The Jewel

The Jewel

by Amy Ewing

368 pages· 2014· ISBN 9780062235794

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About
The Selection meets The Handmaid's Tale in this darkly riveting debut filled with twists and turns, where all that glitters may not be gold. The Jewel means wealth, the Jewel means beauty—but for Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Born and raised in the Marsh, Violet finds herself living in the Jewel as a servant at the estate of the Duchess of the Lake. Addressed only by her number—#197—Violet is quickly thrown into the royal way of life. But behind its opulent and glittering facade, the Jewel hides its cruel and brutal truth, filled with violence, manipulation, and death. Violet must accept the ugly realities of her life . . . all while trying to stay alive. But before she can accept her fate, Violet meets a handsome boy who is also under the Duchess's control, and a forbidden love erupts. But their illicit affair has consequences, which will cost them both more than they bargained for. And toeing the line between being calculating and rebellious, Violet must decide what, and who, she is willing to risk for her own freedom.

Discussion questions for The Jewel

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  1. 1

    How does Amy Ewing use the sharp contrast between the impoverished Marsh and the opulent Jewel to comment on real-world socio-economic inequality and the gap between the ultra-wealthy and the working class?

  2. 2

    In a world where Violet is stripped of her name and reduced to the number #197 to serve the ruling class, how do you think losing one's individuality impacts a person’s psychological survival, and where do you find your own sense of identity threatened in modern society?

  3. 3

    The practice of surrogacy in the Jewel is commodified, heavily regulated, and weaponized against the surrogate girls; how does the novel explore the ethics of bodily autonomy and who gets to control reproduction?

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