Emma Donoghue didn’t want to write just another thriller-kidnapping story. She wanted to capture the story of the children who have to grow up in these horrible conditions, as well as the repercussions that follow once everyone is free. She shows in her book, through Jacks eyes, the depression and anger that Ma feels after their escape. Ma is angry with everyone because she feels like while she was trapped, everyone moved on with their lives. Not even giving her a second thought.

Jaycee Duggard described the same depression and confusion after she got out.Donoghue also w anted to keep the antagonist, Old Nick, as out of the picture as possible. She didn’t want to give him any story, we never know his real name, what he does outside of room, and once he is arrested, we never hear from him again.

The author did this because she feels like the media glorifies the captors too much and gives them too much attention.
“As a society we’ve given disproportionate attention to the psychopaths – the average thriller is about a psychopath who wants to rape and chop up a woman “
She instead focused all of her attention on a woman who could create love inside of a prison with her son.