This is possibly the most engaging book I have ever read. And I read a lot.

The book is very loosely based on the story of Elisabeth Fritzl, who was locked in a basement by her father for 24 years.

Jack has spent his entire life in "Room" with his Ma and knows nothing of the existence of an outside world until shortly after his fifth birthday.

The story is extremely compelling, not just because of the sheer horror of the underlying premise, but because the characters are so gripping. The book is told from the perspective of Jack, an utterly precocious and endearing child who appears to be extremely normal despite his unusual upbringing. It's not until later in the book that we start to see exactly how Jack and Ma have been affected by their ordeal.

I literally could not put this book down and read it in one sitting. I laughed, I cried, but most of all I came to appreciate how truly incredible the human spirit can be. This is a story of hope, but it is also a story of amazing courage shown by two very special people.

9 out of 10 from me.

Then again, my Mum read it and didn't like it much, so go figure!