Extended Essay: 'The Penance Room', 'Room' & 'The L-Shaped Room'

Sadhbh Sheeran was awarded a Commendation, a special recognition, for her outstanding Transition Year Extended Essay this year.  Unusually, her chosen three books share a word in their titles...

She writes:

The characters in my chosen novels, The Penance Room by Carol Coffey, The L-Shaped Room by Lynne Reid Banks and Room by Emma Donoghue, range in age from just eight years old right up to their early twenties. All of them however have one thing in common; they are all growing up and learning about life and its hardships. I chose this theme as growing up is something I can relate to. Although I, compared to the characters in these novels, have not had to deal with the difficulties they have experienced. I admire the main characters greatly as they are not only struggling with the normal pressures of growing up but all have to struggle for their mere existence and they all long to be ‘conventional’. Their determination and their rejection of defeat are awe inspiring.

Read the full essay by Sadhbh here.