until his fifth birthday where she explained to him that there was a world outside of their little room, and it was hard for him to understand.

Jack changed and developed throughout this book because originally he was oblivious to the world around him and eventually he learned how to manage and live in it. For example, he really liked to watch Dora. When she spoke in Spanish, he explained to the reader through his thoughts that it wasn't English, it was a made up language. He didn't believe or know that people in other parts of the world actually spoke it. But, in the end of the book, he hears someone speaking a language he doesn't understand, and makes the connection that the stranger must be from somewhere else.

Jack also changed in how he interacted with other characters. At first, he was very scared to be by himself and also scared of strangers. So much, that just Ma being in a different room frightened him. But he grew and not only got his own room, he went to the park and made a new friend all by himself.

Finally, Jack enhanced the plot because if he wasn't a character in this story, it would have a completely different topic and theme. The story wouldn't revolve around how he reacts, it would be centered on Ma. She would have very different thoughts because she has experienced the outside world and has a past she misses. The theme would be different because it would not have to do with never giving up on family, Ma wouldn't even have a son!

Jack has a very big role in this story. He has developed throughout the book, interacted with lots of different characters, advanced the plot, and impacted the theme. Without him as a character, this book be very different. 

Click on this link to see what Emma Donoghue has to say about her book. She answers questions about how she did research, as well as how she could bear writing about such a horrible topic.