Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of Jewel

Jewel
Jewel
Author: Bret Lott
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Substores
Book Type: Paperback
stevielyn avatar reviewed on + 147 more book reviews


Each of Jewel Hilburn's six children is a blessing. But her youngest, Brenda Kay, who was born with Down syndrome, is also a burden. The smallest accomplishments are milestones in Brenda Kay's life, and Jewel must devote her complete attention to the child. Set in 1943 in backwoods Mississippi, Jewel is a haunting tale of heartbreak and the redemptive powers of love. Drawing from the real-life experiences of his grandmother and aunt, author Bret Lott spins a masterpiece of truth and triumph, capturing the joy of Brenda Kay's first steps and the strain the dependent child puts on the rest of the Hilburn family.