Module 6: Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Bibliographic Citation: DiCamillo, Kate. Because of Winn-Dixie. New York: Scholastic Inc., 2000.

Plot Summary:

India Opal has recently moved to a Naomi, Florida with her father, who happens to be a preacher.  On a summer day, Opal goes to the local grocery story, the Winn-Dixie supermarket, and instead of walking home with groceries, she goes home with a stray dog.  The dog doesn't have a family and he looks like he is in need of some love.  Opal names the dog Winn-Dixie and convinces her dad to let her keep the dog. 

Being new in town, Opal finds herself feeling lonely and missing her mother, whom she doesn't really remember because she left her when she was 4 years old.  Through Winn-Dixie, Opal finds the courage to finally ask her father about her mother, where Opal learns 10 things about her mother.  Winn-Dixie also helps Opal make new friends.  Soon enough, Opal is spending her summer days with the local librarian, listening to the many stories the librarian shares with her.  She also meets an older lady, Gloria, whom the neighborhood kids call a witch.  Opal also befriends an ex-con, Otis, who works in a pet store and agrees to let Opal work there for a collar for her dog.  Through her new friends, Opal learns that life isnt about feeling lonely and wishing for something/ soemone to come back to your life.  She learns that life is about loving what you have in life and sharing memories with good friends. 

My Impressions of the Book:

This has got to be one of the saddest books I have ever read.  I enjoyed reading this book and finished it in two days, but I really felt sad for the characters.  India Opal wants so desperately to have her mother in her life and it is sad that alcohol took that away from her.  I like that the book touched on an important subject, of people judging others without getting to know them or judging others by what they have done in the past.  This is a good lesson to learn, get to know people and don't always believe what you hear.  I liked Opal's innocence and the fact that she wasn't scared to make new friends, and she befriended people other's seemed to stay away from.  My favorite quote in the book was, "...you can't hold on to anything.  That you can only love what you've got while you've got it." (p. 167)  This quote was perfect and I think it made Opal realize she should be happy with the people that surround her and not worry so much about what she doesn't have in her life.   

Review(s) About the Book:

Barnes & Nobles Editorial Reviews

Children's Literature

Imagine naming a dog "Winn-Dixie" after the grocery store. Your own name causes kids to mock you "Lunch Meat!" That partly describes India Opal Buloni, a preacher's daughter, who tells us about her first summer in Naomi, Florida. Opal adopts the lovable, mangy dog whose personality changes her life and the lives of the quirky characters in this rural community. The kids think Gloria Dump is a witch but Opal discovers a kind, wrinkled old lady with bad eyesight who wins her friendship when she says, "Since I don't see so well, why don't you tell me everything about yourself so I can see you with my heart." Opal couldn't be happier. "I'd been waiting for a long time to tell some person everything about me, I did." A splendid story with heart, humor and hope. This is Newbery quality.
Reviewer: Jan Lieberman
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Because-of-Winn-Dixie/Kate-DiCamillo/e/9780763644321/?itm=1&USRI=because+of+winn+dixie

Barnes & Nobles Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

DiCamillo's debut novel, a 2001 Newbery Honor Book, percolates with heartfelt emotion and eccentric Southern color as superbly performed by Tony Award-winning actress Jones. Ten-year-old Opal, lonely in the Florida town where she has just moved with her preacher father, instantly takes a shine to a scraggly stray dog she encounters in the local Winn-Dixie supermarket. The pooch, named for their meeting place, becomes a trusted companion with whom Opal can share her thoughts and fears, and her hurt, confused feelings about the mother who left the family when Opal was three. Winn-Dixie is soon helping Opal in other ways, too. The dog's "smile" and sweet temperament act as ice breakers that allow Opal to meet a whole new group of friends who grow to be an unusual extended family. Jones imbues her depiction of Opal with a tone of youthful, hopeful wonder and skillfully transforms her voice to distinguish the other older, life-weathered characters. A Tennessee native, she never sounds hokey as she adopts a Southern accent, and she effortlessly slips into a compelling storytelling rhythm. This is a top-notch treatment of an award-winning tale. Ages 8-up. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Because-of-Winn-Dixie/Kate-DiCamillo/e/9780763644321/?itm=1&USRI=because+of+winn+dixie

Use in Library Setting:

I would use this book in a book talk for elementary students, like 4th and 5th graders.  I would also recommend this book to teachers because this would be a great book to read with a class.