Jewel is a novel by Bret Lott, which was chosen as an Oprah's Book Club selection.

Although there's a war going on, the Mississippi economy is booming, providing plenty of business for the hardworking family.

Even the news that eldest son James has enlisted is mitigated by the fact that Jewel, now pushing 40, is pregnant with one last child.

When the child is finally born, it seems that Cathedral's prediction was empty: the baby appears normal in every way.

Eventually husband and wife take the baby to the doctor and are informed that she is a "Mongolian Idiot," not expected to live past the age of 2.