Barney the purple dinosaur sang, "I love you. You love me. We're a happy family," which implies that any two people (or dinosaurs, or people in dinosaur suits) who love each other can be a family. This is true, especially for young Jack in Room—and not just because he watches Barney. Jack loves everyone in Room: Plant, Chair, Wardrobe, Skylight. Even though these things aren't even human, Jack loves them, and they are part of his family.
When Jack gets out of Room, he learns he has other family members: Grandma, Grandpa, Steppa, Paul, and more. That's all sweet, but we can't forget about Ma. Room is above all a story about the unbreakable bond between mother and son.
Questions About Family
- Who is Jack's family when he's inside Room? Who is his family Outside?
- How does Ma's family change while she's inside Room?
- How do you think Jack would define the word "family"?