Recalling the fiction of Harper Lee and Carson McCullers, here is a funny, poignant, and utterly genuine first novel from a major new talent.
The summer Opal and her father, the preacher, move to Naomi, Florida, Opal goes into the Winn-Dixie supermarket--and comes out with a dog. A big, ugly, suffering dog with a sterling sense of humor. A dog she dubs Winn-Dixie. Because of Winn-Dixie, the preacher tells Opal ten things about her absent mother, one for each year Opal has been alive. Winn-Dixie is better at making friends than anyone Opal has ever known, and together they meet the local librarian, Miss Franny Block, who once fought off a bear with a copy of WAR AND PEACE. They meet Gloria Dump, who is nearly blind but sees with her heart, and Otis, an ex-con who sets the animals in his pet shop loose after hours, then lulls them with his guitar.Opal spends all that sweet summer collecting stories about her new friends and thinking about her mother. But because of Winn-Dixie or perhaps because she has grown, Opal learns to let go, just a little, and that friendship--and forgiveness--can sneak up on you like a sudden summer storm.
Because of Winn-Dixie, a big, ugly, happy dog, 10-year-old Opal learns 10 things about her long-gone mother from her preacher father. Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal makes new friends among the somewhat unusual residents of her new hometown, Naomi, Florida. Because of Winn-Dixie, Opal begins to find her place in the world and let go of some of the sadness left by her mother's abandonment seven years earlier.
With her newly adopted, goofy pooch at her side, Opal explores her bittersweet world and learns to listen to other people's lives. This warm and winning book hosts an unforgettable cast of characters, including a librarian who fought off a bear with a copy of War and Peace, an ex-con pet-store clerk who plays sweet music to his animal charges, and the neighborhood "witch," a nearly blind woman who sees with her heart. Part Frankie (The Member of the Wedding), part Scout (To Kill a Mockingbird), Opal brings her own unique and wonderful voice to a story of friendship, loneliness, and acceptance. Opal's down-home charm and dead-on honesty will earn her friends and fans far beyond the confines of Naomi, Florida. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
A little book with a lot of heart:
Because of Winn-Dixie (Candlewick, 2004), is the story of India Opal, a little girl who meets a dog in the produce department at the grocery store. She takes the dog home and names him Winn-Dixie after the store where they met. From the start, it is obvious that Winn-Dixie is an exceptional dog. He greets people with a smile and catches a quick-moving mouse without harming him. Soon, Winn-Dixie is attending church services led by Opal's father, the preacher. The dog becomes Opal's closest confidant. She... more info
Charming!:
I know I read this book when I was younger and wasn't a fan. Somehow, between now and then, I've grown to like it. India Opal's voice is a really refreshing one, and I just love the typical precocious ten-year-old. The bonds she creates are amazingly strong for a girl of her age, and the depth of her thinking astounds me. Sure, the character might be a little unrealistic, but I still love her. The book is an easy read, not many long words, it mostly consists of simplistic sentences, but it's filled with... more info
Man's Best Friend:
I think other kids would like "Because of Winn-Dixie" because it's funny and realistic. I think the characters are believable because they acted and made friends like they were real. I thought the book was fun because you got to see other kids make new friends. A funny part of the story was when the dog was singing along with the choir. The dog in the story was scared when a thunderstorm hit. I liked the ending because they lost something important which was sad, but it turned out happy at the very... more info
how a stray dog wins friends and influeces people:
Name your dog Albertsons because you found him there?
A lonely little girl finds a stray dog who can smile.
This preacher's daughter has been to India ( was named after it), but lost her mother very early.
Sadness and loneliness give way to new friends and
good times as Winn-Dixie wins friends her in the Florida summer.
The book is well written and a heart string plucker.
Most children and grandparents should enjoy the stories here.
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