Then She Was Gone

Compare and contrast Floyd and Noelle. How are they similar, and how are they different? How do their similarities and differences function within the story and in the way the reader perceives them?

How does Jewell’s decision to tell the story from several different points of view contribute to the reader’s perceptions of characters and plot details? What effect does the changing point of view have on the reader?

Some of the details of Ellie’s disappearance are obvious from the first few chapters of the novel, yet the story is still full of suspense. How does Jewell create suspense and keep the reader guessing despite giving away major elements of the mystery at the beginning?

How does Jewell’s use of setting function within the novel?

Jewell tends to give the reader details about Ellie’s disappearance, such as locations and lists of items (clothing Ellie was wearing, items found in her backpack, etc.). Why does she include so much detail? How does the inclusion of detail allow the reader to take part in solving the mystery?

How does Jewell effectively characterize Noelle as a psychopath? Consider the way diction, point of view, and other characters’ perceptions of Noelle contribute to her characterization.

Themes of family relationships and healing from grief are at the heart of the novel. How does Jewell develop these themes? 

Jewell focuses on mother-daughter relationships throughout the novel, choosing to chronicle Laurel’s quest for answers about her daughter’s disappearance. How is Laurel’s response to Ellie’s disappearance different from the rest of the family’s? How does losing Ellie affect Laurel’s relationships with her own mother and other daughter, Hanna? What does Jewell convey about mother-daughter relationships?